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

i think ive got some dust in my eye

All the best Mark, cheers for keeping the thread updated.

I'd love to make some super-witty remark that would make you laugh but I can't…………..I'm overwhelmed by your bravery (both of you) and willingness to tackle this thing head on so all I can do is offer support and love. KEEP FIGHTING. ❗

yup, dust in the eye, thats it.
keep on trucking fella.

I'm broken. I'm not sure how I'll get it back, or whether I have the strength to.

Oh I'm pretty certain you have the strength (maybe some days more than others) and will get back just fine.

And I tend to be right about this kind of thing.

I'm broken. I'm not sure how I'll get it back, or whether I have the strength to.

It will heal- the surgeon has had to open up your chest which is a fairly brutal process. They do heal well and with little or no deficit. The way they do the access involves cutting thru the sternum – so effectivly you have broken bones to heal – however the good part is doing it that way does not involve cutting muscles/ tendons or ligaments – and bones heal better than they do.

It will take time but it will repair and repair well. A couple of weeks it will feel better – a couple of months it will be fine

I assume you will have had large doses of anaesthetic and the operation took a while – that is a lot of chemicals in your body that take a good few days to get rid of. that will make you feel really weak and feeble but should only last a few days

You might be feeling crushed Mark, but you've just done ten rounds with one mean bastard. It's not often that STW is united about anything (anything!), but they are on this: very best wishes to you and Meg. Keep on fighting.

all the best to you and Meg, don't know what else to say other than expressing support

Mark – you just had major surgery be kind to yourself – am amazed you could even cross the road! Excepting the cancer that surgery will take a big toll but you will get over that and get stronger – it's just that you are fighting on so many fronts at the moment.
It will get better and then when you are stronger you can continue the battle. Good so far and thanks for updating us . x

I couldn't cross the road at Tunbridge Wells Station quickly enough and got beeped; Meg had gone to collect the car, and I'd told her I'd be fine. The truth of the matter is, I'm not. I'm broken

WTF…..you're out and about ? 😯

I amazed that you can cross the street at all, never mind about sprinting across it – you've just had major open heart surgery 10 days ago ffs !

You might be a bit "broken", but that will heal – just don't expect to take only a few days !
Good luck stay strong and positive, and be easy on yourself.

And thanks for the update btw 8)

I've followed this thread with tears and amazement (and not a little fright at how rapidly these things develop) ….. talked about you with my bike mates at Relentless …. and am so relieved to see you emerge scarred, but definitely not broken. Even if we're not all posting our support, you must know that there is a whole community of silent 'watchers' who are willing you both towards that small glimmer of light.

Take care of each other.

Sounds like you are already well on the road to recovery – it seems only a few days ago that you were under the knife. To be up, out and walking about in such a short space of time is amazing.

Best wishes to you and Meg for your on-going recovery!

What ernie said!!

How the hell you can cross the street in the first place is beyond me – well done Mark. Lance Armstrong couldn't ride a bike after his op and you cross a street!

And next time someone beeps you when crossing the road hit them and tell them I said it was O.K. 😆

And don't worry about the STW massive, since you last posted everyone's fallen out over Stephen Gately, Hora is still posting amusing tosh, I bought a new light and everyone's still thinking about you man, 😉

Best wishes to both of you
TS

The first part of your post made me lol. And yes, some dust was floating about when I read the second part. I also can't believe that a few days after open heart surgery you're trying to run across the road! Mental. Meg, you need to get to the shed and lock his bikes up with something he can't break ASAP, because nothing is going to hold this bloke back!

I finished my first aid training today, so now I'm fully qualified. Before I've made a few half hearted efforts to be a first responder, but now I'm really going to push for it. Cheers for the help with that Mark.

If in doubt, just ask yourself what would Chuck Norris do?

Keep roundhouse kicking this thing in the nadgers, you're doing better than you think.

Chuck Norris?

You mention Chuck Norris and I in the same thread?

Suddenly there is a reason to live. To fight. To love.

Seems like it's been a pretty dusty day all over the country today then. 🙂

You feeling a bit more comfortable now Mark?

I've been keeping tabs on your posts and I am in awe of both of you, your courage and strenght is inspirational. The best of luck to you and your wonderful partner.

Survived the op' and 90% of the tumour is gone
The rest will be finished off by the therapy
You're already on the road mate
Your body is tougher then you realise
In time you will be strong again.

Hang on in there.

Major Heart Surgery last Friday, and you are walking across a road yesterday ?

You are one hell of a guy.
Respect to your Meg.

Get well soon.

My chest, my beautiful strong chest that I loved is no more.

Mark, I felt the same after OHS. I thought I would never feel strong or healthy or whole again … but you will. Whenever I catch sight of my scar or feel some discomfort in my chest, it just reminds me of how strong I was to get through. I hope this helps. I know you have so much more than a broken chest to contend with and I am willing you on.

Mark – your abilty to MTFU is beyond reproach…..

So, please take a minute to MTF Down…. don't let pride get in the way – put your Chuck Norris element into the mental fight but take it easy, accept the odd helping hand and all that – accepting help now by no means means you'll need that helping hand for ever – your bod has a bit of work to do at the mo, try and let it 😀

Healing vibes and happy thoughts to you and Megan….. Mr&MrsMM

headfirst – Member
Wow. I've seen this thread on the forum summary before but avoided it as I thought it would be 'bit of a downer'…I was wrong. I've been transfixed and moved in a 'big gulps/holding back the tears' way by your honest yet wry postings, Mark. Respect to you and the missus to be (not long now to the big day!).

Get well soon.

Mark – I'm with Headfirst on this one, didn't really look in earlier as I was having a family cancer trauma and getting it out in the open really helps LINK

Good luck to you and yours and all the best.

