I have one of the rarest cancers on Earth. Discuss.

Hello,

I'm a long-time lurker and short-time poster and wondered if the lfgss hive-mind might be able to help me make a difference.

I have cancer. Actually, I have one of the rarest cancers on Earth. Its also incurable. Whilst the more emotionally able of you are getting your heads around this, a couple of things need pointing out. Firstly, I'm not here for pity; I need your help. Tears and rage are fucking useless to me, so by all means if you fancy sending an email DO NOT include the words "I'm so sorry..." don't. Secondly, I'm not a hardman. I regularly shit myself in uncontrollable fear at the thought of dying, but I'm fairly defiant and belligerent so will do my best to stop it happening.

I'm a regular on the SingleTrackWorld forum (MTB, though I ride SS; hence the interest in this forum), and I'll include a link to my long-running (and most widely read) post about my fight with incurable cancer. My post is funny, scary and touching. There is humour throughout - I couldn't bear the idea of writing a doom-filled post, because I want folk to recognise that being diagnosed is not the end. I've also started a blog and have a JustGiving site for donations for the ride.

I am not here to beg for money. If you'd like to donate, that'd be fantastic. What I really want is for you all to spread the word - that you know of a guy who's fighting terrible odds, but won't give in.

I like this forum. Its funny, sharp and good for a laugh. folk on here might think I'm a prick for putting this up, but I've got big shoulders and am happy to engage in banter, so please don't tiptoe around things. Read the post. I've been approached by a documentary maker and a publishing company, so it can't be that shit.

Pass this on to all of your contacts. All of 'em. Pass it on to folk you know with cancer who are scared and lonely. I'll meet up with any of them (or you bastards) for a coffee and go through the lot if it helps.

http://www.justgiving.com/TheBullheartJOGLE2010

http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/i-think-im-about-to-be-diagnosed-with-cancer-and-im-fairly-scared

http://petesgaff.wordpress.com

Thank you for listening. All I want to do is let people know that its not okay to give up, and that I'll do what I can to change the odds for all of us. Even if I'm quite possibly the shittest rider you've ever seen...

Cheers,

petesgaff

I don't think ANYBODY would think you're a prick for posting. In fact I think this post is pretty damn epic. :)

Also, he's doing JOGLE (John O'Groats to Lands End) rather than LEJOG. Headwind the whole way when you go that way.

The strength shown in your post brought a tear to my eye. I lost my mother to cancer and the forum lost it's naughty uncle 50/14 on NYE 2009.

Also, he's doing JOGLE (John O'Groats to Lands End) rather than LEJOG. Headwind the whole way when you go that way.

JOGLE?

Pah, he needs to HTFU.

When I were suffering from incurable cancer I ran backwards for eighteen days through hurricane Katrina, naked, over broken glass, towing a truck full of orphans with my cock.

Chapeau.

Well not really, but it's hard to read about incurable cancer without wanting to say sorry. So petesgaff, if I can't be sorry that you've got cancer, I'm damn well going to be sorry for being a knob about it.

And well done for being strong about it. Very admirable.

Orphans? Your cock?

Bollocks fella. All the trucks were out of commission.

Fucking liar...

if you fancy sending an email DO NOT include the words "I'm so sorry..." don't.

At the risk of derailing the thread, I have to agree with you on this. Most of my male relatives on my dads side have died of bowel cancer, there is probably a good chance I'll get it later in life.

The number of times I heard that phrase, especially when my dad died, and I just thought "you have nothing to be sorry for you cunt".

Anyway, good luck with the ride, and good luck with the cancer, as you say you don't fancy going yet, as long as you are still alive you are still proving the statistics wrong.

^it would be more appropriate to say "oh, bummer", or something.

Anyway, hasn't Lance Armstrong bought the rights to cancer? He'll probably want a cut from the justgiving page.

He's got a patent on it. All sufferers have to pay him, but as that's too complex the global health industry just gives him a license fee.

It's not about the patent.

Givestrong Ltd.

It's about being able to dope and to say "But I've only got one testicle!"?

Mine's the big bad wolf of cancers. The Pol Pot of cancers.

My cancer would fuck his cancer up big style...

But his cancer would force your cancer to sign a non-disclosure agreement, question the mental health of your cancer, and then stop your cancer from riding off the front.

Welcome to the forum, petesgaff.

I've had a cancer scarce a couple of months ago, but it turned out to be a cyst. Still managed to shit myself. I'm still waiting for a proper appointment, but had an ultrasound and they told me to piss off for now. I fell very lucky, but have learned a lesson.
I'd be up for any kind of fundraising or charity rides. Come up to some drinks if you can.

Come up to some drinks if you can.

I'd love to for sure. I'm not wearing my sisters jeans though...

^ You're not welcome anymore. :)

I have a friend at the Marsden at the moment being treated for something pretty darn similar to you (sarcoma cancer), wouldn't be surprised if you got dealt with by the same people. best of luck getting out on your bike as much as poss

I'd love to for sure. I'm not wearing my sisters jeans though...

You better not. No jeggins, no spoks, no moustache without a beard, no plimsoils(solls).

Riding white Randonneurs is however OK.

You better not. No jeggins, no spoks, no moustache without a beard, no plimsoils(solls).

have you not been to west beers?

They should ban you.