Mark Strevens’ cancer journey started in 2013. He had an appointment with the doctor to remove some skin tags. While there, his wife Kim asked the doctor to look at one of his moles on the back of his shoulder. They didn’t like the look of it, and immediately set up a dermatology appointment where it was excised, followed by a wider excision.
No additional treatment was required for the malignant melanoma. After five years of monitoring, everything was fine, and he thought he was good to go.
Discovering Zwift
Mark started zwifting in the winter of 2023 as a way to prep and drop some weight for a half-marathon he was aiming to do. He loved it. He raced cat D during prime time and then moved on to ladder races and ZRL with the HERD.
A Lump
At the beginning of December 2024, he started to develop COVID-like symptoms. He went back to his doctor in January 2025 with a persistent cough and a painful small lump in his right armpit. His doctor estimated the size at 2 mm and suggested it was a fatty lump.
“I was put on the non-urgent pathway for an ultrasound (6 weeks) and a variety of blood tests. A week later, I went back to the doctor complaining of the pain in my armpit. I was advised to wait for the ultrasound. As part of the blood work, I was misdiagnosed as type 2 diabetic due to a lab issue. My doctor put me on metformin, but declined to examine my lump. I had a bad reaction to the metformin, and after 2 weeks, Kim took me back to the doctor due to general poor health.”
The doctor stopped the metformin and expressed concern over the lump, but Mark could not get an earlier appointment for ultrasound because it was only two weeks until the appointment.
At the ultrasound appointment, his tumor was now 10 mm across and diagnosed as probable cancer. Bloodwork had come back with slightly elevated PSA and FIT test had blood present.
“I was placed on three cancer pathways: melanoma, colon, and prostate. I had a prostate MRI two days later and a two-week appointment for an ultrasound-guided biopsy. Two days prior to the biopsy, I was extremely unwell, so Kim took me to Accident and Emergency. I was admitted to the hospital with a high CRP and a slightly low white cell count. I was on IV antibiotics over the next two weeks to control the unknown infection. A biopsy confirmed metastatic melanoma, CT scan showed no brain metastasis.”
Mark’s prostate MRI showed a lesion, but the investigation was paused due to the melanoma. His colon investigation was also paused.
“Sent Home to Die”
Mark was discharged from the hospital with an expectation of two weeks to live.
“I was sent home to die.” He had lost about 15 kg and was added to the palliative care team case load. His pain was managed with morphine. Surgery was set for 3 weeks time – a right axillary node dissection for the purpose of life extension.
Once home, the palliative care team arranged DNR, prescription and a supply of end-of-life drugs. “My brothers came up, and I spent time with my wife and kids. We all took farewell photos. I put all my Zwift equipment and bikes up for sale, too.”
Mark loved riding and racing with Herd. “Sheldon Mair, the team captain for the Herd of Seahorses, kept in regular contact with Kim and sent me an aid package of a Lego F1 car to build.” This was great for morale.
Defying Expectations
“Despite expectations, I survived until surgery and the tumor was completely excised intact. It was 20 cm across.”
The tumor had not compromised any other organs. Along with the tumor, 25 lymph nodes were also removed, seven of which had cancer present and one of which was extra-capsular, meaning that the cancer had spread beyond the boundary of the lymph node.
“I recovered well from surgery and was referred to the oncology team for adjuvant treatment. They attempted targeted therapy, but it was a complete sh*t show. After four weeks, the side effects were so bad I wanted to die.”
They stopped treatment for two weeks and then restarted it on a lower dose. “Again, side effects started to kick in, and an echocardiogram showed significant damage to my heart.”
Back On the Bike: Odds Improving
Post-surgery and during targeted therapy, Mark really wanted to get back to riding. “I was in no shape to ride outdoors. If it wasn’t for Zwift, I wouldn’t have been able to ride at all.”
And he got some good news: a subsequent echocardiogram showed his heart had mostly recovered.
Mark was discharged from oncology with an expected 10-year survival chance of around 60% and a 50% chance of being disease-free over the same period.
“Once we had given up targeted therapy, I was able to get back on the bike in full swing and saw significant improvements in my performance.”
An Uncertain Future
After his surgery and after he was feeling a bit better, he was able to get his previously paused colonoscopy and prostate biopsy tests run. The colonoscopy was clear, but the prostate showed intermediate prostate cancer. Radiotherapy on his prostate was completed in the middle of December 2025.
“However, about a week before starting radiotherapy, I discovered a painful lump on my right flank. We managed to get a next-day appointment with a dermatologist.” The doctor was concerned, and they went straight down for an ultrasound-guided biopsy and CT scan. “I almost canceled the radiotherapy, as we did not have the result, and what was the point of treating the prostate cancer if the melanoma was back?” The biopsy was inconclusive, so he had a second biopsy a week later which showed it to be benign.
“This incident really damaged my calm. We had an expectation of at least 2-3 years of good health and had started looking at holidays for this summer, but now feel we can’t book anything more than a few weeks in advance.”
Helps Through Tough Times
Current side effects of the surgery are lymphoedema in Mark’s right arm and breast, nerve damage and pain in his right hand and right thigh, and reduced mobility in his right shoulder along with non-specific pain and discomfort in his right shoulder. Mark is now waiting on the results of more investigations on his shoulder.
“The response from Zwift riders has been amazing. And he’s never even met them in person. Social interaction is very important for Mark,” says Kim.
“It can’t be overstated, Zwift is a mental health saver,” says Mark adamantly.
Keeping His Identity
Because of his condition, he hasn’t been able to work, and the medication has impacted his memory and kept him from doing most of what he used to do. “He looks forward to zwifting as much as possible. He saves all his energy to get up and ride – to maintain his identity as a cyclist. Also, there’s so much support from other Zwifters going through the same thing,” says Kim.
“We support each other,” Mark adds. “Zwift has let me exercise and improve my recovery and maintain my mental health.”
Kim adds: “Whenever he’s done riding on Zwift he’s got a spring in his step!”
Keep that spring in your step, Mark! We are all cheering you on!
You can follow Mark on Zwift at: Mark Strevens
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