A fit and healthy social media professional has spoken about the moment his life was turned upside down after being diagnosed with stage four non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Govind Sandhu, 38, head of Global Music Partnerships at TikTok Australia, received his shock diagnosis after noticing his knee was swollen after running a half marathon.
Other than that symptom, the only sign that something was wrong was the flu-like symptoms he was experiencing about six weeks.
Mr Sandhu, who worked at TikTok for three years, said in an Instagram post that he was “absolutely shocked and devastated” and wondered “why me?”
The Sydneysider explained that he “just went downhill” after finishing the Sydney Half Marathon, but initially thought it was just a running injury.
‘[I had a] swollen knee, although I thought it was because my knee was injured by a pile when I was running some trails in Hobart,” he said.
Govind Sandhu, 38, (pictured) said he is ‘shocked’ by his recent stage four cancer diagnosis
The TikTok boss (pictured), who works at Global Music Partnerships, said he shook off his swollen knee and aches and pains, but his health quickly went ‘downhill’.
‘But [also] just really bad body aches and sweating and everything that would make you think it was the flu or Covid.
‘And in a period of four weeks I only deteriorated.’
After several GP visits, blood tests, ultrasounds, PET and CT scans and tissue biopsies, doctors finally received a ‘comprehensive overview of what it stands for’.
“But there have also been some complications because they found some abnormalities just above my pancreas and on my heart,” Mr Sandhu explained.
“But it looks like, fingers crossed, the heart is fine.”
Mr. Sandhu will soon start chemotherapy and if there is cancer above his pancreas, it will be ‘zapped’.
“It will be aggressive because the cancer is aggressive,” he said.
There was an outpouring of support for Govind on social media, with many followers sending him ‘good vibes’.
The 38-year-old (pictured) was fit and healthy but said cancer ‘doesn’t discriminate’
‘You’ve got this, Gove. [There is] There is no better person who has the strength, resilience and positivity to kick this ass,” one person wrote.
Another added, “You ruined everything you ever devoted your heart and mind to, friend. This is no different.’
A third commented: ‘It was messing with the wrong person. You’re gonna crush this, bro!’
Mr Sandhu said he “can’t believe it” and knows he is in for a fight, but is confident this “will not be the end of my story”.
‘A long way to go, but this won’t be the end of my story. That is not possible! I am 38 years old, [I’ve] “I have lived the most blessed life yet and have so much more to live for,” he said.
“The reality is I have a chance to fight this motherfucker, so I’ll take the W [win] over there.
‘Life is Beautiful. I’m lucky and grateful for what I have.’
He hopes his health battle will remind people to get tested because cancer “doesn’t discriminate.”
‘Get checked out, get your blood tests done. If you feel sick, don’t try to fight it alone,” he urged.