In 2010, Nick was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma in his pelvis, which spread to his lungs, skull and legs. In just 2 days, Nick will be running the London Marathon for Team Bones

Nick Massey has shared his story and why he’s taking on this incredible challenge.

I initially had pain in my right knee for five months before being diagnosed. I had an X-ray on my knee, and they couldn't see anything, so I was told that it was just growing pains (Osgood–Schlatter disease, to be precise) and that it wasn't anything. It was only when I returned to the doctor and then happened to mention I had a weird lump on my lower back that I was sent for an ultrasound. The scans showed I had a primary tumour on my pelvis, which spread to my lungs, skull, and legs, with activity indicating spread to other bones as well.

I had 6 rounds of VIDE (Vincristine, Ifosfamide, Doxorubicin, and Etoposide), one round of a holding chemotherapy, then high dose chemotherapy (Melphalan and Busulfan) and then had my own stem cells returned. I then had 2 months off and had 6 weeks of radiotherapy.

I was extremely fortunate in that after I had finished this I didn't have any re-occurrence. I was given the all clear in June 2016.

Almost all of my friends who I met on the ward have passed away. It wasn't something I'd thought about having to contend with and I often thought that after finishing treatment that would be the end of it.

My family and friends have given me huge support through everything. I was extremely lucky to survive from having such a widespread disease; many of my friends weren't so lucky.

I’m running the London Marathon for the Bone Cancer Research Trust because I understand how important fundraising is for further research into primary bone cancer. For the treatment I was given there was no serious second option if the chemotherapy regime I was on hadn’t worked. Some of the drugs I was on hadn’t changed since the 1980s. I’ve lost friends, who might still be here if they had better treatment, and I think on the day I know I’ll be running for them.

Nick is running the London Marathon as part of The London Classics Challenge in which he will also ride 100 miles in the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 and complete the two mile swim at Swim Serpentine. You can support Nick with his incredible challenge at: www.justgiving.com/Nicholas-MasseyBCRT

If you’d like to support Nick and our other wonderful London Marathon runners on the day, come along and join us at our cheer points at miles 13 and 25.