Perth man who went to the doctor with a stubborn cold finds out he has cancer

Snowboarder, 20, who went to the doctor with a stubborn cold is horrified to learn his mystery illness is actually leukemia

  • Jordan Saccoccio caught a cold in June 2019 that prompted a routine blood test  
  • He was was diagnosed with a rare cancer called acute myeloid leukemia 
  • The 20-year-old’s best chance of survival is to find a bone marrow transplant  

A young Australian who went to the doctor with a common cold was horrified when it turned out to be cancer.

Jordan Saccoccio, 20, now needs a bone marrow transplant after being told he has acute myeloid leukemia. 

The avid snowboarder caught a cold in June 2019 that prompted a routine blood test revealing the shock diagnosis. 

Mr Saccoccio, from Perth, was admitted to hospital two days later and began an eight-week course of chemotherapy.

Jordan Saccoccio, 20, (pictured here with his sister) now needs a bone marrow transplant after being told he has with acute myeloid leukemia 

His family say they are heartbroken that the cancer has left him unable to leave his home.

Mr Saccoccio’s father, John, told Nine News: ‘The hardest thing for me is to listen to my son if there is one per cent chance of getting through this, he will be the one per cent.’ 

Mr Saccoccio said his whole life has changed following his diagnosis. 

‘Hospital trips – staying there, I am barely home. I can’t really do much anymore,’ he said. 

He is now dealing with crippling side effects of his treatment such as hair loss and high temperatures, as well as constant blood transfusions and bone marrow biopsies.

Throughout his ordeal, Mr Saccoccio’s family says he has remained ‘strong-willed, positive and has never once complained about how tired, unwell or uncomfortable he is.’

‘He has just got on with it,’ they wrote on Facebook.

The avid snowboarder caught a cold in June 2019 that prompted a routine blood test revealing the shock diagnosis

The avid snowboarder caught a cold in June 2019 that prompted a routine blood test revealing the shock diagnosis 

Doctors have told Mr Saccoccio that his best chance of survival is to get a bone marrow transplant.

Unfortunately there is no current match and the family have pleaded with public to donate.

‘Until Jordan finds a suitable donor match, he will continue to undergo gruelling rounds of chemotherapy,’ a Facebook page about Mr Saccoccio’s journey states.

Doctors have told Mr Saccoccio that his best chance of survival is to get a bone marrow transplant

Doctors have told Mr Saccoccio that his best chance of survival is to get a bone marrow transplant 

‘Each cycle hits harder and takes longer for Jordan to bounce back. The sooner Jordan receives the bone marrow transplant, the less chemotherapy Jordan will require. Only then can he commence his recovery.’

Mr Saccoccio’s family are desperate to find a match and have asked people to get behind them. 

You can find out more about Jordan Saccoccio’s  search for a donor here.

WHAT IS ACUTE MYELOID LEUKEMIA? 

Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) is a cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow, but is not one single cancer but the name given to a group of leukaemias.

Each year 900 people in Australia are diagnosed with AML, with more males being affected. 

The cause is unknown but is thought to be because of damage to genes that control blood development. 

Symptoms include:

  • anemia
  • dizziness
  • repeated infections
  • slow healing
  • increased or unexplained bruising or bleeding
  • bone pain
  • swelling
  • chest pains  

Not everyone experiences symptoms and people are typically diagnosed through a blood test.

Source: Leukaemia Foundation 

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