Petesgaff,
will be thinking of you tomorrow. As per Tails said, stay away from the internet!! My missus went into Hospital just over 2 weeks ago with suspected appendicitis. Next morning got a call from the hospital saying Docs and wife needed to see me asap. Got there to find Sue had the appendix removed, along with half her large bowel ( right hemicolectomy op) after docs had found a 2x 3 inch 'mass' and we would have to wait 2 weeks for the lab reports.
I then went googled everything I could about bowel cancer/right hemicolectomy and have been freaking myself out with all the horror stories/ worst case senarios. Sue's attitude on the other hand, was I'll wait for the results before I start to flap/ worry..
Yesterday morning , got the all clear from the docs, the relief was huge. ( understatement of the year there).
Fingers crossed for tomorrow for you and hoping for a good result.
Hope things go as well as you can expect tomorrow Pete, best wishes and keep us all informed - we want to know!
Pete aka Woodsman
Fingers crossed here too.
My Mum was given the all clear last week after having a tumour removed from her bowel. That was a relief.
Congratulations Mark and Meg. That;s fantastic news. If you can do better than Mr and "Mrs" North and actually get married, all the better.
Your honesty and truthfulness continues to astound. In your darkest moments, think on this and be proud. However hard it may feel, revel in the glory of having each other and the love you hold. Honesty, truth and love count above all other things. Hold your heads up high.
We're proud of you and wish you the very, very best.
Just found this thread can't say anything that hasn't already been said but you're an inspiration for the way that you're dealing with this and I'm sure with the determination and courage already shown whatever you have to face will be overcome.
I'll finish now by saying that all the Gibby household wish you the very best and congrats on your engagement.
Congrats on the engagement and best wishes for today.
Higs.
Another one for not looking at the internet for informaiton. When I was first diagnosed with a heart condition and was prescribed meds for iut I made a point of looking both the condition and the meds up on the net. I then started bricking it and thinking I would get _all_ of the side effects.
I didn't.
Also, the bulk of the info you tend to find is American and they have a different way of doing things, so it's not strictly relevent. Mind you, I did get the constipation...
Anyway, I'm all fixed now and you damn well will be too! So chin up, stop doing the Shakin' Stevens impression and get out there. We're 100% behind you and you can take strength in that.
Good luck.
Dammit! Forgot to wish you congratulations on your engagement!
I hope today goes well, fingers crossed.
And fantastic news on the engagement, congrats to both of you.
Deeply moving thread this.
Best wishes to you Mark, and congratulations on the Engagement.
Best wishes fella and good luck. We are all rooting for you.!
Surfer
MAssive con grats on the engaugement dude!!!! 😀 That brill news!!!
Best of luck today mate fingers crossed for you and I mean the fact I'll buy you both a pint when this is all a distant memory after a ride!!
Congratulations on the engagement! That's great. 😀
All the best.
good luck man, several sets of fingers crossed here.
tim
Yay engagement!
Congratulations guys, here is a pic of 2 rabbits I made the other day (my little girl tells me they are getting married too), hope it makes you smile!
[img] 
[/img]
🙂
blah blah hope it all goes well blah blah....more importantly when's the stag doo? I purpose a beer, bikes'n'curry themed event resulting in Mark tied to a tree in the buff in the middle of Macc Forest.
We could have a massive singletrack stag do!!!!!
All the best, will be thinking of you.
thats a couple of scary assed rabbits man!
well done on the engagement, mr and mrs gaff eh?
got a nice ring to it!
blah blah hope it all goes well blah blah....more importantly when's the stag doo? I purpose a beer, bikes'n'curry themed event resulting in Mark tied to a tree in the buff in the middle of Macc Forest.
Out of interest... what's the Macc Forest connection.
Higs
Of Macc.
edit...
if you want a beer, bikes and Macc Forest thing I can recommend our Christmas route:
Pint in the Cat&Fiddle
Down Stakeside up the hateful road slog back to C&F.
Pint.
Across road and down to Cumberland Clough
Pint in the Stanley
Through Macc Forest
Pair in the Smithy
Phone curry order through.
Ride down to the Dunstan to meet curry, wash down with beer.
Higs - no connection, it's just a ride I haven't done in a while. I was thinking of the jar or two in the Smithy while we ponder whether the groom has been eaten by wolves or not 🙂
Nice route btw.
There is news. And its not so good.
I have two areas of concern confirmed by the PET-CT scan. The first is located near the front of my windpipe, and appears to be a type of gland. They are operating on it first thing on Sunday morning, with a view to confirming it's malignancy.
The second one is the shocker apparently. Its located on the outside wall of the right atrium in the heart, and is quite rare by all accounts. The Dr is very good and a real breath of fresh air; honest and matter-of-fact, which is what we need at the moment. She reckons that a biopsy isn't possible, so it'll probably be cut out during open heart surgery and patched using the pericardial tissue or bovine tissue.
