Mark Allen has surgery after cancer returns

Popular radio presenter Mark Allen has gone under the knife in the hope of beating cancer for the second time this year. And his close mate David Schwarz is optimistic about the results.

Former golfer turned broadcaster Mark Allen with his wife Tricia Allen and children Olivia and Kelly. Picture: Tony Gough

Friends of Mark Allen hope he has beaten cancer for a second time after surgery this week.

The popular radio presenter was given the all-clear in July after fighting a battle with stage four bowel and lung cancer.

But he received the news late last month that another spot had been discovered, this time on his “good lung”. He went under the knife on Monday.

"He's got the equivalent of a punctured lung," long-time radio colleague David Schwarz said today on Macquarie Sports Radio. "It's like a flat tyre.

"We saw Marko today. He's up and about but probably won't be back (at work) until Monday.

"He's on the mend, which is great. He'll recover and everything will be all right."

Radio hosts Mark Allen and David Schwarz.

Allen said after receiving the bad news two weeks ago: “That wasn’t a nice day, because of all the chemotherapy that was designed to keep this stuff away, they can get it, but they’ve got a PET scan to get through.

“This one’s operable, we can get it, it’s right at the very outside of the lung and they can do a little wedge cut and cut it out.

“I get those results on Friday if the PET scan says everything else is clear, then I’m a 50-50 chance to make it in five years."

Allen received the diagnosis on the same day it was revealed the station was going under. He said he was trying to “stay busy” in a bid to deal with the shocking double blow, which will also force he and co-host Schwarz off air.

“It seems like a dream, to tell you the truth, I’m just floating along,” he said.

“(I) keep trying to be healthy, go to the gym, play some golf, keep my mind off it, try and keep a smile on my face and hopefully I’ll get some good news soon.”

Allen endured months of chemotherapy and surgeries to remove 25 per cent of his lungs, 70 per cent of his rectum, and 40cm of his bowel after cancer was detected last December.

He said the tumour may have been in his lung for more than three years before it was found, and if he had waited another 10 weeks to have surgery it would have been fatal.

The former professional golfer said he and wife Tricia had told his children, daughter Olivia, 12, and son Kelly, 9, of the new diagnosis on Tuesday night.

“Originally, when we first got the news (of his first cancer), the doctors told us not to tell the kids and that was great advice,” he said.

“This time, they know what’s going on. They’re shocked (but) they know what the story is.

“They understand I don’t have to go the chemo — the chemo scared the kids the most and then when I lost all the weight.

“This time I’m in and out of hospital — I might be in there three or four days and hopefully it’s a quick recovery if things go well.”

The news prompted an outpouring of support on social media.

Carlton AFLW coach Daniel Harford tweeted: “We are all backing you to fight the shit out of this thing and be declared “Champion of the World” once again. Nothing but love, mate”

Never seen a greater fighter than this bloke to go through what he has since January. He will beat it again. Of course he will. https://t.co/CxyPtTQJUQ

— Jon Ralph (@RalphyHeraldSun) October 30, 2019

Oh no.
This is terrible news. Thoughts are with you Marko as the fight continues !!
How bloody unfair.
In your corner xo

— Kelly Loudovaris (@juniorkels23) October 30, 2019

Allen warned people who discovered blood in their faeces to get checked.

“I went to the doctor originally because I saw a little bit of red blood when I wiped my bum,” he said.

“I should have got a colonoscopy early, but I didn’t know what a colonoscopy was at the time.

“So for people out there, it’s not just men, it’s men and women — if you’re wiping your bum and there’s some blood there, it can be anything.

“Know what a colonoscopy is, if you’re bleeding … ask for a colonoscopy, it’s very simple, and they can fix it before it gets to my stage.”