A UK surgeon who identified his son’s rare and aggressive cancer, enabling him to receive life-saving treatment, has now joined him on a remarkable charity bike ride from Oxford to Barcelona.
Professor Dominic Furniss, a specialist in plastic and reconstructive surgery at Oxford University Hospitals, is cycling 1,000 miles with his son, Jasper, who recently underwent surgery for a myxoid liposarcoma, a rare type of sarcoma.
The father-son duo, accompanied by a team that includes some of Professor Furniss’s colleagues, aims to complete the journey in 11 days to raise awareness and funds for Sarcoma UK.
Jasper’s diagnosis came after Professor Furniss noticed a concerning lump on his son’s thigh, which prompted an immediate response.
Recalling the moment, Professor Furniss described it as the ‘worst moment’ of his life.
‘It was a 7cm lump, resembling a large egg, and I knew it was almost certainly sarcoma,’ he said.
The swift action by Professor Furniss, who works at one of the UK’s leading sarcoma treatment centres, led to an MRI and biopsy just days later. Jasper was diagnosed with myxoid liposarcoma, a condition so rare only about 72 cases are reported annually in England.
The surgery to remove the tumour took place within four weeks of its discovery, and Jasper’s recovery has been nothing short of remarkable.
Determined to regain his fitness, Jasper set a goal to start running six weeks after his operation, which he achieved with determination and support from his physiotherapist.
Now in remission, Jasper is keen to give back and raise awareness about sarcoma, a disease that impacts many young lives. ‘Cycling has always been something my dad and I have done together; it’s just been our thing,’ Jasper said. ‘I’m not going to let this stop me from spending time with my dad.’
The family’s journey through Jasper's diagnosis and treatment highlighted the importance of support systems. Sarcoma UK provided information and emotional support during this challenging time.
This inspired the Furniss family to undertake the cycling challenge as a personal achievement and a mission to help others facing similar battles.
You can follow their journey and support the cause through their Instagram page O2B.2024.
