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[Closed] I think I'm about to be diagnosed with cancer, and I'm fairly scared.

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Hey you two- fantastic news all round. South Downs one day, south Downs Way in 24hrs next! ๐Ÿ˜‰


 
Posted : 22/11/2009 10:43 pm
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Excellent pics of the wedding, you clearly had a great day.

And back on the bike as well - great news.

Very best wishes to you both. Keep on answering them back when they try to fob you off.


 
Posted : 24/11/2009 9:38 am
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I am now bald.

Not really a shock to me; When I did door work I used to wet-shave it all the time, so I knew what to expect. Meg on the other hand has spent the last ten minutes looking at me like a fat kid looks at donuts (i.e. wide eyed, quiet, staring)....

She doesn't seem to mind though. She says I have beautiful eyelashes.

It would appear I'm in there...

Thankfully the new chemo went well today, with no allergic reactions. Complained loudly about last week and got a multi-disciplinary meeting about it tomorrow as a result. Meg; good cop. Mark; bad cop. Seems to work. My wife is flipping amazing...


 
Posted : 25/11/2009 10:45 pm
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Gobsmacked/speechless etc. etc. etc...

You are amazing.

Ooh, and I love a baldy!!! Do you look like Yul Brynner in the "King and I"? 8)


 
Posted : 25/11/2009 11:04 pm
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Looks like you'll have to fight the laydeez of with a dirty stick! Chicks dig scars and bald heads you say... hmmm... ๐Ÿ˜‰


 
Posted : 25/11/2009 11:09 pm
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I am now bald.

Bold [i]and[/i] bald ? 8)


 
Posted : 25/11/2009 11:10 pm
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He he!LoL at what Ambrose said. Cool ๐Ÿ˜€


 
Posted : 25/11/2009 11:13 pm
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Still an amazing inspiration are you both.

Wish now i knew you were both at Audries bay that weekend. I was a mere 2 miles down the road at a Halloween party in Kilve, i'd of loved to have turned up as a STW representative.

However my attire might not of been suitable...[url= ] not for the faint hearted [/url]

Bald is beautiful, bless you both and my thoughts are with you.


 
Posted : 25/11/2009 11:22 pm
 Si
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Hell fire Sharki....


 
Posted : 25/11/2009 11:26 pm
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Good ol Meg!


 
Posted : 26/11/2009 12:53 am
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Glad to hear your back on the bike Mark, I've meet Napalm twice and he seems like a decent chap. Now all you need to do is make sure you can keep up with meg by the sounds of it ๐Ÿ˜†

A forum ride sounds like a good idea, perhaps Stanmer/Wild Wood etc area ๐Ÿ˜•

Was that really nessesary Sharki ๐Ÿ™„


 
Posted : 26/11/2009 10:31 am
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Foxychick - Grant Mitchell/Vin Diesel/a potato, apparently...

Yul Brynner; if only!


 
Posted : 26/11/2009 10:45 am
 TN
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You say Vin Diesel like that's a bad thing?!?


 
Posted : 26/11/2009 1:03 pm
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Oh Sharki did you have to post that picture! I'm severl :lol:y traumatised now!!!!!!


 
Posted : 26/11/2009 1:47 pm
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As long as you don't go down the

Terry Wogan
Bruce Forsythe
Dolly Parton ๐Ÿ˜ฏ
Phil Spector
Little Richard
Donald Trump
Elton John
Tony Blackburn

Route then you'll be fine

(They're all wig wearers in case someone makes a joke about Spector...lol!)

Actually on reflection the Dolly Parton route might be a notion... ๐Ÿ˜†

Good man Mark (and Meg!)

Keep 'er lit!


 
Posted : 26/11/2009 2:01 pm
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Bloody marvellous thread!
Can't add anymore without getting a bit wobbly...


 
Posted : 27/11/2009 1:55 pm
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Hah, been out of the country so just wanted to catch up on this thread, I loved that as 'empathetic' as Napalm may have been he didn't loan you a rear brake, or even a geared bike! Somethings between bikers never change - never make it easier for your riding mates ๐Ÿ˜›

Anyway, baldness, just an excuse for lots of warm winter hats man!


 
Posted : 01/12/2009 11:10 pm
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Update time (Thanks Shane!)

Things have been okay in the past week. Physically I feel alright; the expectation was that the Caelyx would have a different effect from the Paclitaxyl, but apart from the tiredness I get around late afternoon I can't really report owt. I have a slightly wheezy chest, but it really is slight and I have no idea what to attribute it to. The weekend was a good one; Meg went riding on Reigate Heath, and I took the dogs up there to have a good walk. I felt very good, and really pushed myself hard up and down the hill. By the end of it the dogs were broken and I was sweating like a pig.

