logo
‘The diagnosis of my spinal tumour is terminal... I aim to prove them wrong'

‘The diagnosis of my spinal tumour is terminal... I aim to prove them wrong'

At the end of 2024 Belfast man Matthew Starkey had so much to look forward to.
A new teaching job, a new home, a new car and the prospect of getting married to his fiancée.
But what started out as a seemingly innocuous football injury sent his life down a path he never could have imagined.
He is still looking forward, but the 32-year-old's plans never included gruelling treatment for cancer.
The prognosis isn't good. Doctors say he may have just a year. But positivity remains.
He's not sitting back, despite spending more than a month in hospital since March rather than teaching at St Colman's Sixth Form College in Ballynahinch, after his temporary contract was made permanent.
Indeed, everything about his situation since that moment has been fast.
'Life's really throwing everything at me,' he said.
While Matthew, who teaches business, IT and PE at St Colman's, will remain in hospital until his round of intensive treatment ends, he's ready to throw everything back at life once he gets out — starting with getting into his new home with fiancée Carrie Fleming.
By September he hopes to take part in the Belfast Half Marathon in a wheelchair to raise funds for the Friends of the Cancer Centre.
He said: 'A couple of months ago I was an able-bodied man, I went to the gym four times a week.
'I'd been playing seven-a-side football and came home with a sore leg. I thought I must have pulled a muscle.
'When the pain refused to go away you think of things like deep vein thrombosis.
'My foot was discoloured, the veins in my leg were standing out.'
Several visits to the doctor followed, and eventually a collapsed valve at the top of his leg was diagnosed.
It was corrected, other tests were clear, but the pain just refused to go away.
'I just felt something was wrong,' he said.
'I can remember buying flowers for Carrie before Valentine's Day and completely losing control of my right leg, falling into the window of the shop.'
It got to the stage where Matthew couldn't walk.
'I had shocking pain, I couldn't go to the toilet, my stomach was so large I looked pregnant,' he explained.
'On February 13 my mum took me to hospital. I had an MRI scan and that's when they found a 3cm tumour through my spinal cord which would require urgent surgery.'
He was operated on the next day, St Valentine's Day.
'I had been planning to ask Carrie to marry me, maybe in a year or so. In March I just went for it. We got engaged.'
But a day after she said 'yes', the pain returned to his leg. A further MRI scan revealed the news he had been dreading.
Just three weeks after his surgery, the tumour had grown back. Matthew has been in hospital since March 16.
'I've just completed 20 of the 30 treatments — I'm told I have been responding well,' he said.
As he undergoes his ordeal, Carrie has been busy, with a wedding set for June and changes made to the house they bought together.
There's also a wish-list of memories he wants to make — places to visit and things to do.
Central to it all is fundraising for cancer charities, with one of his main targets the Belfast event in September.
His wheelchair effort, he hopes, can contribute to his aim of raising £100,000.
There's also those nuptials in the summer, and dreams of foreign travel.
Matthew added: 'We both love Italy and have been there separately. We'd love to go together.
'And we're looking into going to see the Northern Lights. It's the medical insurance that's the real problem.'
A GoFundMe page has raised more than £40,000 and a training schedule has been drawn up to get ready for the half marathon.
Along with Carrie, Matthew said his parents have been hugely supportive.
'My mum Fiona had breast cancer a few years ago and has been right with me through all of this,' he explained.
'We've beaten cancer as a family before and we can do it again.'
That positive, can-do attitude shines through.
'I might not make it back to school before the summer, but I plan to be there in September,' he said.
In the meantime he'll be rejoining a gym, with fellow St Colman's teacher Stephen Conlon as a personal trainer.
'Stephen has worked with people with cerebral palsy. He's drawing up a plan for me so I can get used to the fitted wheelchair and get myself into shape,' Matthew said.
'Yes, my life has completely changed. There are moments when you come out of your treatment and you feel so ill. But I have a wonderful support network.
'I have the social media platforms to tell things like they are and hopefully get the message out there that no matter how insignificant you feel a pain or an issue is, you get it checked. That's what I did.
'The tumour may be fast-growing, but I'm here in the middle of getting the treatment and I'm staying positive that I'll come out the other side, get married, get into my new home and get back to teaching.'
You have to stay positive, keep looking forward, he says.
'The diagnosis was terminal — I aim to prove them wrong,' he added.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Ulcerative colitis red flags as TOWIE star shares health battle
Ulcerative colitis red flags as TOWIE star shares health battle

