For most people, being diagnosed with cancer in your 20s would be life shattering.
But Pearcedale’s Aaron Blitz seems to be able to shrug it off with a smile as a mere speedbump in his life journey.
At the beginning of the year, the 24-year-old was just about to begin his last semester at Monash University completing a Masters of Teaching when a lingering cough brought him to the doctor.
“I didn’t have any other symptoms, like a runny nose or anything else so it wasn’t a sickness or Covid,” Aaron said.
His doctor ordered a CT scan.
Thinking nothing of it, Aaron was called back into the doctor’s office after a day of school placement and told they had found a mass in his chest that was impacting his windpipe and they suspected it was Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
“I just had a random little cough and you’d think that a 24-year-old would be healthy but the CT scan revealed this massive lump around my lungs and heart,” he said.
“It felt pretty surreal. It took a few days to kick in because you just don’t think it will happen to you.
“But I was lucky because it was stage two and I was told there was an 80 per cent the chemo would knock it out and I wouldn’t have to deal with it again.”
A week later, Aaron started chemotherapy at Frankston Hospital.
“You go under the knife for the biopsy and then you start chemo and then it starts kicking in that yes, you’re a cancer patient,” he said.
“It’s like being an old man doing chemo at 24. You have your good days and your bad days and all you can do is enjoy your good days and get out and do things.”
To gain some control over the situation, Aaron had a head shaving party when his hair began to fall out, another testament to his unique outlook of his situation.
He wanted to continue to enjoy his life with his partner, friends and family during what could only be described as a nightmare for anyone, young or old.
“Luckily I have a positive mindset and I have friends and family around me that are always there and I have my pickleball,” he said.
Aaron’s the secretary of Pickleball Victoria and has continued to play at his local club, South East Melbourne Pickleball, based at the Pearcedale Tennis Club during his treatment.
Pickleball is a fast growing sport that combines elements of badminton, table tennis and tennis and is played with a paddle.
He said it’s one of the main things that has kept him focussed on recovery.
“That’s the only thing I’ve been able to hold on to. It’s the only thing I’ve been able to do because I haven’t been able to study or coach tennis,” he said.
“I’m still playing pickleball but just not doing tournaments because I just don’t have the energy.”
Last month, Aaron spearheaded a ‘Pickleball for Lymphoma’ fundraiser, raising $4,741 for Lymphoma Australia.
“I thought, I love my pickleball, why not run a big fundraiser?” he said.
“Lymphoma Australia has helped me and they help a lot of people.”
Held Saturday 22 May, the event was a huge success.
And now to the good news.
After two months of chemotherapy, the mass in Aaron’s chest had gone and he is technically in remission but still completing the six month course of treatment to ensure the cancer stays away.
“This is just a speedbump in the process. You’re 24 and you’re trying to start your career and everything,” Aaron said.
“At the end of the day I’m being positive about it all because it could be worse. There are people in worse situations than me.”
Aaron hopes that other young people can learn from his experience and take their health seriously.
“You’ve got to get checked even if you’re healthy,” Aaron said.
You can donate to Lymphoma Australia by heading to lymphoma.org.au.