This week has been a strange one emotionally. I don't think the rainy weather has helped at all, which is really bizarre. I've always loved the bad weather, especially when I lived in Yorkshire. There was a real comfort about it, but I don't feel that anymore. The continual rain and being in the house gets to me, so I decided to alleviate it by popping back to work and seeing what I could get on with. It felt very positive, and I'm hoping to negiotiate a limited timetable where I can make a positive contribution from home.

I have bought a geared hybrid in order to maintain some degree of fitness, although I got it without wheels! Fella had all the sale paperwork, and its very tidy - I think he just got sick of getting wheels pinched when he left it at the train station, and rightly so. If anyone has any dirt cheap disc hubs (26") for my new (old) Giant Escape please let me know and I'll have 'em off you AND buy you a tea and a cake!

M


 
Posted : 02/12/2009 8:05 am
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Great to hear you are on the up. There is a real difference in the way you are posting in comparision to a few weeks back. Looks like you are giving this thing a real kicking. The ****er picked a fight with the wrong couple!

Keep fighting the good fight Mark and Meg.


 
Posted : 02/12/2009 1:57 pm
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the expectation was that the Caelyx would have a different effect from the Paclitaxy

quite clearly it has - it opened your mind to buying a [i]hybrid[/i]!!! ๐Ÿ˜€

Good to hear you're feeling pretty good fella. Catch up soon - I owe Meg an e-mail ๐Ÿ˜‰
C


 
Posted : 02/12/2009 3:50 pm
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Just been out for a look

I've a "pair" of wheels you could have - as long as you're not too picky ๐Ÿ˜ณ

rear is unused (off a Giant funnily enough) but has no cassette, front is an on-one, QR only. Both 6 bolt & could maybe stuff/leave a couple of rotors on, depending on what size you need. If I look hard there's probably some skewers somewhere

Tyres - err, I've 1x almost slick and 1x proper antique semi-slick if they were of interest (sure I've off-road tyres lying about if you'd prefer)

email's in my profile if you want them - suspect you might get a better offer and I don't take offence, so see how you feel.

(oh, and - good to hear you're getting out & about ๐Ÿ™‚ )


 
Posted : 02/12/2009 4:15 pm
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Hope you don't mind - sharing some good news - just finished the above post when the phone rang - it was friends of ours with great news - Our Little Friend has had his Hickman lines removed ๐Ÿ˜€
He's back to The Marsden in Jan for tests, mostly around liver function as they removed about 70% of it to get rid of the cancer..... other than that it seems he has the all clear!!
He's very much looking forward to being able to go swimming again. Bossing his little brothers around continues as normal ๐Ÿ˜€


 
Posted : 02/12/2009 4:18 pm
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For inspiration:

[img] http://conventionfans.today.com/files/2009/05/picard.jp g" target="_blank">http://conventionfans.today.com/files/2009/05/picard.jp g"/> [/img]

The guy made millions and women love the head! (wel it made me shave mine)

Good luck with the new treatment PetesGaff!


 
Posted : 02/12/2009 4:23 pm
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a close friend of mine was diaganosed with grade 3 invasive breast cancer and given less than a 30% chance of seeing the next year out.

6 years later a few ops some chemo and radiotherapy and has been given the all clear.

I have to say that positive thinking, good friends and activity did that for her. oh and she was bloody stubborn.

So keep your chin up and keep smiling.


 
Posted : 02/12/2009 4:29 pm
 LeeW
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Glad to hear you're doing so well Mark. Keep it up.


 
Posted : 02/12/2009 4:34 pm
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Well, now that is a turn up for the books, I haven't checked the chat forum for months and came on today to ask some pissant question about my Strat's fretboard before I notices Marks thread. I have now lost 2 hours of my life reading almost every post and am howling like a baby (I'm not proud)

Mark and Meg my heart (no bovine muscle) goes out to you both completely. You have both been brilliant (stupid word) at dealing with this bag of nails that you have been presented with. You look so happy both of you on your wedding day and it looks (as it should be) a fantastic day. I am glad that things have been going well of late Mark, my thoughts and prayers will be with you and I will bookmark this thread and check it every day.

Some have mentioned a ride like a L2P, I would be very keen to join that, I agree with the thoughts that more money should go to the charity.....

I am chuffed to hear that you have got back on the bike, that will help enormously.

Love and thoughts to you both
from an old PE Teacher
Sean


 
Posted : 02/12/2009 5:39 pm
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thumbs up to you mark ๐Ÿ™‚


 
Posted : 02/12/2009 6:19 pm
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Oh god don't tell foxychick you look like Yul Brynner - she won't be able to cope!!!!!!


 
Posted : 02/12/2009 6:36 pm
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Chris - fantastic news about the little fella! Can't tell you how chuffed we are!

Scaredypants - If its okay with you I'll take 'em! Just let me know where you are and I'll jump in the fradgmobile and buy you the cake I've promised!


 
Posted : 02/12/2009 8:30 pm
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I'm in Southampton/Salisbury area & often work in Portsmouth
(but can post easy enough anyway)
Where are you ?