Daily Mirror

time13 hours ago

  • Daily Mirror

Ulcerative colitis red flags as TOWIE star shares health battle

Chloe Meadows has opened up about her battle with the condition after first noticing unusual symptoms at 16 years old Chloe Meadows openly discussed her struggle with ulcerative colitis on Dr. Oscar Duke's Bedside Manners podcast, revealing that she ignored warning signs for almost ten years. The 33-year-old reality star recalled noticing blood in her stool at the age of 16 while attending boarding school. "I remember I told my mum and was like there is quite a lot of blood down the toilet," Chloe, who once starred in The Only Way Is Essex, said. "I'm not really sure what is going on and she, of course, said go to the doctors. I went to the doctors and they said that I would have to have a colonoscopy. ‌ "The doctor referred me and I got this letter, and this is awful, but I got this letter and I just never went to the appointment because I was terrified. It would stop for periods of time so that the blood would go away. ‌ "I'd be like, 'Oh, cool, it's gone away, I'm better. There's nothing wrong with me'. I'd go through years where it wouldn't happen and then it would happen again, and then it would stop again. "I just got on with it and ignored it. I think I was scared of having any procedure done." The podcast episode underscored the importance of recognising this condition, pointing out how frequently people dismiss or overlook symptoms when they occur. To gain further insights into ulcerative colitis, we interviewed Pearl Avery, the IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) nursing lead at Crohn's & Colitis UK, who discussed several typical red flags to be aware of. Ulcerative colitis explained "Ulcerative colitis is a type of IBD where parts of the large bowel – the colon and rectum – become inflamed and ulcerated," Avery said. "This can cause worrying symptoms like blood in your poo and frequent, urgent diarrhoea as well as weight loss (because you're struggling to absorb nutrients) and fatigue. "Usually, the immune system protects the body, but it's thought that in colitis it goes wrong and starts attacking the bowel." Despite this, Avery emphasised that its exact cause remains largely unknown. ‌ She went on: "We don't know for sure what causes colitis or Crohn's, but researchers believe it's a mix of genes, bacteria in the gut and something in the environment that triggers it. There are all sorts of exciting studies happening now to unlock the mystery of what causes IBD and hopefully one day find a cure." Typical red flags to look out for While each person experiences colitis in their own way, certain warning signs should not be ignored. "Some symptoms to look out for include blood in your poo (more than once), urgent and frequent diarrhoea, unexplained weight loss, joint pain and fatigue," Avery said. "Constipation can also be a symptom of colitis, as can stomach pain. There is a really handy symptom checker on the Crohn's & Colitis UK website which takes just 30 seconds to complete and provides support and guidance on when to see a doctor and what to say when you get there." ‌ When you should seek medical advice Although symptoms can be easily brushed off as a 'dodgy tummy' or something consumed, Avery advised consulting an expert promptly. "If you are seeing blood in the toilet when you poo, having frequent diarrhoea, or even waking up in the night to rush to the loo, then it's time to speak to someone about it," she said. "We know that it's taking too long for people with Crohn's and colitis to be diagnosed, but the sooner you start that process and ask for help, the better." ‌ Diagnosing ulcerative colitis If colitis is suspected, various tests might be suggested. Avery explained: "One is a straightforward faecal calprotectin test, which analyses a sample of your poo to work out how much inflammation you've got going on in your bowel. "Then you might be referred for a colonoscopy, which is done in the hospital and involves having a scope, or tiny camera, put into your bottom to look around the colon and rectum." Treatment options Currently, a cure for colitis is not available; however, several treatments exist to alleviate its symptoms. These treatments include immunosuppressants and steroids. Avery continued: "There are new drugs being developed all the time, which is really encouraging. Some people with colitis end up having surgery to have part of their bowel removed and a stoma fitted. "Those operations are life-changing, but that's not a bad thing, because for many patients the change is very positive, and they tell us they wish they had had the surgery sooner and it has given them a new lease of life."

