Mark Pilgrim discharged from hospital in time for the New Year

After having his hospital discharge delayed by weeks, South African radio personality Mark Pilgrim is finally able to go home. 

He made the announcement on his Twitter account last week. 

“After 64 days, 7 procedures and losing almost 15kg, today… I go home!” he tweeted along with a picture of his partner wheeling him out of his room. 

“Still have a tube coming out my side [and] will have a home nurse looking after me as I slowly build my strength, but nothing beats the healing power of being home with loved ones, the fresh air and garden,” he added. 

This comes after he had to spend Christmas in his hospital room. He was, however, allowed to have visitors so his partner, Adrienne and his daughters were able to spend the day with him. 

Mark’s cancer returns

In February 2022, just weeks after celebrating being in remission for over three decades, the radio host confirmed that his cancer had returned.

“Thank you for all the kind messages of support as I’ve spent a few days away with loved ones. We’ll know the full extent of what’s going on in a few days after the PET scan. Suffice to say, the Big C has come knocking on my door again,” wrote Mark on Instagram. 

He was first diagnosed with stage 3 testicular cancer in 1988.

According to his Wikipedia page, it was an aggressive form of cancer and spread to his lungs and kidneys. 

“After nine months of chemotherapy, he was declared to be in remission and had remained so for about 33 years.” 

Over the decades, he was worked as an ambassador for the Cancer Association of South Africa (Cansa) and has been “a friend” of the Reach for a Dream Foundation.

Mark’s cancer journey in 2022

A month after sharing his diagnosis with the public, he began his chemo journey.

Towards the end of the year, he began suffering from fluid buildup in his lungs which led to a prolonged hospital stay and the procedures mentioned above. 

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