 
Posted : 02/12/2009 8:52 pm
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Scaredypants - I'm in Kent, which means that I'm more than happy to collect if that's convenient with you, or if you don't mind sending that'd be ace as well. I think the rotors are 160mm, and I've had a look in my spares but can't find any so if you have a pair I'll buy them off of you too. I'll PayPal the money over to you as a gift if you send them -just let me know what you wnt for them. Thanks loads mate.

My intention is to get out on a bike every day, regardless of whether I'm at school or working from home. I love my SS, but its hard work getting out on it every day! I haven't ridden anything geared for as long as I can remember...


 
Posted : 03/12/2009 6:40 am
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In the singletrack tradition - great photos, but in the first one the picture is crooked, in the last one, the table needs tidying. ๐Ÿ˜‰


 
Posted : 03/12/2009 8:29 am
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It's a bloody long way to come & collect, but you're welcome to if you want/are in a rush ! (today, I are mostly in Portsmouth)

I'm happy to post if you pm me your address (reaslistically that'd be Saturday morning posting)

I def have 2 160 rotors

Price ? - free, cake aside ๐Ÿ˜‰


 
Posted : 03/12/2009 9:17 am
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Awesome! I've pm'd you. let me know your details and I'll sort some postage out!

Thanks so much fella!


 
Posted : 03/12/2009 12:08 pm
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K[/code]eep up the good work!


 
Posted : 04/12/2009 10:51 am
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They can do wonders these days. I really thought John Hartson was a gonna but [url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/8394822.stm ]CLICKY[/url]


 
Posted : 04/12/2009 12:42 pm
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How's it going fella? (and Meg)


 
Posted : 08/12/2009 11:29 am
 jedi
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petesgaff, how are you now?


 
Posted : 08/12/2009 11:32 am
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I suspect he is probably out on his bike, hope he is anyway.
He will pop in soon and let us know.


 
Posted : 08/12/2009 11:38 am
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Hope you are fighting the good fight today Mark!


 
Posted : 10/12/2009 3:24 pm
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Hi Mark, I'm sort of new to STW, I did use it a long time ago under another user name.

Anyway, you might have passed the point that I'm up to with my diagnosis of a brain tumour, but I'm heading for my first "real" follow up appointment 6 months after diagnosis and surgery. I say real, because the appointment 2 weeks post surgery confirmed what type of tumour, and that it was a case of treatment (surgery) not cure, and while the neurosurgeon felt happy at that point that he'd removed "greater than 95%" of my tumour, I have another MR scan in a week and then results in clinic on Xmas Eve (as you do!).

This appointment is stressing more than anything else that has happened, and I guess that while I'm being extremely positive, and have been since diagnosis, the fact is that 6 months of literature searching, book reading and using the devils tool of the internet means that I'm much better informed now than I was at diagnosis. You may have already experienced this feeling, I'mm just being positive, going to enjoy my 40th birthday this weekend (sadly without alcohol, doesn't mix well with the meds or risk of seizures) and then take whatever I'm presented with. Got a wife & 9 year old son, so as much for them as myself whatever news comes my way is dealt with after January 1st - if things inside my skull are so grim that delaying until then would be a Bad Thing To Do then so be it.

I just want to get it over & done with now!


 
Posted : 10/12/2009 9:29 pm
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MFL. Keep your chin up .
Do not try to beat it .
Know you are going to beat it.
Happy Birthday for Le weekend.
STM


 
Posted : 10/12/2009 9:49 pm
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Merci Beaucoup, I'm still trawling through the other 28 pages of this thread and am shocked but at the same time supported by how many others out there have been touched by cancer, and how so many of us have experienced similar thoughts & feelings - I got myself sent home from hospital between diagnosis & surgery because I said i was bored (!) and because a clinical fellow told me that I "might" be home after 48 hours I became a ****ing nuisance 48 hours post op tormenting the nurses to go home - which I did!! Oddly my diagnosis was a relief as I'd been feeling shit for about 3 1/2 months, no significant neuro symptoms until I seized one morning, although my problems did start with a specific episode of headache on waking, which was dismissed by my GP as sinusitis. For all the good that nasal spray did me, I might as well have stuffed it up my arse, or was that the suppository he gave me? Anyway, good emergemncy care from my local A&E, and a rapid transfer to the local neuro unit meant little time to think about it pre-op, and a confident but likeable neurosurgeon, and a fatherly neurologist (who looks like Mr Burns from the Simpsons) mean I have faith in those to whom I trust my grey matter - even if there is a little bit less now than there used to be.


 
Posted : 10/12/2009 10:01 pm
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So whats been happening buddy? hope your still flicking the V's to the cancer. Hope you and Meg have a good christmas. ๐Ÿ˜€


 
Posted : 21/12/2009 2:20 pm
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Yeh hope alls going well mark (& meg) have a great Christmas from all at Nohands towers ๐Ÿ˜‰


 
Posted : 21/12/2009 4:54 pm
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