Also many thanks to STWers for you fantastic support

Hello Mark and Meg I have been following this post from the start and have found your strength inspiring, just wanted to say Good Luck and dont push yourself to hard, take one step at a time.

Mark,
Get Meg to get some Petit Filou Yoghurts, as a victim of TV advertising I now know for an absolute fact they make your bones grow strong. The french girl in the TV ad tells me often enough .
Seriously tho, get well, heal fast, heal strong, beat the mofo in the face with some bombers, and get through this then we can all go for a decent ride , and get proper drunk afto.

And keep posting!

Keep strong. Keep fighting. Remember "this too shall pass".

Look forward to the 31st and to your future with Meg.

I look forward to meeting you both at your STW stag do ride next year.

Mark

You will heal, each day will see you a little bit stronger. I will never forget the first day I looked at my scar. I thought I was going to pass out. Now when I look at it I draw strength from it as it reminds me where I have come from and what I had to over come to get here. Take each day as it comes and with it will come a little more strength. Set targets and push to acheive them. Today you crossed the street. Tomorrow you will cross it a little faster and by the end of the week you will be walking to the end. The week after you will go further and at a point in the not very distant future you will be back on the bike and ripping up the trails.

I know you will win this battle – fight the bugger every step of the way and you will win. We are all here rooting for you. Kick it, punch it, bite it.

Thinking of you and Meg all the time.

Just come across this thread and read them all from the first post,I think your an absolute inspiration to have the strength to carry on posting and share your & Megs experience with us all. I wish you a speedy recovery and hope You have a wonderful wedding day which is something you both must be looking forward to. I'm still fuming about the bloody trainee Dr's on their mobile during the your consultation, I would have thrown my bedpan at him.

All the best!

I can only add my best wishes and my admiration for the way you are handling all this.
Incredulous that you can walk that soon after major surgery, let alone cross a road, fantastic IMHO.

Really hope to meet you on the trails when you're ready, I feel sure you will be and sooner than you think.

Not much to add really just keep fighting and as always all the best to both you and Meg from the Gibbys.

Mark- I believe that everybody is capable of stupendous things. You have shown this.

I too am a teacher. I try to boost my pupil's self-confidence in every way I can. You are an example that I would love to use- when the going gets tough- the tough get going. And YOU are one tough bloke, of that I'm sure.

I think Chuck Norris would bow to you Mark, seriously keep up the fight mate, I know my words are easy to write but keep trying harder than ever.

Over the past few weeks reading this thread you sound like the strongest man ever, I wish all us folks could help you more than just words.

So as always keep up the fight, your doing grand 🙂

Alex

I banged my knee yesterday. It's all stiff now and hurts when I cross the road. All considered, I reckon it's (probably) ok if you're finding walking tough!

I would add 'Chin Up' and similar comments, but you don't seem to need any help on that front. Amazing!

All the best,

Tom

Well, Mr Fradgley, you've made be bloody well cry and that wasn't on my to-do list today!! 8)

Can't believe you're up and about already!

Oh, and have you considered taking up writing to pass the hours of your recovery, cos you're damned good at it!
All the best Sir!!!
😀

Was thinking exactly the same FoxyChick.
Mark you should at least keep some sort of blog/journal/diary. Full of all your observations and quips.

Wipes dirt out of eye.

Mark,

You are one very strong willed, focused individual mate, don't loose the focus or the will, and along with all the other well wishers I am 100% confident you'll beat this.

All the best matey!

Andy & the Mrs

Thanks for all the positive comments guys; very helpful in the current situation, although I'm not sure they're justified.

The last two days have been about R + R, which I'm sure is easy for some folk. I think it sucks, but am trying to remain positive and philisophical to it's true benefits. I think my head travels in a different orbit to that of my body, and this misalignment is causing a headache for me and those around.

Meg is pretty run down with the weight of the last two weeks, and we made a visit to the GP yesterday to get ask a few questions. We wanted to find out how to store sperm in the event of chemo/radio, whether we needed a flu jab, how to boost Megs immune system, etc. This GP was quite helpful, answering plenty of the difficult Q's and spending a good deal of time with us. I cynincally believe this is because the previous GP ballsed up my initial diagnosis so badly and they think we might sue! Meg doesn't agree…..

I'm going stir crazy not doing anything. Don't get me wrong; I'm not a bloody rambler, who's desperate to get out when I hear a badger fart, but sitting in a house all day watching TV will not assist me in my quest to be fit for treatment. So today, we went out for a wander, walked the dog, popped into T.Wells, then mooched over to my Aunts place for a cup of tea, and back to ours to meet up with Meg's step-mum and half-brother.

In hindsight, it was probably the wrong thing to do. Meg is now knackered, and I'm very quickly starting to realise the limits of my CV fitness. STW 1 – MF 0. I will now start to listen….! 😯

A Funny thing that Meg told me about. My consultant has just started playing Womens rugby, and dropped it into coversation when we fisrt met up. I am county coach for womens rugby, and offered to help her develop her skills. She doesn't have any balls to practice kicking with though, and being a PE teacher I have gazillions, so I offered toget a net bag with about ten in for her to hoof around. Apparently, whilst under the final throws of anasthesia before the op, I informed her staff (whilst lying prone with my nutsack on display) that they needed to tell her that "I had a bag of balls for her…"

I now have an unusually wonky scar near my nethers. I hope she didn't take offence.

🙂

🙂
PS: don't overdo it.

STW 1 – MF 0. I will now start to listen.

very valuable lesson that, I know what you mean about being in with TV on I'm looking for work so spend a good portion of time inside even having it on not looking at it is draining. I mean since when did alan tichmarsh get his own show, he's such a smug git. Did you get married yet or is that still to come?

😆 😆 😆