‘We’re still in shock’
Emily and Henry have opened up about how their life changed when they were both diagnosed with cancer within months of eachother
A couple from Carnforth have opened up about their shock after being diagnosed with cancer within just months of each other.
Henry and Emily Clark, who share six children between them, had their lives changed in 2022 when they received terrifying news one after the other – first Henry with melanoma, then Emily with bowel cancer.
Now, the pair are sharing their story to help other families as part of Stand Up To Cancer, promoting their ‘Sweat Every Day in November’ campaign.
The story began in 2019 when Henry, 34, discovered he had melanoma after Emily, 39, noticed a suspicious mole on his jaw while they were taking a barbering course together.
After the mole was removed, the cancer returned at the end of 2022, and this time it had spread to Henry’s lymph nodes.
During his battle, Henry undertook major surgery to remove 44 lymph nodes, followed by six months of chemotherapy, during which he battled sepsis twice. After miraculously recovering, he gathered the strength to hike up Mount Snowdon in aid of their local cancer care charity.
However, it was while Henry was away on the trip that tragedy struck again. After noticing blood in her stool, Emily was diagnosed with rectal cancer, causing her to undergo a seven-and-a-half-hour operation to remove part of her bowel last year, resulting in a permanent stoma.
As Emily began to recover, it was discovered in August last year that Henry’s cancer had returned, and this time it had spread to his stomach, lungs, and respiratory system. With surgery not being an option this time, he has since embarked on a two-year course of immunotherapy, with recent scans showing that some tumours have shrunk.
Emily leaving hospital after her surgery
Despite everything the couple say the couple have been determined to stay strong.
“We have our bad days, but really we just get on with it – we won’t let it beat us,” Emily said. “We believe in research and the money needed to fund new treatments, to give people like us more precious time with their loved ones.”
Emily and Henry first met while working in a shop in 2012 and married a decade later. Between them they share a blended family of six children including 10-year-old Samuel, Henry’s children; William, 17, Junior, 16, and Hollie, 14 and Emily’s children; Abbie, 21 and Joseph, 18.
The family is also set to take on a new journey, as Emily’s eldest Abbie is now expecting a baby.
Emily, who works as an office manager added: “Ours really is an unbelievable story but a true one, and we feel the more people who are aware of what can happen the better.
“When you go through such a traumatic time it’s hard to be able to digest it all until it calms down and you can reflect. We’re still in shock at how Henry can go through so much and then it happens to me just when life seemed to be getting back to normal.
“And then once more, we found ourselves back at the start with more treatment for Henry after believing we had got to the end. Thankfully the immunotherapy seems to be working, which is a huge weight lifted, and fingers crossed it keeps heading in that direction.”
Henry, who is a manager at a children’s home, said: “We both work full time and life goes on, the kids need feeding, the bills need paying and we want to get on with our lives. We are a large, blended family and we spend most weekends altogether. We’re soon to have a new arrival at the end of the year, so after some really hard times, finally some good news has come our way.
The couple share six children between themselves
“Cancer can affect anyone’s life, at any time, so we really have no choice other than to unite against it and help support the scientists to keep making new discoveries. Every action, big or small, could make a difference in beating this devastating disease.
“That’s why now is the time for everyone across Lancashire to Stand Up To Cancer.”
The Clarks are using their story to call on people across Lancashire to ‘flex their fundraising muscles’ and take on Stand Up To Cancer’s Sweat Every Day in November Challenge.
All people need to do is complete 30 minutes of exercise every day during the month, as supporters can also choose to donate or raise money in their own way with a free fundraising pack available online.
Cancer Research UK spokesperson for the North West, Jemma Humphreys said: “Thanks to our supporters, our scientists are trailblazing new and better ways to help more people like Emily and Henry. From using AI to optimise radiotherapy treatment for rectal cancer to creating lollipops that could detect mouth cancer, we’re at the cutting edge of research. But we must go further and faster.
“Almost one in two of us will get cancer in our lifetime. All of us can help beat it. That’s why we’re asking everyone to Stand Up To Cancer, whether they donate, fundraise, or take on our ‘Sweat Every Day in November Challenge’. If thousands of us stand together, we’ll speed up the progress of vital research – meaning more people live longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer.”
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