Before noticing my symptoms of primary bone cancer, I was working as a mental health nurse in a local drug and alcohol detoxification unit, a role I’d held since 2003.
Prior to that, I completed my nurse training and a degree in psychology at Bangor University. I had always enjoyed learning and met my wife whilst studying in a college in Wales which is why I ended up moving over. Originally, I’m from Stourbridge in the West Midlands, and I have a brother in Australia. My parents are both deceased, so most of my support through my diagnosis and treatment has come from my wife’s family.
In September 2021, I noticed swelling on my shoulder, as well as experiencing night sweats and trouble sleeping. I saw my GP, who initially offered pain relief that wasn’t effective. One morning, the pain was unbelievable, and I couldn’t go to work. I didn’t know it at this point, but I had worked my last shift. The GP referred me for an ultrasound, but delays were long, so I decided to pay privately, and the ultrasound revealed concerning results. The radiologist recommended an MRI and in November 2021, I was referred to the Bone and Soft Tissue Tumour Service in Oswestry. This service is based at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital.
I had a CT-guided biopsy at Oswestry, and on my 61st birthday in December 2021, I was told I had an aggressive chondrosarcoma tumour in my right upper arm.
The operation I needed to remove this tumour could not be done locally, so I was referred to the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital in Birmingham. In January 2022, I underwent major surgery and I was in hospital for eight days. The operation was an extra-articular scapulectomy and upper arm excision. The tumour removal was extensive: my scapula, part of my clavicle, and my shoulder joint was removed. An implant has replaced my joint.
After returning from my surgery in Birmingham, I was initially on a three-month follow-up plan there, but because of distance, my care was transferred to the service in Oswestry. The district nurses were excellent after my surgery and removed all my 40 staples from the operation.
Recovery was long and challenging. I could use my right hand for some tasks, but I had to adapt to a new way of living, especially by using my left hand. I had physiotherapy for a year, including an intensive week doing pool work and exercises. I learnt how to write and drive an automatic car post-surgery. I also had to accept that I would never return to nursing, do the Mexican wave, or bowl for England!
You adapt, your brain finds new ways of doing things. I realised I would never ride my motorcycle again or return to the career I had enjoyed for 20 years. Those were hard things to accept, but you do move on.
My employer was supportive, but as my recovery took 12 months, I eventually retired on health grounds.
Unfortunately, in April 2025, I was told by Oswestry that my chondrosarcoma had spread to my lungs. The consultant explained that at this stage it was incurable.
After three years of being in clear and having adapted to a new life, this was very hard to hear.
I was referred to a Hospital in Manchester, where I had keyhole surgery on my left lung to remove two tumours in April 2025. There were some confidentiality issues that I experienced whilst on the ward. As a psychiatric nurse, I found it difficult hearing confidential health information about others and myself discussed so openly in that setting, but overall, the care was very good.
It has been a strange experience to see things from both sides: as a patient and a nurse – before being in Birmingham I’d never stayed in a hospital as a patient.
During the time of my lung surgeries, I also had other investigations including MRI, CT and PET scans in Wigan. At one point they thought I might have neck or prostate cancer, but these were ruled out. It was a very frightening period.
I have been told it is very likely my lung tumours will return, but currently my CT scans are looking okay. I have been discharged from Manchester now, and all my imaging is done through Oswestry. As chemotherapy and radiotherapy are usually not effective for chondrosarcoma, it’s important that I continue to be monitored to see if other tumours appear. I try to stay positive about treatments improving, which is why it is so vital for there to be further research into this disease.
Reading has helped me so much during the difficult times. I’m fascinated by autobiographies and read about five books during my initial stay at Birmingham after surgery. Having a dog helps a lot too, by walking the dog I’ve kept my fitness up and it allows me to still meet new people.
As I have worked in mental health nursing and psychology, I think this helped me cope throughout this whole process and remain as positive as possible.
This experience has taught me that cancer is incredibly varied and can occur anywhere. One of the biggest lessons for me has been learning to live day to day and make the most of the time you have. One thing I don’t do, is go on the internet to find out further about my diagnosis, as this can be so scary. We all have an expiry date, and with cancer or any life limiting condition, you become more aware of that.
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