Isn't life good, you don't realise what you have (long)

markmod

Hi all,

Isn't life good, you don't realise what you have until it's gone do you....

This weekend has been a fabulous time, firstly, my eldest Daughter has given birth to my first Grandson, a fantastic baby boy of 7lb 3oz on saturday morning, and the bike ride today, my first since last May, was a real milestone in my life, on the long road to recovery from throat cancer...

I cannot tell you how much these two things have meant to me this weekend. When I had the diagnosis in May last year, at the age of 44, and a fit non smoker, I felt like a bombshell had exploded!

I was prescribed six chemo sessions after the offending T2 throat cancer lump was removed, and thirty four radio therapy sessions. One every day of the working week for nearly seven weeks.

Over this time the consultants gradually 'divulged' how hard the treatment was going to be for me. I had a tight 'thermo formed' mask made over my head to ensure, when I was clipped onto the table, the radio therapy would always be focused on the right part of my neck and cheek (to kill off my left saliva gland)

I was fitted with a 'PEG' feed tube straight into my stomach, as the radiotherapy would burn the inside of my throat to the point I couldn't eat, drink or talk, and before that the chemo would make everything taste of wet cardboard soaked in metal!

So to cut a long story short, I was unable to eat, drink or talk for two months, the burning became worse for a month after the radiotherapy finished... I longed for proper food that i could taste and enjoy, but water and nutrifood in bags was pumped straight into my stomach overnight as I slept, all communication was by the way of a wipe-board and pen, and the endless coughing of nastiness seemed never ending! I had bed sores from sitting about the house. I longed for a ride on my bike, but felt so ill, I couldn't.... To top it all I was then diagnosed with skin cancer when I had a mole removed that had turned black. Bet your thinking that Guy has some bad luck eh?

But today nearly four months out from end of my treatment, I rode again , and I cannot tell you how good it felt, with the warm winter sun on my face. I rode with a Camelbak Velobak (as my throat can be so dry and sore with so little saliva now) which worked fab to keep me lubricated. I am slimmer than before (I lost nearly three stone) which is good, but although I have been doing some turbo sessions, my legs were like my new born Grandsons today. I had so little power but managed five and a half glorious miles before the late winter sun became to low for safe driver visibility!!

Life is so good now, I held my Grandson yesterday, and my last MRI scan showed no lumps or bumps of the dreaded big 'C'... and Oh boy food tastes so good again!!

I now realise just how so important life is, I don't worry about the little, silly things in life anymore, I am in a 'life's too short' stage of my life at the moment as you would expect...

I owe my life to my lovely partner, Vicky (who cared for me) and my superb GP, who sent me immediately to the specialist at the Leicester Royal Infirmary, and to the fantastic team of consultants, radiotherapists, chemo team, nutritionist, dietician and nurses (both NHS and Macmillan) at the LRI... I do not know what better care you could receive, even if you paid for treatment as private patient!

So here's to a Happy New Year to you all on Bikeradar... I look forward to (with ever positive thoughts) many more bike rides in the future now and to see my fantastic Grandson grow up into a man.

morstar

Fantastic, uplifting!
Good luck with your ongoing recovery.

Bobbinogs

Mark, here's to you and your partner, who surely deserves a name check

Keep it going mate.

pottssteve

markmod,

Thank you for posting. As someone who has also had cancer I feel the same way as you - you have GOT to enjoy the good times.

Congratulations on the grandson, and keep healthy. Enjoy the cycling!

Best wishes,
Steve

meanredspider

great news to hear you're out the other side!

I now realise just how so important life is, I don't worry about the little, silly things in life anymore, I am in a 'life's too short' stage of my life at the moment as you would expect...

Yup - I'm at Yorkhill right now whilst my 13 year old son has chemo. You have no idea how quickly life can change. On the same day that Charlie was diagnosed, a friend and colleague was diagnosed too - pancreatic cancer - usually terminal. He too was very fit - marathon, endurance bike events etc.

I don't know how you can get across to people how quick it can happen and how quickly everything is different - somehow simpler.

Good luck & well done. I have some sense of what you've been through.

dabber

Good on you Mark (and your partner)... a great read. I wish you a great future.

golfergmc

Glad to hear you got the all clear from the MRI, enjoy your life and above all enjoy your grandson.

Velonutter

Glad to hear things are on the up Mark, everything you said brings home the reality whilst my wife is undergoing Chemo, she's currently neutropenic and having to stay in hospital.

Life can be such an ass and it great to hear that you are back on your bike, savour every minute of every hour of every day.

