A young man who fell at work and thought he had strained his hamstring was stunned to learn his pain was caused by a rare form of cancer.
Nic Cahoon, 25, from Maryborough in Victoria, was working in his printing shop when he fell and injured his thigh in June 2023.
He initially dismissed the injury, but became concerned when his leg was still in pain two weeks later, prompting him to make an appointment with the doctor. Yahoo reported.
Mr Cahoon underwent numerous blood tests and scans, and doctors soon suspected bone cancer.
After performing a bone biopsy on the printer’s hip, Mr. Cahoon’s results were shocking: he had stage one chondrosarcoma.
The 25-year-old underwent eight-hour surgery just months later to remove the cancer and soon had to learn to walk again.
The husband first used a wheelchair and then crutches before fully recovering and being able to walk unaided again.
Mr Cahoon “felt lucky” that the cancer was caught early, giving him the best chance of a full recovery as the tumours had not spread and were all removed during surgery.
Nic Cahoon, 25 (pictured right), fell during a work shift and sought medical attention when his thigh was still in pain two weeks later in June 2023.
The young printer (pictured) was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and had to undergo eight-hour surgery and then learn to walk again.
The relieved printer was excited to get back to work in May, nearly 12 months after his initial downfall.
But tragically, at a routine doctor’s appointment just a month later in June, Cahoon’s doctors recommended further testing.
He and his wife Jayde were given the heartbreaking news that three more fragments of a tumor had been detected, but this time they were deeper in the pelvis.
Mr. Cahoon’s bone cancer was now considered even rarer: a soft tissue chondrosarcoma, which is resistant to treatment methods.
But one silver lining is that the 25-year-old is a candidate for a 10-week trial of radiation and chemotherapy in Sydney, with part of it possibly in Melbourne depending on how he responds to the treatment.
Family member Michaela said Mr Cahoon is “nervous” but “looking forward” to receiving the treatment.
“He is hopeful that this experimental treatment will be effective,” he said.
‘He is very grateful for all the support he has received from his family and friends during his initial diagnosis and treatment, and for the support they continue to show him throughout his fight.’
Michaela said that since the trial is experimental, a start date has not yet been determined, but it should be “within the next month or so.”
A year later, after a routine medical appointment, doctors told Mr Cahoon (pictured right) that there were more tumours and that his cancer was even rarer than initially thought.
The family member said Mr Cahoon and his wife are a “hard-working couple” and everyone was “impressed” by their strength.
“Nic is the first to crack a joke, and he’s so generous that he’d give you his shirt if you needed it,” he said.
“We were so impressed by her spirit and determination to fight for her health; the process of learning to walk again showed real strength.”
Michaela said that while Mr Cahoon’s cancer is usually resistant to chemotherapy and radiation, there was hope that the new trial would be effective.
Survival rates for chondrosarcoma can vary and depend on factors such as the behavior of the tumor, the age of the patient, and the stage at which it was diagnosed.
TO GoFundMe It was created to help pay for the couple’s travel expenses and ongoing costs.
