Eighteen-year-old Broadbeach Waters local Robert Barber first sensed something was wrong when a simple lap around his school oval left him unusually breathless.
Days later, standing in the surf with friends, he felt cold, dizzy and struggled to stay upright.
“I just thought I had low iron or something,” Robert said.
But a blood test showed his haemoglobin was 84, and within days it dropped to around 60 (haemoglobin of around 135 is considered normal).
“It all happened pretty quickly,” he said.
What Robert didn’t know was that his body was fighting B-Cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (B-ALL), a rare and aggressive blood cancer.
The diagnosis arrived in the middle of his final Year 12 exams, forcing him to abandon half of them as his life changed overnight.
He had spent months planning post graduation adventures - four-wheel driving at Double Island Point and a dream trip to Japan - but instead began treatment at home while friends headed overseas.
“Missing out on things has been hard,” he said.
“I really miss the beach, spearfishing and the gym… I can’t wait to feel the salt water on my skin again and just be back to normal.”
Despite everything, Robert has started a business degree majoring in marketing this year.
He’s been feeling well enough to attend some of the lectures, inspired by the university campus he overlooks from his Gold Coast University Hospital (GCUH) room.
Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Nurse Consultant Bec Todd has supported Robert throughout his journey in her role through the Queensland Youth Cancer Service.
She said B-ALL is considered rare, accounting for about 14 per cent of all new blood cancer diagnosis in young people of Robert's age.
“Haemoglobin of 60, where Robert was, meant he was really struggling,” Bec said.
“This form of cancer involves rapidly growing immature B-Cells crowding out the healthy blood cells in the bone marrow.”
Robert began chemotherapy before transitioning to a newer immunotherapy, reducing the amount of time he needs to spend in hospital during his four treatment cycles.
“In the beginning he wanted to know every detail, and I was more than happy to share so he knew exactly what his body was going through,” Bec said.
“Young people often thrive through this difficult experience - they inspire me.”
For Robert’s mum, Sandra, the experience has been both confronting and filled with unexpected kindness.
“We’re very lucky. Not long ago he wouldn’t have survived this,” she said.
She praised every nurse, doctor and support worker, including the private haematologist who encouraged them to see GCUH Clinical Haematologist Dr Tara Cochrane “because she’s the best”.
In a touching moment of comradery, Robert’s tight-knit group of friends all shaved their long hair in solidarity.
“I couldn’t believe they all did it - no one ever thought any of us would have short hair,” he said.
A GoFundMe Robert set up to support the Australasian Leukaemia and Lymphoma Group (ALLG) raised around $20,000 - something Sandra called “amazing” and “a positive distraction from the treatment.”
In exciting news, he has also been approved for a Starlight Foundation wish, waiting for the perfect moment to decide what he will use it on.
As treatment continues, Robert remains hopeful and wants other young people facing cancer to feel the same.
“It feels like the end of the world at first, but it’s not. I’ll be back to normal soon enough. You just can’t overstress it,” he said.
Bec said Robert is now in a unique club, with the power to use his own journey for good if he wishes to.
“He can be that person who is now a voice for this, because we don’t have enough voices for young people,” she said.
“But that’s his choice – he can also leave it all behind and say I’m done with cancer!”
For now, he dreams of getting back to the ocean, and we can’t wait for the day he does.
