A fit and healthy social media professional has spoken of the moment his life was turned upside down after he was diagnosed with stage four non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Govind Sandhu, 38, head of Global Music Partnerships at TikTok Australia, received his shock diagnosis after noticing his knee was swollen after a half marathon.
Beyond that symptom, the only sign that anything was wrong were flu-like symptoms, which he had been experiencing for about six weeks.
Sandhu, who has worked at TikTok for three years, said in an Instagram post that he was “absolutely shocked and devastated” and was wondering “why me?”
The Sydney resident explained that he had “just gone downhill” after finishing the Sydney Half Marathon, but initially thought it was just a running injury.
“(My) knee was swollen, although I thought it was because I hurt my knee when I was in Hobart running on some trails,” he said.
Govind Sandhu, 38 (pictured), said he is “shocked” by his recent stage four cancer diagnosis.
The TikTok boss (pictured) who works at Global Music Partnerships shared that he dismissed his swollen knee and aches and pains, but his health soon went “downhill.”
‘But (also) very bad body aches and sweats and everything that would make you think it was flu or Covid.
“And over a four-week period, I just deteriorated.”
After several visits to the GP, blood tests, ultrasounds, PET and CT scans and tissue biopsies, doctors finally got a “full overview of where things are”.
“But there have also been some complications as they found some abnormalities just above my pancreas and in my heart,” Mr Sandhu explained.
“But it looks like, fingers crossed, heart is fine.”
Sandhu will start chemotherapy soon and if there is cancer above his pancreas, it will be removed.
“It will be aggressive because cancer is aggressive,” he said.
There was an outpouring of support for Govind on social media, with many followers sending him ‘good vibes’.
The 38-year-old (pictured) was fit and healthy but said cancer “doesn’t discriminate”.
—You got it, Gove. “There is no better human being who has the strength, resilience and positivity to kick this in the butt,” one wrote.
Another added: ‘You’ve destroyed everything you ever put into your heart and mind my friend. This is no different.’
A third commented: ‘He messed with the wrong person. You’re going to crush this, buddy!’
Sandhu said he “can’t believe it” and knows he has a fight on his hands, but insists “it won’t be the end of my story.”
‘A long road ahead, but this will not be the end of my story. It just can’t be! “I am 38 years old, I have lived the most blessed life to date and I have so much more to live for,” she said.
“The reality is that I have a chance to fight this bastard, so I’ll take the win there.”
‘Life is Beautiful. I’m lucky and grateful for what I have.’
She hopes her health battle reminds people to get tested because cancer “doesn’t discriminate.”
‘Get your checkups, go get your blood tests done. If you feel bad, don’t try to fight it,’ she urged.
