Another family member was diagnosed days later
A man who went to the dentist over an infection was rocked by a ‘shock’ cancer diagnosis.
Jamie Haxton had a small lump under his jaw for months, with antibiotics unable to treat it.
It had been caused by an infection which triggered a reaction in the 29-year-old’s lymph nodes.
The online fitness coach underwent a biopsy, before a series of scans confirmed he had Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
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He was placed under active surveillance, having had no noticeable symptoms of cancer, but Jamie vowed to keep active.
Jamie said: “At the end of the day, it’s your health. I realised I could still train, still work, still walk and move.
“I even asked the doctor if I could go ahead with a five-month prep for a photoshoot I had planned and she gave me the green light. For me, keeping active has been such an important part of dealing with this.”
Jamie’s family were hit with a double blow when, just a week after his diagnosis, another relative also received news they needed urgent cancer treatment.
It was a difficult time for the whole family, but Jamie says it brought them closer together.
Now, they are uniting to take part in Off The Beatson Track, a fundraiser in support of Beatson Cancer Charity.
Jamie, from Glasgow, will be joined a total of seven family members walking together.
On August 24, the family will run 10km – starting at the Riverside Museum, passing the Beatson Cancer Centre on Great Western Road, past Kelvingrove Museum, and looping back to the Riverside.
Jamie said: “I think the more people involved, the more powerful it is. Everyone wanted to be part of it, and it feels really special to be doing it together.
“Cancer is much more common than I realised until my own diagnosis, so raising awareness and support is really important to me.”
Jamie has already smashed his fundraising target, raising four times his initial goal of £500. “The support has been amazing,” Jamie added.
“It’s been overwhelming to see how many people have shared the page and donated. It definitely gives me a boost to keep going.”
Maisie McCormick, Community Fundraising Manager at Beatson Cancer Charity, said: “We’re delighted to be celebrating our 12th Off the Beatson Track event this year.
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“We’re so grateful to everyone who has taken part over the years – some families have been with us since the beginning, so we hope everyone will get behind the celebrations this year and join us.
“Every single person who signs up is allowing us to support more cancer patients and their families over the years to come, and we cannot thank you enough for that.”
Tami Kucera
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