Film tells story of man's cancer diagnosis at 21
A man who was diagnosed with stage four cancer at the age of 21 is starring in a short film about his experiences.The film of Keeslee Lanfear, 23, from the Forest of Dean, will be shown at a fundraising evening for the Teenage Cancer Trust.Keeslee, who is now in remission, will also appear on stage to address the crowd and appeal for donations.The event at the Royal Albert Hall in London on 28 March will be headlined by Irish pop group The Corrs.
In 2023 Mr Lanfear was working as a wedding planner when he began to feel unwell and lost a significant amount of weight for no apparent reason.He later experienced a "weird feeling" at the top of his stomach, and pain, which moved down into his abdomen. When the pain became unbearable, he visited his GP who ordered tests.While awaiting test results from his GP, he noticed he had a lump in his neck, the size of a golf ball.He had an X-ray over concerns he could have a collapsed lung, and then a CT scan on his chest to check for blood clots."I went back to the hospital the next morning and it was confirmed that it was lymphoma. "We asked what it was and that's when they told me I had cancer," Mr Lanfear said."It was a surreal moment. My mum asked if it was curable, and they said there's a high chance with chemotherapy."Every day I woke up and thought 'is this really happening?'."
Mr Lanfear had four cycles of chemotherapy and is now in remission after finishing his treatment in August 2023.In the film to be shown at the Royal Albert Hall, he opens up about his fears he might die, while his mum Claire talks about the heartbreak she felt when she heard her child had been diagnosed with cancer.Mr Lanfear has already raised more than £15,000 for the charity.
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