TEENAGER Mark Glen had his dreams of becoming a professional basketball player dashed when he was diagnosed with bone cancer.

The Harwood youngster, aged 16 when doctors broke the devastating news that he had Spindle Cell Sarcoma last January, faced the horrifying possibility of losing his left arm.

He was a star player with Bolton's Under 18s basketball team and had a dream that one day he would make the England squad.

But cancer put paid to his plans and he spent an agonising year of operations and chemotherapy.

Now, one year on, Mark has had a "bionic" titanium plate put in his arm and there is no sign of the cancer.

"It was more difficult for my mum, than for me," Mark, a sixth form student at Turton High School, said.

Mum-of-three Lynne, a teacher at Little Lever High School, agreed. She said: "I just felt so helpless. It was heart-breaking."

Mark is among thousands of teenagers who suffer cancer.

It came at a time in his life that was supposed to be carefree and fun.

Instead, Mark spent nearly a year in and out of Christie's hospital, having operations and undergoing chemotherapy.

Standing at six foot three, his weight plunged to eight and a half stones and he missed a year of school work.

The nightmare began in January, 2001 when Mark fell on his arm at home, whilst chasing his younger brother Jamie.

At first he thought he had sprained it, but tests later confirmed that he had a tumour.

Mark said: "I had to stay in the Royal Bolton Hospital overnight. No-one told me that anything was wrong, but I knew."

A biopsy of the tumour was sent to Birmingham Orthopaedic Hospital.

Mark said: "They could see it as a shadow in my upper arm. The bone had broken in two places and the arm was being held together by the tumour. I was told it was a very fast growing, malignant tumour.

"It didn't sink in at first. I had to ring the specialist back three days later to ask questions."

His two brothers Jamie, aged 11 and Alex, aged 14, were also badly hit by the news.

They, alongside their dad, Mike, shaved off their hair in moral support for Mark who lost his because of the cancer treatment.

He continues to have check-ups at Christie's every six weeks but so far there is no indication that the cancer has returned.

The whole family are now looking forward to a holiday of a lifetime in the Bahamas at Easter - thanks to the charity Make a Wish Foundation - which grants more than 7,000 wishes each year to children who are diagnosed with life threatening conditions.

Mark had originally wished to go snowboarding in Japan, but was talked out of this by his parents.

Lynne, aged 45, said: "Can you imagine me going snowboarding in Japan! Instead, they have paid for us to stay in a hotel in the Bahamas so that we can see friends who emigrated out there.

"We are very excited. It's important for us to have a holiday. We have all been through so much. On New Year's Day we threw a big party to celebrate a better 2002. We couldn't wait to see the back of 2001."

Mark, a big R'n'B fan now studying his AS-levels in art, business studies and IT, never gave up hope and continued to see his friends in between his chemotherapy.

He said: "I just chilled out. I even went out clubbing if I felt well enough. I just focused on the treatment and listened to what the specialists were telling me.

"There were black days but I just got on with it. It was harder for my family, than for me."

Mark, who has just dyed his hair blue, admits that his basketball days are over, added: "I have been away from it too long. Plus my arm is not as good as it once was. I am concentrating on other things now."

The Make a Wish Foundation is constantly looking for donations to help make dreams come true for families like Mark's.

Those who would like to help are asked to contact the foundation on 0800 9807230.