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INSPIRING STORIES
Laura mahon
At the age of 29, Laura Mahon experienced a concerning development during her 20th week of pregnancy. She awoke unable to move her toes, and as the week progressed, she lost sensation in a significant portion of her right leg. Her GP promptly referred her to The Walton Centre in Liverpool for an MRI scan. The results revealed a terminal glioblastoma (GBM) brain tumour, presenting Laura with a challenging decision: to deliver her baby prematurely at 30 weeks, or potentially jeopardise her own wellbeing. Consequently, beautiful baby Sienna entered the world on November 30, 2021. On December 9th, Laura underwent an MRI scan with contrast dye, which indicated a nearly twofold increase in the size of the tumour. Laura was informed that it had become inoperable due to its location on her motor cortex, making removal unsafe. The only viable option was a biopsy, which was performed the next day. Unfortunately, only approximately 20% of the tumor could be extracted.
Laura has completed various courses of chemotherapy and radiotherapy throughout 2022, however at a routine scan in January 2023 it showed new activity in another part of Laura's brain. Towards the end of February, she started getting headaches, her symptoms became worse, and she experienced another seizure. An emergency MRI which showed her tumour had grown and there were more new areas of activity.
“I now only have a few treatment options left on the NHS. Danny and I are truly heartbroken but we always knew this would eventually be the outcome, we just thought we would have more time. Oxygen therapy and red light therapy has not just improved my general health and well-being it’s improved my mental health aswell. I was in a bad place after getting the news in February but coming to see you and Dave has helped not just me but Danny massively and we will be forever grateful to the foundation. It’s so nice to see the changes in my health and I’m starting to feel ‘normal me’ again which is something I never thought I’d feel again”
At the end of 2022 Ahead Of The Game reached out to Laura to signpost her to receive complementary therapies such as Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy & Red Light Therapy. Alongside her current chemotherapy, in August 2023 Laura received a stable scan with some shrinkage too!
BIANCA PEREA
When Ahead Of The Game met Bianca in 2022, she was recently diagnosed and currently undergoing treatment with various treatment related after side effects. However Bianca did not allow this to stop her research into changing her prognosis with the help of alternative therapies.
Sadly some Oncologists will not support or recommend alternative therapies alongside traditional treatment such as chemotherapy & radiotherapy. Bianca's testimonial is a story of hope and showcases of the true results, not only external but internally too!
" I was diagnosed Nov 2021 with Stage 4 Bowel Cancer with Liver Mets after a gut feeling telling me to go to the doctors in September 2021. I'd started to get increased bloating and constipation although nothing debilitating as I was still working full time and enjoying a very active lifestyle of gym classes, runs, playing netball, dog walks and a full social life too therefore, this diagnosis came as quite the shock. I had a stoma/colostomy 5 days after being diagnosed and began chemotherapy two weeks after this. As of April 2023 I have had 28 rounds of chemo and to say it is brutal is putting it simply. However in September 2022 I came across the Ahead of the Game Foundation and reached out to them...what a fabulous, utterly amazing decision this was for me. Since September I have been visiting the clinic 2-3 times per week for Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, Infrared Light Therapy and occasionally Infrared Sauna when my diary allows...the results are unbelievable! "
" So along with chemotherapy, AOTG therapies, Care Oncology Clinic prescription of lower toxicity drugs and other holistic therapies including Reiki, Meditation, Yoga, Dietary changes and having an immensely supportive network of family and friends. Whilst also using my voice more than ever before to advocate for myself, I've recently been given the go ahead for my first surgery which I was told wouldn't be an option when first diagnosed.
I was also approached by a Leeds surgeion who due to my incredible results, have put me forward as one of the first UK bowel cancer thriver, to undergo a new procedure originating in Norway and already performed in Canada, Spain & Portugal. This procedure will perform a part liver transplant! "
KIERAN SHINGLER
Kieran joined a triathlon team at the start of 2022 and competed in several triathlons, including a 70.3 in Chester in the summer.
In November 2022 Kieran was suffering from headaches, nausea and tiredness. After further tests he was diagnosed with high grade cancerous brain tumour. Since then he has had four major surgeries including an emergency surgery on Christmas Day 2022. His support network around him is incredible with a team called Kieran's Crew, where they fundraise to support local cancer charities like ourselves and have fully emerged themselves into sharing Kieran’s inspiring story to help raise awareness for brain tumours.
Ahead Of The Game reached out and welcomed Kieran into the hub in 2023 and have signed posted him to receive complementary therapies to support him on his cancer journey. Kieran also now attends weekly rehabilitation sessions with Tel his Cancer Rehabilitation Specialist Coach to build back his stamina post surgery / treatment. Kieran continues to inspire us with his positivity, attitude, humour and by just fighting his prognosis head on!
Jamie Connolly
In 2022 James was a chef, first time father, battling with stress and weight issues indulging in far too many take aways and home deliveries. In July 2022 James was about to go away with his wife, when at 2:15am she was woken by his first ever seizure which lasted around 10 - 12 minutes. There was a large tumour on James’s brain and had emergency craniotomy shortly after. James waited 10 weeks for his biopsy which disclosed a terminal grade 4 Astrocytoma with a 18month statistical survival rate.
James surgeon mentioned that he should research Dave Bolton for extra advise and that his story was so inspiring. James applied for our Health & Wellbeing Cancer Rehabilitation Program and researched about cancer, how it grows and what feeds it. He wrote down a list of bad foods, made a list of positives to focus on like his family and little boy. James completely changed his diet focusing on a ketogenic diet, with a limit of 30g carbs which he admits was hard but he saw it as life or death. James started chemotherapy, radiotherapy and was offered a place to work weekly with Dave Bolton, his dedicated Cancer Rehabilitation Coach. “ 𝙏𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙪𝙥 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙠 𝙩𝙤 𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙤𝙣 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙨, 𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙉𝙚𝙬 𝘽𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙤𝙣 𝙜𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙢𝙚 𝙖 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙩 𝙢𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙛𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙣 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙚, 𝙖𝙡𝙨𝙤 𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙠 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙜𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝, 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙤 𝙫𝙖𝙡𝙪𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙚.”
Dave took it right back to basics with James including simple mobility movements like sit to stand. James focused on reaching at least 15k - 10k steps a day and starting yoga each morning. Each week he got stronger, doing body weight squats, to being able to do his first ever press up! James started weekly HBOT sessions and investing in his mental health too. The weight was falling off and he was starting to thrive - " 𝙄 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙜𝙤 𝙬𝙖𝙡𝙠 𝙤𝙣 𝙖 𝙡𝙤𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙝, 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙯𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙣."
Daily steps turned into jogging and James decided to complete the couch to 5k, running was never his thing and never had been. His goal was being able to run 1 mile. James started running for 2 minutes walking for 2 and around this time had a scan to which told him everything was stable with no growth! James achieved 5k! " 𝙄 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙩 𝙨𝙤 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙮𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙮𝙚𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙝𝙮𝙨𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚. " 🏃
James always wanted to do stand up comedy and performed at the hot water comedy club, to celebrate passing the 18 month prognosis. In Dec 2023 James decided to push himself further with doing 25 x 5k runs including the Liverpool Santa Dash and has now become obsessed with running.
We are so proud of the positivity, passion and determination that James has displayed. He was open to transforming his life and completely changing his lifestyle to fight his brain tumour head on!
𝗝𝗔𝗠𝗘𝗦 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗣𝗟𝗘𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗦𝗧 𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥 𝗛𝗔𝗟𝗙 𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗡! 🏅