Good Luck. 8)

oaky

Markmod

I'm glad to read your post for a couple of reasons. First, I remember you posting when you were first diagnosed and I'm happy to read that you're through it all ok. But also, I went through a similar experience (6 chemo sessions and the radiotherapy mask) about 18 months ago. The further you get into remission the easier it is to get sucked back into the crap of everyday life.Or at least that's how it's been with me. Reading your post has just reminded me exactly how I felt when I'd finished treatment. And reminded me again that the small things don't matter. Not one little bit.

So thank you for that. Congratulations on the birth of your grandson, and I hope the rest of your recovery is easy.

tlw1

Great uplifting thread

xterra

Fantastic news for you and all your family :-) and a reason for us all to always keep positive and make the most of what we have....

happy riding ( and grandchild minding )

xterra

Fantastic news for you and all your family :-) and a reason for us all to always keep positive and make the most of what we have....

happy riding ( and grandchild minding )

ratsbeyfus

Thanks for sharing such an uplifting story... it's put some perspective on my Sunday night blues. Good luck to you and the family in 2011.

WisePranker

Fantastic news, glad to hear that things are looking up for you

Enjoy your new lease of life!

daviesee

The vast majority of us need a real kick up the perspective while others are dealing with the things we haven't even considered.

Thanks for that kick and it is good to hear you are back onto the road to fitness and have already achieved the happiness part.

Anonymous

I have had cancer as well, glad to hear another good news story. Congratulations on your grandson and wishing you well for the new year. Chapeau.

lucan

Mark,

Congrats on the grandson and best wishes for your continued good health. And thanks for putting my trivial every-day moans and groans into sharp perspective.

An inspirational thread, including the posts that followed Mark's. Some of us just don't realise how lucky we are.

nax-ian

Mark
If we ever meet the beer's on me!
Great story.
Stay in the saddle

bristolpete

Hey Mark,

I've often wondered how you have been. So pleased that you've made it and turned the corner. Best wishes to you all - I wish you ongoing good health.

Pete.

deptfordmarmoset

I've not had such a severe illness but I've been through some bad times with my health, and I've also recently (4 months ago) become a grandfather, so I'm some way to understanding how you must feel. I hardly have a penny to my name either, but that really doesn't matter. Meanwhile, I'm already planning Isabella's first rides.

Challenge: I bet my granddaughter would beat your grandson over 10 miles...no rush, any time between now and 15 years hence

Dirk1978

Mark,

A great story and to everyone else who is having to deal with the 'C' word good luck and my thoughts are with you.

Mayhemwmb

Cheers,

I've just given myself a shake - been really pished off with myself after a minor bump in my car today,
I turned off a gritted road onto sheet ice, the car went straight and the front drivers side wheel whacked into the kerb bending the steering on the car, I'm dreading the trip to the garage for the usual rip off repair costs and consequently I've moped about all afternoon.

Then I've read your post - puts my minor inconvenience into perspective, cheers again and best of luck

markmod

Many thanks to all for your kind words, and thanks to Bobbinogs about the heads up to mention my 'Misses' name... now fixed in first post... phew that was close.

meanredspider my thoughts are with your thirteen year old Son, and family... and your friend too. Keep fighting, all of you!! I was most upset, whilst at the hospital having my treatment, to see the youngsters having chemo and rads... They don't deserve any of this disease at all!!!

Velonutter hope your Wife's blood is soon back to normal levels and she can return home, I had a few nights in hospital and it was good to get home for a rest if you get my drift, not sure how anyone can sleep on the wards!!

oaky your ongoing remission fills me with great hope. good news indeed. I'm sure I will (after time) slip back into the general ways of life, to live a normal life (if there is such a thing) I suppose one must?

Hi again bristolpete, I have been following your thread about your little niece 'Amelia' i was so glad when she has shown she is beginning to win the battle against her infection. Again I can only try to understand how this has been for you and all 'Amelia's' family. Good luck to her and best wishes in her ongoing return to health.

deptfordmarmoset you're on with the challenge, the Grandson is already in training... His legs were going ten to the dozen yesterday in his cot!!! By the way, if you think there is a an awful lot of cycling gear you can buy nowadays, well I was in Mothercare yesterday (yes I'm a 'new' man) and there is now loads and loads more stuff (than when I had my kids) to buy, Digital this and that, Heart rate and breathing monitors, Video monitors and much much more!!! I didn't see a Garmin edge baby GPS though!!!

Again, thanks to you all for so many kind words... and anyone reading this thread going towards treatment for Cancer, if asked would I have gone through the treatment again knowing now hard it would be, my answer would be a resounding "HELL YES, WITHOUT ANY HESITATION!!" We all have to fight this thing,.. Wives, Husbands, friends, family and acquaintances in someway it touches us all in someway. i'm looking (at some point) to do a Lands End to John 'O' Groats to try and repay in my small way, a little of what Cancer Charities and Cancer Research have done for me (in good time obviously when firing on all cylinders again!)

Gazzaputt

All the best to you and congrats on becoming a grandad!