Firstly I would like to thank all of my friends, family, doctors and nurses who have helped me to tackle this.  I would also like to thank my work for supporting me. 

Without everyone's support I would not have been able to attempt to run the Great Manchester Run.  So I am sincerely indebted and thank you from the bottom of my heart.

On 1 September 2015 I was going to see the private doctors to find out the results of an MRI scan. There was some nasal congestion showing up in the scan, but there was also something else spotted...

A possible tumour was spotted, so I was sent to see a brain specialist. I had already planned to go to Ibiza so I followed through with that trip. As soon as I came back home, I attended the brain specialist appointment. However, he was not a specialist in this type of tumour so I had to see another specialist. After this I had to go to and see yet another specialist. They all said there was something there, but nothing more. I had to take some MRI scans and then the latest specialist said I would need a biopsy to tell if it was cancerous or not. 

I decided I would go to the NHS for a second opinion. That second opinion required more MRI scans and they came back with the same conclusion. So I had to decide whether I would be operated and treated by private insurance or NHS.

11 December 2015 was the date of my biopsy. 

The results came back just after Christmas.

I went back to work for the whole of January.

I waived the £3000 away via NHS and opted to go privately for radiotherapy and chemotherapy as it would provide treatment right away.

1st February 2016 to 16th March 2016 (6.5 weeks) I underwent both Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy at the London Clinic. 

My hair started to fall out on week three of my treatment. 

One month later I started Chemotherapy for the next 12 months. This was twelve cycles of 5 days on, 3 weeks off. Every month I would get checked out to see if I was okay to take the next round of chemo. 

For the last four and a half months of chemotherapy I was on antibiotics as there was a constant phlegm infection. Thank you to my friends for collectively suggesting I should take Turmeric, Vitamin C with Rose Hips, Echinacea and ImmiFlex. Eventually my immune system improved, as did the weather. 

I started to go back to work a couple of half days per week, and now I'm on three half days per week. I often feel tired in the morning and evenings, but that is slowly getting better and I am aiming to get back to full fitness and go back to work full time. 

I tried to stop taking the immune system concoction and subsequently fallen ill again. My immune system is still down. My digestive system still needs the odd medication to get things going otherwise I will not be able to go to the toilet. My guts have not returned to their normal functionality yet.

I am unable to regain my driving licence for two years post treatment completion. This I feel is rather unfair as I have never ever had any blackouts, epileptic fits or seizures. I have never had any points on my licence. I still have 20:20 vision, a steady hand and some very outstanding reflexes. I am fit enough to drive. 

Travel Insurance is really impossible for me to get now. I cannot fly to certain places like the USA because nobody will insure me for that.

I have not drank any alcohol since the end of Jan 2016. I do miss it socially, but I have promised myself not to drink until I have regained my full fitness.

I have concentrated on being healthy and have been trying to run. I have gradually started to increase from 0.5 miles to 3.0 miles. I am nowhere near as fast as what I was before, but my aim is to run a 10km. On 20/05/2018 I will be doing the Great Manchester Run 10km. The charities I will be raising money for are MacMillan Cancer Support and Brain Tumour Research. 

I would love for your support in helping me to achieve this. 

Majid Bakhsh, October 2017.