Man told he had year to live aged 12 reaches 30 without ever getting all-clear
A man told he had one year to live after being diagnosed with cancer aged 12 has celebrated his 30th birthday - without ever hearing he's cancer free.
The father-of-two, from Nashville, said he was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2005, and had to comprehend the being told he could be dead by aged 13.
However, the 30-year-old has now shared his incredible story of survival over the past 18 years - going on to get married, have children and even get a job working in the hospital where he received his shock diagnosis - the Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville.
While choosing to remain anonymous, the man shared images of his younger self in hospital, explaining how medics were so sure about his prognosis, they suggested the family take up and offer of a holiday from the Make-A-Wish Foundation - which saw them whisked off for a holiday in Hawaii.
Explaining more about his journey defying medics, the man says he was diagnosed with pilomyxoid astrocytoma - an aggressive cancer with has poor survival rates.
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The disease usually affects very young children, with the average age of diagnosis being 18 months, according to a 2004 study published in the journal Medscape General Medicine.
The father-of-two shared images of his in hospital as a child where he was given the shock prognosis (u/silentwalrus92)The man, who goes by the username SilentWalrus92, told his story on Reddit and said he first fell ill suffering severe vomiting, which doctors initially dismissed as a stomach bug.
But as his condition deteriorated, his parents took him to the emergency department where a scan revealed the devastating news he actually had a brain tumour.
The man recalled undergoing surgery to remove as much of the tumour as possible before being treated with radiation therapy.
Following the treatment, the then-youngster was left with short term memory loss, meaning he found it hard to remember people's names or what he had just done or eaten.
Fearing the end was near, the Make A Wish Foundation granted him his final wish to go on holiday to Maui with his family.
However, he has dashed doctors' expectations - going on to live a fulfilling life without actually hearing the news he is in remission.
The man pictured as a youngster with his parents (u/silentwalrus92)The man now claims his cancer was so rare - with only one in four people to have been diagnosed by 2005 - medics were unsure of an exact prognosis.
The man said: "Doctors had no idea why my surgery and treatment was so successful.
"The hospital sent my tumor off to be studied and they continued giving me regular MRI scans every year up until just now. I finished my final MRI checkup this year."
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While he lives a relatively normal life, he described how he still suffers with memory loss and has to carry a small notebook with him to write things down.
He added: "There was never a 'congratulations, you're cancer free.'
"Just yearly brain scans for the past 18 years to make sure the tumor still hasn't started growing again"
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