A law student who was misdiagnosed before learning he had terminal cancer is now using his platform to raise awareness about the warning signs that were overlooked.
Graeme Porter was studying at Edinburgh University when he began experiencing persistent pain, extreme fatigue, and drastic weight loss.
Within just five weeks, he shed four stone and struggled with severe lower back pain that made sleeping difficult.
However, when the Aberdeen native sought medical advice, doctors suggested a range of possible causes before landing on the heartbreaking truth - Ewing sarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer.
Porter has since taken to TikTok to share his journey, recounting the many conditions doctors initially suspected before his cancer diagnosis.
He was told his symptoms could be attributed to growing pains, muscle strain, a blood clot, kidney stones, or even a urinary infection.
It wasn’t until months later that he was correctly diagnosed with cancer. Now, he urges others: “Always get your symptoms checked, no matter how minor.”
Reflecting on the misdiagnosis, the 20-year-old told Bristol Live: “I think looking back on it with my personal experience, it is easy to say it was a misjudgment.
“However, with the amount of young people having cancer being low, especially in such a small city, I don’t think saying it’s cancer should be the first response," he continued. "However, I do think it should be on the cards as a background thought or check, just to be safe.”
Porter also recalled a visit to A&E when he believed he had blood in his vomit. Doctors scanned his chest but failed to check his back, despite his complaints of discomfort.
"They didn’t do a scan of my back when I told them I was in too much pain, and they just focused on my chest where there was nothing there," he shared.
In June 2023, at just 19 years old, Porter was officially diagnosed with cancer. After undergoing 14 cycles of intensive chemotherapy and six weeks of radiotherapy, he was able to ring the bell in February 2024, marking his remission.
Tragically, his relief was short-lived. Several months later, he began experiencing chest pain, and in October 2024, doctors confirmed the cancer had spread to his lungs and was now incurable.
Determined to make the most of the time he has left, Porter is focusing on what brings him joy. A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help him fulfill his dream of visiting Australia.
According to the fundraiser, he has been undergoing palliative chemotherapy since December in an effort to slow the cancer’s growth, though it will never fully go away.
"Graeme loves to live life every day and is so grateful for every single opportunity he is given. His last wish is to visit Australia, something he has always wanted to do, but unfortunately, health insurance prices are making this challenging. Any donations to make this possible would be so gratefully appreciated by Graeme & his family," the fundraiser read.
Despite his diagnosis, Porter remains a source of inspiration, using his social media to spread uplifting messages to his growing audience.