In November 2009 during a meeting with my consultant to review the results of my two year check-up scan (I'd had throat cancer in 2007), when he broke the bad news....

'Keith, the cancer has returned, this time in your chest, and this time it's serious. When I asked what that meant I was told my survival chances were between 10 and 40%.'

That's a pretty sobering fact to be told, but having survived before I was determined to do so again. This time it was fifteen days of chemotherapy and twenty of radiotherapy. Operating wasn't an option as it was impossible to get at.

So months of treatment at the Marsden follows, and as before I have only the highest of praise for all the medics/nurses and so on who helped me pull through.....

In 2007 I had seen the notice about trekking on the hospital noticeboard when I was at my lowest ebb, and as soon as I saw it knew it was for me - what a great way to say thanks to the Marsden for getting me through, and everyone who contributed to 'Bangers & Mash' the book I wrote about my experiences.

So last October (2011) when my check up report was 'as good as it possibly could be' I decided I would get writing the follow up book, and say 'thanks again' to the Marsden. This time I'm heading to Nepal in November.

As about 30% of the population will hear those dreaded words 'you have cancer', any money raised towards treatment improvement can only be good news for those affected.

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