Apparently its highly risky, but not risky enough for me. I've requested that she drinks a cup of 'man-the-f*ck-up' doing it on a unicycle with a blindfold on...
All joking aside, the time for tarting about is over. I'm wired and ready, because now it has a face and I can get my game-head on. I'm shitting blue lights, but with my other half furiously trying to find cheap wedding venues and the idea of having a bulls heart shoe-horned in to my chest, how can I fail?
I'm now off to puke with fear...
M
Hope everything all goes successfully! Just keep thinking of that new bike you will get when your all better! You would deserve it!
All the best, and kick it in the backside!
I've requested that she drinks a cup of 'man-the-f*ck-up' doing it on a unicycle with a blindfold on...
LOL! Look on the bright side, you're going to have a really cool scar...
Take one day at a time Mark. And what is, is - you can't change that. They are giving you an op not as a means of relieving symptoms, but to achieve a cure. Focus on that, not the unknown - it is the unknown which causes most fear. They are operating to [i][b]cure you[/b][/i], remember that. Stay strong. And consider speaking to patient organisations which can help you during this difficult time. My very best wishes. Gus
good luck mate.
I'm wired and ready, because now it has a face and I can get my game-head on.
Bingo.
As Ernie says Mark this is the cure, keep your chin up fella you are an inspiration and we will all be thinking of you.
Good luck for Sunday.
Positive thoughts from me!
Best wishes
Mate, best of British for the hours/days/weeks ahead. One-day-at-a-time.
Congratulations on the engagement!! 'Good' news on getting told what's happening and how they can go about getting you sorted and on the mend. All the best for sunday.
JT
Mate, they're putting you under because they [b]know[/b] they can cut this thing out of you and cure you.
As soon as you're up and running we [b]will[/b] be organising the stag doo to end ALL stag doos for you! 😉
Not too used to posting on here without taking the piss, but for once Mark, I'm lost for words, and believe me, thats saying something for a Yorkshireman. Good luck flower, and keep up the positivity - you'll get through this. Love to your lass as well, thinking of you both.
I'm not sure a post about a bloke finding out he has extra bits should make you laugh ... but it did.
Keep the attitude, best of luck for Sunday dude and congratulations on the engagement. Look forward to the Stag.
Now you know you can get on and kick some ass. Like the others said, the doc is removing the offending article so it's a case of getting better then. Remember, you are in an advantagious position, being a fit young man - you're in the best place to recover quickly. (not TOO quickly - make the most of the rest time because you'll be back in the thick of it all too soon.) You know where we are if there is anything at all we can do to help. Either of you.
Chin up.
Otherwise they won't be able to get to your windpipe.
And I'll buy you a pint when you've recovered from the Op. Make it soon.
Moses
All the best 🙂 Never forget the odds are on your side and thinking you'll beat it is half the battle. Looking forward to a wedding pic followed in years to come by a 10th anniversary thread about who remembers this one......
All the best for Sunday. Hope that all goes well and you can recover quickly and fullys.
Many congratulations on the engagement too.
Will be thinking of you.
Congratulations to you both, and all the very best of luck.
From someone who doesn't know you (apart from via this), but admires the hell out of you for the way you're going at it.
Mark and Meg - big congratulations both and stay strong! Mark - heal real soon!!! With the might of the STW massive behind you, you're gonna beat this.
Just add Mark, your comment "I'm now off to puke with fear..." I hope you have discussed your understandable anxiety with medical staff. Because anxiety can be treated with a whole variety of things - and very effectively too. Keeping it bottled in is just pointless and unnecessary. And as I said, consider phoning/speaking to patient support groups if you aren't already doing so.
Congratulations and I wish you all the best with your op, from the short fat irishman.
Thinking about you.
Look at the positives, they are operating on you because they feel you can beat this. Which given the way you come across on your previous posts it sounds like you can, given time and the right treatment.
I wish you and Meg all the positive healing vibes in the world and congrats on your engagement.
Hang in there you CAN win this battle.
Well I think youre a right brave bastard for what its worth.
I'm now off to puke with fear...
My eyes are like saucers. Don't look back now dude. And congrats on the engagement.
I've been reading this thread since the initial post but still can't really put into words my thoughts and admiration for the strength and determination you are both showing.
Kick it in the balls really hard and make sure it doesn't get back up again, not quiet the rhetoric I'm looking for but my best wishes and thoughts are with you both.
And congratulations, being engaged/married really does make you a stronger person
Mark,
You've shown tremendous inner strength, not to mention a big pair of balls. Keep it up.
Inner strength is our light through a forest of trees,
Guiding our way, always, with the greatest of ease,
Embracing our purpose, down each earthen trail,
And the single reason, we’ll always prevail.
