Mackay student‘s Neurology dreams shattered by incurable brain cancer

After seven long years of studying medicine, Qld student Jay Cameron is walking away from uni with only two subjects left. Not by choice, but because he has incurable brain cancer.

Mackay student Jay Cameron, 27, with his mum Jodie. Jay was studying medicine to specialise in neurology when he received a devastating diagnosis of brain cancer which has progressed to a stage four tumour that is incurable. Picture: Contributed

After seven years of studying medicine to specialise in neurology, Jay Cameron is walking away from his studies with just two subjects remaining.

Not by choice, but because a cruel twist of fate delivered a fatal blow to the 27-year-old’s future. He has incurable brain cancer.

“It’s absolutely devastating, I don’t even know where to start … I don’t have words for it,” Jay’s father Bill Cameron said.

“It’s just so ironic and so unfair.

“He wanted to dedicate his life to looking after people but you know, as I’ve always told my kids, you’ve just got to play the card you’ve been dealt and keep on keeping on.

“There’s people in worse situations than us and if I was to take the positive out of it, I feel for all the people who lose their son in a car accident overnight.

“At least I’ve got this opportunity to spend some quality time with him before we get to that.”

Mr Cameron said Jay had suffered a “massive” seizure while studying in Melbourne and was tested for epilepsy which was when doctors discovered the “massive” tumour.

Mackay student Jay Cameron, 27, with his mum Jodie. Jay was studying medicine to specialise in neurology when he received a devastating diagnosis of brain cancer which has progressed to a stage four tumour that is incurable. Picture: Contributed

“It was a grade two originally and he’s had three awake, craniotomies they call them, where they operate on him while he’s awake and they try and remove as much of the tumour as they can.

“Anyway, despite the three operations and two rounds of radiation and ongoing chemo.

“It’s now a grade four glioblastoma, which is the worst one, poor bugger.

“So he doesn’t have a lot of time.”

Even with darker days ahead, the tight knit Mackay family – which includes Jay’s sister Courtney and his mum Jodie – is determined to make the most of the time they have left together.

Mackay dad Bill Cameron and his son Jay are travelling across Australia because Jay has incurable brain cancer and wants to see the sights as part of his bucket list. Picture: Contributed

Mr Cameron’s employers at Bannister’s Transport gave him their blessing to step back, pack the Subaru and head off on a father and son trip to tick off a bucket list.

“When I did go and pick him up out of hospital, he was a bit upset and I said, ‘Look mate, let’s look past that’ and I said ‘Is there anything you want to do?’

“He said, ‘Well, I’d love to see Perth and I’d love to see Adelaide’.”

Mr Cameron said as a truckie he’s seen many of the outback destinations before but he was more than happy to revisit them so his son Jay could experience all that he could before his brain tumour claimed his life. Picture: Contributed

The duo have been sharing snaps of their adventures to Facebook with Mr Cameron laughing at how his son had developed a cultured appreciation for red wine and coffee while living in the big city whereas he was rooted in his truckie “bogan” ways.

“I often wondered if he’s my son because he’s so damn smart,” Mr Cameron said.

“He got really high marks at St Pat’s (College) in science and maths … they weren’t my forte.”

Their journey, albeit dotted with pit stops at hospitals, has inspired the online community with Osborne Park Subaru’s dealer principal Dylan Timms offering a free full service.

“It was so generous of him I’m getting goosebumps,” Mr Cameron said.

“You know, Australians are funny. We get into each other in the workplace while everything’s normal and we bag each other, but when the chips are down, we just change our game and everyone just comes out.”

Mr Cameron also remarked on the generosity of those who contributed to their GoFundMe, adding he would have ordinarily “knuckled down” to save for the trip but time was not on their side.

“This (trip) was (Jay’s) wish and I had to make it happen, I couldn’t have lived with myself if I didn’t do this,” he said.

He explained Jay’s mum was averse to long travel and so they were hoping the fundraiser could make another wish come true and support mum and son to see the Australian Open in December.

“The support from people has just been overwhelming and it’s something that I’ll never ever forget … we’re so blessed,” Mr Cameron said.

You can contribute to the GoFundMe here.