How missing a concert with Jocelyn Brown saved jazz drummer Mark’s life

“I am so grateful to all the research that has been developed and the people working to make it happen so I can continue living my life and carry on with what I love to do.”

After over 30 years as a professional jazz drummer, Mark Mondesir has gigged with the best in the business, from Courtney Pine to Jeff Beck. 

His work requires both strength and the stamina to make entertaining audiences for hours on stage look effortless. He counts his blessings for working in an industry that is both creative and so physical. 

But in 2018, as he prepared for a once-in-a-lifetime gig playing for soul singer Jocelyn Brown, he received some news that changed his life. 

A missed performance

In October of that year, Mark was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer. 

Not only did he have a tumour in his colon, but also a large tumour attached to his bladder, and to a main artery in his left leg. Major surgery was needed urgently. 

“Just after my cancer diagnosis I was asked by my surgeon to return to the hospital on a Friday afternoon so she could go through the surgery procedure and show me the CT scan,” Mark recalls. 

“I told her I couldn’t make the date as I was due to be performing that night with Jocelyn Brown.  

“My surgeon’s words back to me were ‘if I left it even a week, I would be dead’. Needless to say, I didn’t perform in the concert that night.” 

Mark underwent a seven-and-a-half-hour operation to remove a section of his bowel as well as a section of his bladder. A specialist surgeon was called in to remove the tumour from the artery. Had the artery been damaged in the process, it would have led to Mark’s leg being amputated.  

The treatment required him to have stents inserted during surgery to protect his ureters (vessels connecting the kidneys to the urinary bladder), and a type of stoma called a colostomy fitted. 

Following surgery Mark underwent six months of chemotherapy called FOLFOX and five weeks of radiotherapy. 

The road to recovery 

Having been in the enviable position of working with so many great artists worldwide as a professional drummer, Mark worried his diagnosis would signal the end of his livelihood. 

The physical act of drumming is one which requires the feet as well as two hands, so having internal kidney stents and a colostomy to deal with can cause problems.  

“I have been getting back to work slowly,” he explains.  

“Having been a musician for 37 years it’s difficult to learn to say no to things, but I have to listen to my body. Whenever I was invited to work, I’ve had to make them aware that they needed to have someone on standby just in case I have to pull out at the last minute, in case my kidneys flared up for instance. Nowadays, I’m hoping this won’t be necessary”.