It all started with a lump appearing on my neck. I and the GP originally thought it was just some sort of gland inflammation. After the second visit to the GP and a course of anti-biotics I was sent straight up the hospital by the second GP to get it checked out. It took a couple of visits to the hospital all within a few days of each other for them to agree that I have cancer. They thought that I had straight forward testicular cancer at first. I was transferred to Guy's Hospital, London Bridge where I straight away had a biopsy on my neck and within 2 days of being diagnosed I was having my first Chemo treatment.

It was all surreal and to be honest I havent really accepted whats happened even now when it's nearly over.

I had my girlfriend, friends and family up the hospital everyday (girlfriend even slept there, think she was scared that I might fancy the nurses) and there was at least 10 people with me every minute of the day to start off with. Everyone was so encouraging but at the same time you can see the pity and fright in their eyes when they watched me attached to a drip which was poisoning my whole body.

The first treatment was horrible as I didn't know what to expect or what was going on. The doctors didn't exactly know what type of cancer I had as it's a very rare type but they knew that my chances of fighting it were high therefore they started a standard form of chemo straight away.

When the first CT scan result came, (during my first cycle of chemo in hospital) it showed that I had around 20 cherry sized tumors in my lungs and one tennis ball sized tumor in my neck. They could not remove the whole neck tumor as loads of nerves were caught up in it so they gave me very strong chemo to fight it all.

I started getting weak within hours of the first chemo bag. I was on something called BEP, which is a chemo treatment given to most cancer sufferers before their treatment gets tailored to their own needs. This made me weak, tired and also caused my hair to fall out. My friends and family were amazing through it all. Had some racing buddies come up the hospital and always had people ringing my girlfriend asking how I was.

I remember that even though I was worried about loosing my job and getting in more debt (was planning to clear it before season started again but broken leg but it back a bit too then this) and even dying the thing I was more gutted about was that I would not be racing this year! It means so much to me and its my only dream in life that in my head it just seemed so unfair that it was all being taken away from me. First my championship title was taken away due to bad luck and too many crashes and then this. However even though some people blamed my racing for me getting cancer (doctor said it can be caused by heavy blows to the body..also said it could be done by shock to the body such as falling of a curb?!?!?) I never once believed it and still don't. Fate is written for us before we even get on this earth I think. I made getting back to racing asap as my main goal. It gave me strength to fight this horrible illness.

A couple of weeks after being diagnosed and still in hospital I was told that I have a form of cancer called 'Choriocarcinoma'. It's a form of cancer normally found in pregnant women. However it's also a very rare type of testicular cancer which never develops in the testicles but goes up the lymph gland and develops elsewhere. Lance Armstrong had the same as me but his was in the lungs and head. He went on to win the Tour de France something like 7 times now so I thought why can't I one day get to BSB?

When I was allowed home I arranged with Phil Seaton to re-fresh my engine and get it ready to race. I did this as I wanted to have something to look forward to but everyone thought I was crazy. After my second treatment I went to Phil's to pick the bike up with George (my girlfriend) and a friend. Both Phil and Charlie were shocked to see how I looked. I could hardly walk and began to really look like someone who has cancer. I was not my normal hyper self even thought I never once stopped smiling (George would not agree im sure). I was scared of what was/is happening to me but I was more scared of how others felt.

From there on I was in Guy's hospital for 5-7 days every other week for intense chemotherapy (got put on POMP and ACE which is catered for my particular type of cancer). I eventually lost all my hair and strength and it got really hard. I wouldn't get off the sofa, wouldn't talk to no one and basically wouldn't do anything. It wasn't because I didn't want to, it was just because I couldn't. However my mind was still very active. I started to plan my come back to racing in my head. Decided what to do to the bike, then decided to sell it, then keep it, then sell it and so on. I eventually realized that it was not possible for me to get back out there this year as I havent been working since the 1st of February and now being August I'm still not back at work so funds are non existent. This did not stop me from giving the bike a face lift and still planning my come back even though I was gutted.

My best mate Dan Taylor manages a football team and also plays for them called Bromley Lions. Not long after I got ill Dan and his brother Kieran (pictured above) decided to do a charity football match for me. It was in March, snowing and extremely cold. They played in terrible conditions but they did really good. They wanted the money they raised to be used for me to go on holiday so in July we went to Egypt. I just wanted to say a MASSIVE thank you to everyone who took part, brought raffle tickets or just turned up made me realize how lucky I was to have mates like that, specially Dan for organizing it. (Sorry I was late for my own football match, the nurses wouldn't let me out, they loved me too much to let me out in the cold).

Above - Charity match in the snow, Thanks Bromley Lions!!!!

Left - Bromley Lions FC www.bromleylionsfc.com

Once I felt a bit better I started to go to the more local meetings. Phil Seton would make me cups of tea and let me use his caravan if needed a rest (thanks mate). It was horrible watching everyone from last year race and I couldn't be out there with them. However watching and being amongst everyone was better then not having racing in my life at all.

Everyone at the meetings were so welcoming and everyone wanted to chat and all had faith in me that I can come back and still be good. However the boys have now picked up the pace big time so I'll have a lot of catching up to do, I'm not as optimistic as some about doing well.

Monday 8th August - truth day

Went to hospital to get the results to the last CT scan I had. I knew that this was the decider. This was the day I was being told if I had to have more Chemo or radiotheraphy.

It was such a nerve racking day but I decided to keep myself busy but going to buy a new battery for the bike (ready for Tuesday at Brands) and sorting out a few other bike related issues.

Made it to the hospital in the end and got told that for now I don't need no more chemo, I'm in remission. I have to have CT scans and X-rays every 2 months just to make sure that it's not coming back. I still have quite a few lumps in my body but the doctors think that they are either damaged tissue or dead cancer cells.

It's strange but it hasn't actually sunk in yet. It's like it's never happened because I've never actually believed that it's happening. In my mind I'm just ill, not really dealing with the issue of how ill.

I decided to celebrate with doing a track day at Brands on 9th August.

Now I know that the cancer is more then likely all dead I can concentrate on going back to work and giving racing another go.

Next installment..how it felt to be back out on the track and future plans.

Terry Oliphant

As Terry now looks like he has the all clear, he is trying to put a budget for racing together. Anyone who would like to sponsor or help him in anyway, should either contact him direct, or Contact Us, and we will pass on your details