As most of you know, in September 2017 my lovely mam, Julie, was diagnosed with an advanced rectal cancer aged 54.  Like the warrior she is, she has undergone over 12 months of aggressive treatments to fight this disease, including radiotherapy, radical life changing surgery and 6 months of gruelling chemotherapy. In December she will also have a liver resection, in the hope that we can get rid of this disease for good. 

Unbelievably, in June this year my equally lovely Dad, Neville, was also diagnosed with the same disease, aged 59. He was lucky to have had a screening because of my Mam’s diagnosis, and originally we believed he had a Stage I cancer. Since his diagnosis, he has also undergone life changing surgery, and was then delivered the unexpected and devastating news that his cancer had spread quickly to many local lymph nodes. As a result, he has now just started the same 6 months course of chemotherapy that my Mam endured.

The toll of relentless treatments alongside the unpredictability of cancer cannot be explained unless you have endured it, and endure it we have as a family with the support of our loved ones. As heartbreaking as it is to see two people you love in the same chemo ward at the same time, without these life changing treatments we would never have stood a chance. The ever advancing treatments and support from all of the doctors, colorectal nurses, stoma nurses and charities have given us hope. This year has been the most challenging of all for all of us, especially my parents, but without cancer research and the amazing NHS we’d have had no hope at all.

To do my bit, I will again try and grow facial hair for Decembeard to raise money for Beating Bowel Cancer. I’ve already had my final shave, in the hope that I end up with something that resembles a beard. It really is the least I can do. Please support if you can, every little helps, and will be help fund research into more life saving treatments. You really don’t know when the ones you care about the most will need them.

Thank you!

Mark 

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