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Marathon runner's back breaks 11 times from cancer treatment
19 Apr
Summary
- Cancer treatment caused David's back to break in eleven places.
- David Macartney achieved remission and summited Snowdon.
- He aims to cycle again by 2026 after his recovery.
David Macartney, a previously fit 51-year-old who completed the London Marathon, experienced a drastic change in his life after being diagnosed with aggressive stage 4 non-Hodgkin lymphoma in early 2022. A lump under his armpit led to a swift cancer pathway and a terrifying diagnosis.
Intensive chemotherapy and a clinical trial at The Christie hospital in Manchester successfully induced remission. However, the treatment's side effects were severe, causing David's back to break in eleven places. He endured significant pain, relied on morphine, and was temporarily unable to move the lower half of his body, requiring two crutches for mobility.
