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

Mark, hope you've had a better day/night than yesterday and that you've had some much needed rest.

FCx

From reading your posts Mark, you certainly appear to be one of those people who make sure they are in the surviving percentage.

It may not seem like it, but this is just a blip which will leave you with some cool scars to make up stories about.

Could the thwack of the bat on your chest caused this in anyway?

keep positive we are all thinking of you. You will come through the other side and boast to your kids one day how you got that scar.

You're both inspiring people.

I'm sitting at home after an MTB crash with two crushed vertebrae, three broken ribs and a broken hand, and I was feeling a bit sorry for myself.

.. not any more.

Hi Mark, hope you're feeling a bit better today. I thought your last post seemed pretty upbeat considering the surgery. I expect you and Meg are busy now preparing for a wonderful wedding.

Hope you are feeling better today Mark. I've not been on STW for a couple of weeks so have just spent a while catching up on how things have been going. Congratulations on the engagement, that's great news. Stag do next year in Yorkshire? Count me in!

Much love to you both, we are all 100% behind you. You can do this.

Hey Mark & Meg

Hope you are fighting again today. Still keeping you both in my thoughts

DC

Mark,

Hope today is going better than the last one you posted about. Keep strong.

Best.

Another hoping you are feeling a bit better, a bit stronger here.
Neil

Truly humbling this thread. Best wishes you two, always in our thoughts.

Keep up the good work Mark. Thanks for the update. Praying you get some good sleep soon x Thinking of you

Hello everyone, it's Meg here.

Today we had our first visit to the Royal Marsden to meet Mark's oncologist and find out about what treatment he will be receiving. I think Mark has been waiting for today before posting again so he had some news.

The initial conversation with the consultant was good, we like him and he has outlined the treatment programme (two types of chemo drug, starting next Wednesday, followed by radiotherapy). Then Mark explained that he had a chest infection, the GP had given him antibiotics, but he was feeling really ill still and his feet were swelling up. The consultant immediately listened to his chest, sent him for a chest x-ray, and we find out that his right lung is full of fluid – so much for it being a chest infection…

So, as always seems to happen when we go for outpatient appointments, Mark is now up at the Marsden for the night so they can drain the fluid off tomorrow.

Obviously it's all a little stressful, but if it's anything like the pericardial effusion he had in the summer, once drained he will feel immediately better. This means he should be able to enjoy Saturday (the wedding of the year…), and actually if chemo starts next week it'll probably be the only Saturday in the next few months when he feels well.

Anyway, this is just meant to be a little update (sorry it got rather long), and I'm sure that once discharged Mark will want to write more himself.

Once again, thank you for your wonderful comments. Despite hardly being able to breathe, yesterday Mark was going on about suitable cycling venues for someone recovering from cardiac surgery so I imagine it's only a matter of time before he's out there again!

Thanks folks,

Megan

I've been watching this thread. Best wishes to you guys from this end.

Cheers for the update Megan. Have a fantastic day on Saturday!! 😀 – very best wishes to you both.

wish you all the best Megan and Mark

Good to hear from you Meg, the consultant sounds like he's on the ball. From what Mark was saying earlier in the thread, having the treatment mapped out now must be helpful. I bet the wedding's going to be huge fun for you both!

Have been reading this thread for a while. I don't know either of you but you have both been in my thoughts for the previous weeks.

Wishing you good vibes.

Pete

what time are the nuptials? I shall climb off my bike at the appointed hour and just reflect on how lucky i am that it isn't me, and to once again be humbled by the positive way you are both approaching this.

Now get some sleep. You have a busy few days coming up.

Pass on our best wishes from all the Tankslapper clan

Thinking of you both

TS

Enjoy your day together, will be thinking of you both.

Best wishes for Saturday, take a moment to stand still, breathe in and enjoy the moment. You'll have an absolute blast.

Saturday- I'll raise a glass to you both. Be strong, be happy.

there will be glasses raised to you both all over this land on Saturday , all the very best cheers

Fingers crossed for Mark, and best wishes for Saturday Meg & Mark

Best of luck for tomorrow and Mark's treatment, hope he feels better.

I hope you have a fantastic day on Saturday! 😀 I'll be thinking of you too.
Neil

All the very best for saturday, I hope you have a fantastic day to remember.

Have a fab day on Saturday it will be a special occasion.

It's just one more 'interesting' thing you can tell the grandkids. have a great day on Saturday. hope it's a good one.

Very best wishes for the big day on Saturday – have a wonderful day, you'll enjoy every second of it.

(I would raise a wheel to you both on Saturday, but I'd just fall off!).

it must seem like a step forward and a hop back with the lungs but i suspect it is all part of the process. it must be a relief to get things mapped out so you know where you are heading in smaller more managable steps. Have a right old shin dig on Saturday i will raise a glass of something to you both. This post is quite incredible and brings me to tears everytime at how well you are both coping with it. congrats again for Saturday.

Thoughts with you. I mentioned many pages back about my Dad's fight against cancer which he lost last Monday, he know his time was up and his funeral is tomorrow.

Make sure Mark never feels like this and he'll be back riding very soon.

What about a welcome back to riding Mark STW ride sometime soon?

Thanks for taking the time to update us all Meg.
Hope you both have a fantastic day on Saturday.
Whatever you do though, unless you are about 4 stone, don't let him try and carry you over the threshold!! 8)

Oh, and we want pics…

So Mark casually mentions to the doc that he has a bit of a sniffle and it turns out one of his lungs is full of liquid.
I get the feeling if he broke his leg he'd just stick a plaster on it and carry on going. More strength than I can imagine.
Keep on fighting both of you and congratulations for Saturday 🙂

Just wanted to add my best wishes for Saturday, I hope you have a wonderful day. All the best!

Get yer feet up fella – Saturday is fast approaching and there's a first dance to do…
and get the feeling there'll be trouble if you let a 'little cold' stop you making it to the dance floor 😀

All the best to you both for Saturday
C&S

p.s. Royal Marsden did well by our little friend, trust they'll do well by you to!

I'd like to add something profoundly cheering and empathetic on top of what's already been said, but it's already been said better, so yeah, "what they said" to you both…

Just keep on keeping on.

Woppit. 🙂

Hope you both have a fantastic day on Saturday.

Enjoy it, if any one deserves to its you guys 😀

Megan,

Like many on here I have been following your story with a feeling of great admiration and thanks for taking the time to update us on Mark progress. Sounds as if the consultant oncologist is on the ball and Mark should be up and about for your big day.

Best wishes for Saturday and just remember to have fun

Regards

Mark

Thanks for the update Meg, I hope you are coping as well as you sound you are. Pass on my best to Pete and good luck for Saturday.

Post photos!!!!