‘If all goes well, survival rate of five years’: 18-year-old’s promising life placed on hold

The family of a star Brisbane rugby union player is scrambling to ensure their teenage son can overcome a disturbing rare cancer diagnosis which came just weeks after his graduation.

A Wavell State High school graduate with a promising football and personal training career has been left reeling after he was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer that has a survival outlook of five years.

After graduating Year 12 and going to Schoolies, 18 year-old Jakob Talafua had pain in his chest for a week before Christmas, with the cause of the pain growing into two golf ball sized lumps.

Tests led to Mr Talafua being diagnosed with anaplastic large cell lymphoma cancer — a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, in early January this year.

Medical research says that patients with anaplastic large cell lymphoma cancer, typically have a 70 per cent chance for a survival rate of five years but intensive chemotherapy can cure the patient.

Jakob’s aunt Monique Fischer said her nephew had completed three weeks of chemotherapy treatment and one bone marrow injection, which has made the 18 year-old star footballer couch ridden.

18-year-old Jakob Talafua played for Queensland just last year before his shocking cancer diagnosis. Picture: Contributed

“One thing they did say is they thankfully caught it early,” Ms Fischer said.

“As soon as he complained of pain in the chest, they went to doctor for a biopsy.

“If all goes well, survival rate of five years.

“You hear stories of people going on to live 60-70 years or their in remission for five-10 years and it comes back.

“It’s something that’s always gonna be there but hopefully it’s manageable.”

Ms Fischer said Jakob’s mother Michelle has had to pick up double shifts at Active Life Fitness Everton Park, where Jakob had started working alongside his mother, in the hopes of becoming a personal trainer if football doesn’t work out.

In 2022, Jakob played for Queensland at the Australian Schoolboys Rugby Union Championship and he has played at the same rugby club in Mitchelton where his father played.

“We’ve got a family group chat and in the first few weeks the chemo has been going really well,” Ms Fischer said.

“It knocks him around a bit and he’s really tired

“His biggest challenge is he cant do something active.

“He used to go too the gym two-three times a day.

“He’s a really responsible kid, he has his head screwed on really good.

“That’s a credit to my sister and her husband.”

Jakob Talafua has been a strong brotherly figure for his three sisters. Picture: Contributed

A tight family unit, Jakob is the only boy among three sisters and has moulded himself into a kind, caring person and brotherly figure for his sisters.

“He’s a very quiet person but around his friends he’s so funny,” Ms Fischer said.

“He’s always the life of the party.

“Around family, being the only boy, he has this gentle, sweet side to him.

“Amongst his friends and the footy club he’s such a clown.

“He loves sport, when we have a gathering he always brings a footy or basketball.”

Ms Fischer has started a GoFundMe on behalf of her sister, to raise funds towards helping Jakob and his family with his treatments costs, as his parents have had to reduce their hours at work to take care of Jakob.

With over $9000 already raised, the family has been overwhelmed with the response.