A man told he had just a 5% chance in surviving a rare cancer has beaten the odds and is now “stronger than ever”.

When fitness influencer Lee Troutman visited this local GP after suffering from night sweats, fatigue and pain in his liver, he had no idea of the nightmare that would follow.

After multiple tests, the then 20-year-old personal trainer was diagnosed with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, also known as HLH, a malignant internal inflammation, which shuts down your organs.

Sadly, months later, he received a second diagnosis of non-Hodgkins lymphoma and doctors told him the cancer had spread to all four lobes of his brain, the brain stem, spine, liver, ribs and hips.

Lee, who has 104,000 followers () was determined to fight with everything he had and, despite the poor prognosis, is now in remission.

“At the time of my diagnosis, I was working 12 hours a day, opening the gym at 5am and training customers,” Lee from Atlanta, Georgia, US, told http://NeedToKnow.co.uk

“I’d even do my own personal workout afterwards.

“So I assumed my unusual symptoms were just a result of working too much.

“But once I was diagnosed, things rapidly got worse – my eyes and skin were going yellow from my liver failing.

“I couldn’t walk, talk, eat – anything.

“Nor was I really aware of what was going on; I wasn’t in a coma but my mind was constantly fuzzy.”

Lee went to the doctor in October 2021 and was diagnosed with mononucleosis in November 2021, followed by HLH in December and non-Hodgkins lymphoma in January 2022.

In just two months, he lost half his body weight, with the scale showing just 103 pounds.

He said: “The doctors did not think I would survive.

“My mum and I found a doctor who agreed to take my case – he gave me hope with a 5% chance of survival.

“He said if I was to survive the lymphoma and aggressive cancer treatments, I would then need a bone marrow transplant.

“And after that, I would have a 70% chance of making it through.”

Lee was set to undergo the bone marrow transplant when tragically his lungs collapsed, twice, and he was put on a ventilator and given a feeding tube.

He was eventually taken off the ventilator but had to spend months in rehabilitation to regain weight and muscle mass, while still undergoing chemotherapy, in order to be strong enough for the surgery.

He said: “The goal was to get me strong enough to withstand the bone marrow transplant.

“During this time, I re-learned how to do pretty much everything, from walking to eating.

“I also received more than 50 platelet and blood transfusions.

“I had too many chemo treatments to count and multiple radiation treatments on my brain.

“At the time I didn’t remember the treatments but looking back it’s overwhelming.

“I definitely have some PTSD which I speak to a counsellor about regularly.”

Finally, on 24 May 2022, he received the bone marrow transplant from an anonymous donor.

He was released two months later but had to spend 200 days in quarantine, and had to take a dose of 63 drugs daily, as the medicine was to prevent transplant rejection and recurrence of HLH.

Lee said: “It was a lot but I knew the pills were necessary.

“The quarantine tested my sanity.

“It was hard not being able to see people for 200 days.

“I was lonely and it actually made me miss being in the hospital where I saw doctors, nurses and therapists regularly.”

Although it has been a harrowing journey, Lee has beaten the odds and is now in remission.

But it’s not over yet.

He currently has to go to hospital one a month for check-ups and still has tests regularly.

Lee said: “The hospital saved my life but I hope I never have to go back.

“The other week I took my dog to the vet because he’s sick and it triggered all kinds of feelings and emotions, like total flashbacks.

“I look forward to the day when those triggers are gone.”

Lee is still very much living with cancer but is excited to be able to go back to what he loves most: fitness and the gym.

He said: “When I was in the hospital I spent a lot of time writing down my goals and tracking them.

“Sometimes the goals were just getting out of bed and brushing my teeth.

“Now I feel good. I feel happy. I feel normal.

“I am living my best life, working out at the gym again, I have a job and I am finally looking forward to my future.”

“If there is anyone out there going through something similar, stay strong, keep fighting and do not give up.

“If the doctors have given up, go find a new doctor.

“Be your own advocate.”

ENDS

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