{"id":8921,"date":"2022-02-11T14:26:42","date_gmt":"2022-02-11T13:26:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.220triathlon.com\/?p=94107"},"modified":"2022-02-11T14:33:11","modified_gmt":"2022-02-11T13:33:11","slug":"how-triathlon-helped-me-through-a-terminal-cancer-diagnosis","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/rss_feed\/how-triathlon-helped-me-through-a-terminal-cancer-diagnosis\/","title":{"rendered":"How triathlon helped me through a terminal cancer diagnosis"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>

By Rob Slade\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Friday, 11 February 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

In 2016, triathlete Nigel Shaddick was diagnosed with cancer and given just 12 months to live. Five years on he\u2019s in remission and has just completed the gruelling Starman Night Triathlon. This is his story\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

When I was 40 I gave up smoking and adopted a healthier lifestyle. I joined Triathlon Inverness in 2012. By 2014 I was racing Ironman-distance<\/a><\/strong> including Outlaw and the Celtman. I do it for the social side and to keep fit.<\/p>\n

Just keep on cycling\u2026<\/strong><\/h2>\n

I was diagnosed with mesothelioma [a rare form of cancer that\u2019s usually linked to exposure to asbestos] in 2016 and my health deteriorated. I had stage-three lung cancer but was still able to cycle 100 miles.<\/p>\n

Before diagnosis, I knew something wasn\u2019t right. I did Ironman Wales<\/a><\/strong> and then a swimrun event, which didn\u2019t go that well at all. I had to retire and it was my first-ever DNF. I just wasn\u2019t breathing well, was knackered and couldn\u2019t keep up. I went to my doctor, who was a local athlete, and he sent me for an X-ray.<\/p>\n

The radiographer spotted something and sent me for a CT scan. Then they did a biopsy, which took three weeks to analyse. I just carried on cycling every day for three weeks and then I got the diagnosis \u2013 I probably had a year. It was devastating. They decided we\u2019d just watch, wait and see what happens. They didn\u2019t want to put me on chemo because it\u2019s horrible, so I just carried on cycling, going to Majorca to do the big rides and took time off work.<\/p>\n

After about three months I managed to find a clinical trial for an immunotherapy drug. That was in August 2017. The infusions were once every two weeks. It was no bother; it wasn\u2019t like chemo at all and you hardly get any side-effects. Mine was in Edinburgh, so it meant I could go for my infusions and then get on a plane and go to Lanzarote with my bike.<\/p>\n