Superfit Alistair Gibson defeated cancer and sepsis and told how getting Covid actually saved his life.
The 23-year-old was suffering with a persistent cough which he had no idea was actually a deadly form of cancer. It was only when he caught coronavirus months later that doctors carried out further checks and discovered he had Hodgkin Lymphoma which was at advanced stage four.
And then during his first round of chemotherapy, he developed sepsis but managed to fight off the life-threatening infection.
Alistair, who has just been given the all-clear from cancer, said: “Two weeks ago the doctor sat me down after a routine follow up scan and said ‘Well it’s all gone.’ If I’d never caught Covid then I’d never have found out I had cancer.
"In a roundabout way, catching Covid saved my life.”
Alistair, from Inverness, who plays American football, started coughing in March last year but couldn’t get an in-person medical appointment at his GPs. The following August he tested positive for coronavirus and began coughing up blood so contacted his doctor.
It was suspected he was suffering from long Covid or pneumonia and he was referred to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness for further investigation.
In February, an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist removed a swollen lymph node in his neck which later revealed Alistair had the rare and aggressive cancer that develops in the lymphatic system.
The sheriff court officer said: “Initially they took biopsies but when they didn’t get enough, they decided to remove the whole lymph gland which they tested and discovered I had cancer. I sat down with my dad and the doctor who told me it was Hodgkins Lymphoma and it was stage four.
"I was in total shock and disbelief. I even said to the doctor ‘Okay it’s Hodgkins lymphoma, but it’s not cancer’ and he said that was exactly what it was.
“I then had an X-ray which showed cancer all over my body. All the cancer basically lit up the X-ray like I was glowing.”
Alistair, who plays also volunteers as an American football coach with the Highland Stags, began chemotherapy the next day. During his first 21 day cycle of treatment he developed sepsis and spent nearly two weeks in the intensive care unit (ICU) before returning to his chemotherapy sessions.
Alistair said other than having a cough he felt well and had no other symptoms. Now after six cycles of chemotherapy, Alistair is finally cancer free.
He said: “The first cycle of chemotherapy just broke me. They gave me a high dose and I remember sitting in the hospital and my hair falling out in chunks.
“During chemotherapy if your temperature rises above 38 degrees you have to go to hospital. One night I felt horrible but thought it was just the chemotherapy acting. Then I got up about 3am and collapsed.
“I got rushed to hospital in an ambulance where they discovered I had sepsis. I spent 11 days in the ICU.
“In about two months I’d played our last league game, had biopsies done, had a lymph node removed, was told I had cancer and then started chemotherapy.
“I never had any symptoms other than the cough and felt fine. I couldn’t believe what was happening to me.
“Telling my family about my diagnosis was the hardest part. I wanted to stay strong for them but telling my mum Kim it was stage four was incredibly difficult.
“My mum would come and see me in hospital and I’d put a brave face on for her but I’d break down the minute she left as I knew how hard it was on her seeing me go through this.
“After sepsis, I was to start chemotherapy again and I remember sitting in the waiting room with my dad Hughie telling him, ‘I don’t think I can do this. I can’t go through with this anymore,’ and my dad just being in bits telling me I couldn’t stop treatment.
“I was the youngest in the ward by far and one doctor told me that I was the only one being treated for recovery, everyone else was being treated to slow their cancer down. That really hit me.”
Alistair refused to give up his coaching role during his treatment and is now preparing to get back into playing.
He added: “I stayed pragmatic and continued to coach for our team. I couldn’t go to away games but I would watch back the videos of games and did all the tactical stuff.
“I really want to thank our team the Highland Stags who have been brilliant in supporting me. They all even shaved their heads and raised over £3,000.
“I also really want to thank Leanne from Teenage Cancer Trust who was with me during it all.
“I’m not back playing yet but I’m coaching this year’s senior team and I’m looking forward to getting back on the field.”
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