Culloden man fights asbestos-linked mesothelioma lung cancer by cycling 60 miles a day

A TELEPHONE engineer is cycling for his life to survive a cancer that kills most of its victims in a year.

Nigel Shaddick clocks up bike runs of up to 60 miles a day in the Scottish countryside.

He is being helped in his fight against the lethal asbestos-linked mesothelioma lung cancer with a new drug trial being carried out at Edinburgh University.

To date, his scans have shown that his cancer is receding.

Doctors are amazed at his response and cite his cycling as a “very helpful” in his fight against his tumour.

Nigel, 50, from Culloden, near Inverness, was diagnosed 16 months ago after completing an Iron Man challenge and run/swim event in Loch Ness.

“I felt a bit more tired than usual and struggled to breathe during the swim,” he said. “So I thought I had overstretched myself. But my GP organised an x-ray and the cancer was revealed.

“Evidence suggests survival of more than a year is poor. The doctors at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness were shocked I had mesotheliomoa at just 49.

“I have the fitness of a 22-year-old through cycling and swimming.

“The medics sent my biopsy sample round Scotland for double-checking.

“Sadly, the mesothelioma was confirmed. What’s more, I can’t remember coming into contact with lethal asbestos, which causes it.

“I was desperate to live and asked to get on to a drug trial. It’s what I would advise anyone else to do. My scans show the tumour receding and I believe the drugs and cycling have kept me alive.”