![\"Henry](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/0_271025Clarks_03.jpg\")
Emily and Henry have opened up about how their life changed when they were both diagnosed with cancer within months of eachother<\/p>\n‘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<\/p>\n
A couple from Carnforth have opened up about their shock after being diagnosed with cancer within just months of each other.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
After the mole was removed, the cancer returned at the end of 2022, and this time it had spread to Henry\u2019s lymph nodes.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
As Emily began to recover, it was discovered in August last year that Henry\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
![\"Emily](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/0_271025Clarks.jpg\")
Emily leaving hospital after her surgery<\/p>\n
Despite everything the couple say the couple have been determined to stay strong.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have our bad days, but really we just get on with it \u2013 we won\u2019t let it beat us,\u201d Emily said. \u201cWe believe in research and the money needed to fund new treatments, to give people like us more precious time with their loved ones.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u2019s children; William, 17, Junior, 16, and Hollie, 14 and Emily\u2019s children; Abbie, 21 and Joseph, 18.<\/p>\n
The family is also set to take on a new journey, as Emily’s eldest Abbie is now expecting a baby.<\/p>\n
Emily, who works as an office manager added: \u201cOurs really is an unbelievable story but a true one, and we feel the more people who are aware of what can happen the better.<\/p>\n
“When you go through such a traumatic time it\u2019s hard to be able to digest it all until it calms down and you can reflect. We\u2019re 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.<\/p>\n
“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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Henry, who is a manager at a children\u2019s home, said: \u201cWe 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\u2019re 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.<\/p>\n
![\"Henry](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/0_271025Clarks_02.jpg\")
The couple share six children between themselves<\/p>\n
\u201cCancer can affect anyone\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
“That\u2019s why now is the time for everyone across Lancashire<\/a> to Stand Up To Cancer.\u201d<\/p>\n The Clarks are using their story to call on people across Lancashire to ‘flex their fundraising muscles’ and take on Stand Up To Cancer\u2019s Sweat Every Day in November Challenge<\/a>.<\/p>\n All people need to do is complete 30 minutes of exercise every day during the month, as supporters can also choose to donate<\/a> or raise money in their own way with a free fundraising pack available online<\/a>.<\/p>\n Cancer Research UK spokesperson for the North West, Jemma Humphreys said: \u201cThanks 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\u2019re at the cutting edge of research. But we must go further and faster.<\/p>\n \u201cAlmost one in two of us will get cancer in our lifetime. All of us can help beat it. That\u2019s why we\u2019re asking everyone to Stand Up To Cancer, whether they donate, fundraise, or take on our \u2018Sweat Every Day in November Challenge\u2019. If thousands of us stand together, we\u2019ll speed up the progress of vital research \u2013 meaning more people live longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer.\u201d<\/p>\n Join our LancsLive WhatsApp group<\/p>\n LancsLive now has its very own WhatsApp community to deliver the latest news straight to your phone.<\/p>\n Breaking news, opinion and top stories are being sent directly to our community and we want you to be part of it. Get the latest news as it breaks from across Lancashire<\/a>. Users who want to join must have WhatsApp downloaded to their phone.<\/p>\n All you have to do to join is click on this link<\/a>, select ‘Join Community’ and you’re in. No one will be able to see your personal information in the community and you will only receive messages from the LancsLive news team. We will not spam your WhatsApp feed with constant messages, but you will receive updates from us daily with the latest stories from across the county.<\/p>\n If for some reason you decide you no longer want to be in our community, you can leave at any time by clicking on the name at the top of your screen and clicking ‘Exit Group’, simple as that.<\/p>\n Join our new Whatsapp community! Click this link<\/a> to receive daily LancsLive breaking news and top stories. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don\u2019t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you\u2019re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice<\/a>.<\/p>\n