Surgeon to cheer on runner he helped to defeat cancer

A FATHER-of-two who had cancerous tumours removed from his tongue, neck and shoulder is set to be cheered on by the surgeon who saved his life when he runs to raise money for Weston Park Hospital Cancer Charity on Sunday.

 

Nick Bartholomew, 50, is set to take part in the 10k Run in the Park at Graves Park in Sheffield, six years after he being treated at the specialist cancer hospital.

 

Despite being given the all-clear five months later, he then underwent a 13-hour operation to repair his jaw. Mr Bartholomew, a company director from Totley, said: “It was the best day of my life when I was told that the cancer had gone.

 

“But unfortunately in 2008 it emerged the treatment had impacted on my jaw bone and I needed a major operation to reconstruct it.

 

“The fibula from my lower right leg was removed and the bone and muscle were used to rebuild my jaw. My leg now looks like a shark has bitten it as there is a huge part missing”

 

Mr Bartholomew says he owes his current quality of life to surgeon Dr Afshin Yousefpour who will be watching him run. Dr Yousefpour, 45, said: “Nick was an amazing patient. He was determined not to let a very serious operation have a detrimental effect on his life and his admirable spirit meant he never gave up.

 

“I’m really excited about seeing Nick run on Sunday, his progress has been remarkable.”

 

Mr Bartholomew, who is also running to support his friend Jimmy Pearson who is being treated at Weston Park Hospital, added: “My advice to people going through something similar is, you only live your life once so don’t let this beat you.”