Skip to content

Man who had cancer aged 15 and 18 raises awareness

Teenage Cancer Trust Charlie Taylor, a man with short brown hair, is at the centre of the image. He is lying on a hospital bed and is putting his thumbs up at the camera. There are wires on his chest. Teenage Cancer Trust
Charlie Taylor in hospital after being diagnosed with cancer for the second time

A man who was diagnosed with cancer aged 15 and then again aged 18 is raising awareness of symptoms in young people.

Charlie Taylor said "without treatment, I was days from death" after he was diagnosed with stage four Hodgkin Lymphoma, a cancer caused by white blood cells mutating in the body.

The 23-year-old, from Sittingbourne, said he lost weight and suffered from dizzy spells and bruising.

His GPs said it was "just anaemia" and gave him iron tablets, Mr Taylor said.

The Teenage Cancer Trust has found only 17% of 13 to 24-year-olds know the main warning signs of cancer.

Teenage Cancer Trust Mr Taylor as a young boy is at the centre of the image. He is lying on a hospital bed with lots of tubes around him including one in his mouth. Teenage Cancer Trust
Mr Taylor said his operation only had a 50% chance of survival

Before a diagnosis, Mr Taylor said he repeatedly went back to his GP.

After choking on some lamb that he could not swallow, he returned to his doctor and was rushed to Medway Hospital where they found a large tumour in his windpipe and chest, which had spread to his liver, kidneys and spleen.

Mr Taylor finished treatment in 2016 after chemotherapy and surgery, but in 2019 his symptoms returned and he was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome, a type of cancer that occurs when bone marrow doesn't produce healthy blood cells.

He is now attempting to raise awareness of symptoms of cancer in young people.

Teenage Cancer Trust Mr Taylor is at the centre of this image. He is smiling, has brown hair and a silver chain around his neck Teenage Cancer Trust
Mr Taylor is now working for a civil engineering company

The Teenage Cancer Trust said the main warning signs were lumps, bumps and swellings, unexplained tiredness, mole changes, persistent pain and any significant weight changes.

Mr Taylor admitted that at 15 he did not know about the signs of cancer.

"People think cancer doesn't really affect young people but actually it's not as rare as you think,” he said.

"Whatever you're worried about get it checked out".

Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.