After being diagnosed with cancer on July 13, 2006, Mark was referred to Prof Peter Choong, MB BS MD FRACS FAOrthA, for tests and more detailed diagnosis. Scans showed the tumour had completely taken over the lower arm. It appeared that the tumour had been silently and painlessly growing there for some years. Prof Choong regretfully advised Mark that there was no way he could save the arm and strongly advised amputation just above the elbow.
5 weeks later Mark was admitted to St Vincent's Private Hospital in Fitzroy, Victoria, and was operated on the following day. When he awoke from the anaesthetic, he found that the amputation had been done much higher up the arm, leaving only a short stump at the shoulder - just enough so that a prosthetic arm could be attached. In that very short time the tumour had grown several inches up the inside of Mark's upper arm!
On August 27, 2006, Mark left hospital and returned to his home where his partner Caroline and her two boys were waiting to support and comfort him.