All the best.
I will be praying for you mate - keep strong.
Every person on here shares one thing, and that is that they all grab life by the balls and meet it head-on, and that's obviously true about you.
Hit it, it it hard. Hard like you really mean it. And when you come out the other side you'll have all these other riders whoopin and a hollerin' like you've just nailed the biggest, sickest, gnarliest, knee-tremblin gap this side of the 'shore. 'Cause that's what it is, it's time to suck it up and believe you can stick it, because you know you can.
Go to it man, and go good, with all of our energy!
Don't normally post on these sort of threads about people I don't know, but feel compelled to say good luck. They're doing something to fix it, presumably because they think that's possible, so stay positive.
Following on from all the other comments, just give it hell! It's an operation to help you, and it's a battle the doctors think you'll win and everyone on STW knows you will, so just concentrate on what's in front, one pedal stroke at a time.
And more importantly congratulations to you and Meg on the engagement. It's fantastic that you have such a strong and wonderful lady to deal with all of this with, and we'll all be there toasting the wedding day when it happens.
Keep strong, keep kicking and keep doing what you need to do.
You do realise that at your wedding you are going to have to invite everyone off Singletrack to your reception? It's going to be huge!!
And you'd better get some good beer in. And plenty of it!
Best of luck for sunday.
Hope it helps to have a sounding board. Don't know you, but rooting for you all the same. Good luck for Sunday eh
All the best for everything that is to come, be strong.
I sat in my garden this evening and thought of you as I looked out across the valley into the Beacons. When you have finished this- which you will- drop me a line and come ride here in South Wales. I'll buy the beer, you deserve it.
Ambrose
You may never have to buy beer again. There are certainly a couple of pints waiting in taps in Edinburgh and some sweet singletrack to be ridden. Good luck.
Congratulations on your engagement, what a cracking missus you must have. Now get in there and kick its tits off!
Congratulations on your engagement.
All the best for Sunday
Your positivity is inspirational.
All the best for Sunday mark (& meg).
I'm doing the great north run for macmillan and you're an inspiration for me to finish it.
Keep smiling bud.
all the best from another stranger. not sure about prayers personally so positive vibes from coventry.
All the best - positive vibes from Cheltenham. Look forward to meeting you out on the trails!
I've been following this thread from day one, and I echo the sentiments of everyone above. You and meg are a real inspiration to me in the way you're dealing with this - I really don't think I would have the same strength.
I'll be thinking of you over the next few days. rip the ****ers balls off.
jim
Congratulations on your engagement.
In times of stress, in your minds eye get yourself on your favourite trail and ride it like your never ridden it before.
2 singletrackworlders in our household, who really are impressed with your courage and strength.
xx from bunnyhop one for each of you.
Mark and Meg,
Echoing the above really - all the very best for tomorrow (and beyond) & congrats on the engagement - speaking of which - you've got mail 😉
Mr+MrsMM
All the best for the op. Stay on target.
Any news?
My neck hurts...
I had the op yesterday to remove the gland at the front of my windpipe. All very quick and efficient, and my cardio-thoracic specialist was very honest and truthful. I'm pretty tired, and haven't really slept, but am looking forward to my three MRI's today....(sigh)
Will update properly later. Take care.
Good luck,I had a head MRI a couple of months ago,and it's not very nice.
Glad the first surgery went OK,keep hanging in there.
Ian
Something else out of the way! All the best for the MRIs.
Mark. I'm glad things went well yesterday.
Good luck for today.
well thats a result, one step closer to getting rid of it 😉
3 MRI's? Well at least you are getting your moneys worth! 🙂
Only just picked up on your post.....best wishes and hang on on there
Bovine?? Can you not ask to get something a little more niche? Whilst the scar will indeed be cool, imagine the story you can tell if you have something like rhino tissue in there, or lion!
Joking aside, glad you can now see the enemy and have it's measure. You _will_ beat this.
Any news on where the "doo of the year" is to be held? and Flash, can I have a lift please? no doubt Wendy will want the car for summit nappy-features related.
Should we eat before we get there or is food provided?
Good luck fella, me and mrs skip are keeping all our fingers and toes crossed for you. Keep fighting it and keep that positive outlook you have. Congrats on the engagement and keep us posted on your progress.
Take care Mark and Meg
The Skips x
you're one day closer to remission, steady as it goes, good luck
My mother is an ex-Macmillan nurse,I have followed the thread and being impressed by your bravery, I forwarded the thread to her and she told me that your attitude to your condition was typical of the sort of person who beats this. Good luck.
been following this from the start and trying to come up with the right words, still can't, so i will just say good luck and kick it!
Hey Mark, Your one tough cookie keep it up and many congratulations on the engagement
All the best to you two, let us know if we can be of any more use on the tinterwebs 🙂