Terminally ill Wrexham toddler visited by Peppa Pig
Terminally ill Wrexham toddler visited by Peppa Pig

Leader Live

timea day ago

  • Leader Live

Terminally ill Wrexham toddler visited by Peppa Pig

Earlier this year, Callie Shaw was tragically diagnosed, aged just 10 months, with a rhabdoid tumour - a rare and aggressive form of childhood cancer. She spent the next few months in Alder Hey to receive treatment. After undergoing four months of chemotherapy - things appeared to be going well and the tumour was shrinking in size. Callie Shaw and mum, Sarah (Image: Sarah Shaw) However, her family was given the devastating news last month following an MRI scan that Callie's cancer has spread to her lungs - and is now terminal. Callie was given a prognosis of four-six weeks. A GoFundMe page set up to support Callie's family at this very difficult time has raised over £7,000. With her first birthday spent during her time at Alder Hey, family and friends recently organised a party so she could celebrate properly. And on Monday (June 9), she received a surprise visit from Peppa Pig and Chase from Paw Petrol - her and her brother's favourite characters. (Image: Sarah Shaw) The visit was organised by Mold-based Blue Duo Events - which also donated 50 bags of candy floss for Callie's party. Blue Duo Events said on its Facebook page: "As a business, we felt there was more we could do – and this evening, we did just that. We surprised Callie with a visit from her two favourite characters, bringing smiles and joy to her and her family. One of our playful pups also joined in to surprise her little brother, making sure he felt just as special. (Image: Blue Duo Events) "Thank you, Sarah (Callie's mum) for allowing us to visit Callie at home and letting us be part of these precious moments. MORE NEWS: "The Blue Duo team are thinking of you all and sending love during this incredibly difficult time." Sarah Shaw said: "It was amazing to have Peppa Pig come and visit Callie. She absolutely adores Peppa Pig and it was really special. "I want to say a massive thank you to Blue Duo Events - you made memories that will last forever. It means so much to us."

Why we need safe baby courts in Scotland
Why we need safe baby courts in Scotland

The Herald Scotland

timea day ago

  • The Herald Scotland

Why we need safe baby courts in Scotland

The Best Service Trial (BeST?), led by Professor Helen Minnis, compared an infant mental health intervention with social work services in Scotland and England, to identify the best service for infants placed outwith their birth family. The study found that authoritative and consistent oversight of a child's journey through care was crucial in safeguarding children's wellbeing. It also revealed that decisions about the permanent care of infants were made almost 4.5 times faster in England than in Scotland. For babies, timely decisions about their permanent care is critical for their recovery from trauma. Permanence can mean a child being returned to their birth family, achieving a permanent home with kin or adoption. Children should remain with their families wherever possible, with infant-parent relationship support, where necessary. Even with this support we know some babies will need to be placed outwith their birth family, to receive safe, consistent care. This means that Scotland must have a legal system that makes decisions about infants within their development timescales. Babies make up a large proportion of children in the Children's Hearings system. Yet it has not evolved to consider the unique needs of babies. Urgent reform of the Hearings system is required. Key policy proposals such as an authoritative chair, specialism on the panel and mandated timescales can help to strengthen the legal process for infants, but more fundamental change is required. We are calling for a pilot of a Safe Baby Court type model in Scotland. This is an evidence-based, trauma informed, legal decision-making model designed around the specific needs, and rights, of infants. It aims to maximise the chances of infants at high risk of significant harm being able to remain safely in the care of their birth family, when it is safe. When this is not possible, it is designed to make timely decisions about an infant's permanent home, to prevent the drift and delay that happens to so many infants in the Children's Hearings system, and which leads to a greater risk of relationship breakdown and repeated traumatisation which contributes to poor outcomes. Legal systems in New Zealand, Australia, America are working towards safe baby courts, and we are exploring the feasibility of adapting this model. The Children and Young People (Care) (Scotland) Bill presents an opportunity to place babies at the heart of social care and justice systems. Considering the BeST? evidence, it is no longer enough to adapt a system designed for older children and young people. We need ambitious action to enhance the Hearing system for infants and measure the impact against a pilot of a Safe Baby Court model. We must design a justice system that can make robust and timely decisions about where our most vulnerable citizens will call home. Joanne Smith is NSPCC Scotland's Policy and Public Affairs Manager Agenda is a column for outside contributors. Contact: agenda@

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store