Lachlan Jones battles rare liver cancer

A Leopold 18-year-old rushed down the aisle with his high school sweetheart after learning he has a lethal cancer so rare it only affects one in five million people.

Lachlan and Mia Jones, both 18, were married last month. Picture: Brad Fleet

A Leopold 18-year-old is grappling with the cruel fact a lethal liver cancer, so rare it only affects one in five million people, will cut his life short.

While most people his age are relishing the freedom of new adulthood, Lachlan Jones is being forced to use a wheelchair due to fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma.

Lachlan, who was working as an apprentice baker at the time, was first diagnosed late last year after experiencing pain and fevers.

Barwon Health’s Dr Madhu Singh said until meeting Lachlan, he had not encountered this type of cancer since he started working as an oncologist in 2006.

“While discussing his case with cancer specialists at the Royal Children’s Hospital, they noted it had been more than five years since they had seen a case of this type of cancer,” Dr Singh said.

The cancer primarily occurs in teenagers and young adults with no history of liver disease.

“Due to this cancer’s rarity, there is very limited information about how the patient will react to different treatments,” Dr Singh said.

In January, the tumour was removed and the surgery was deemed a success.

While it was expected the cancer would come back, it was thought this could be decades away.

But months later, a lump appeared at Lachlan’s surgical scar site.

Lachlan Jones has aggressive liver cancer. Picture: Brad Fleet

Lachlan’s partner Mia, who he had recently proposed to in Bali, convinced him to go to the doctor.

“They did a CT scan in June and that’s when they found another mass and the size was quite large,” Mia said.

“While we were all celebrating the cancer being gone, it was still there and no one knew it.”

Surgery was not an option for this tumour, Mia said.

While Lachlan had once loved spending time playing cricket, gaming and hanging out with friends, his days were now full of appointments.

About two months ago, Lachlan started palliative chemotherapy, with the goal of slowing down the cancer.

But Mia said he was no longer a candidate – it had progressed too far.

“I’m in a lot of pain, I’m taking a lot of pain meds,” Lachlan said.

“Mobility is a very big struggle, we’ve recently had to get a wheelchair so I can go to places without getting really exhausted.”

After the cancer was rediscovered this year Lachlan was told he had two years left to live, but due to the lack of data around his rare disease, it is unclear.

He said the severity of the recurrence was a “massive shock”.

Lachlan and Mia, also 18, have been treasuring the small moments.

The pair first met aged 10 at Leopold Primary School, when Lachlan threw a ball at Mia in gym class.

They started dating in 2020.

After getting engaged in May, Mia and Lachlan had intended to work on setting up their careers.

Lachlan and Mia Jones got married in August. Picture: Adam Hall

But Lachlan’s rapid decline sped up their plans and they married on August 20, with a reception at Leopold Sportsmans Club.

“We brought it forward because we thought, ‘we don’t know how long we have left’,” Lachlan said.

Mia said it was a beautiful day.

The community has rallied around Lachlan and Mia — the club donated the food for their wedding and Lachlan’s former boss from Bakers Delight covered the bar tab.

Lachlan played cricket with Wallington for years, and his dad is also a member at the club.

Wallington Cricket Club is hosting a charity match against Newcomb to raise money to support Lachlan and Mia on September 17.

The public is welcome to attend.

The event, which will also feature activities and entertainment, is being held at Wallington Reserve, with gates opening at midday

Lachlan’s dad Tony, 49, described his son as very outgoing, social and respectful.

Lachlan was dedicated to his family and very “devoted” to Mia.

Tony said Lachlan and Mia handled the situation with maturity well beyond their years.

“It’s awe-inspiring, I’m super proud of him,” Tony said.

Lachlan said the community had been “amazing” throughout the ordeal.

A GoFundMe page called Help Lachlan Jones, which also helped pay for the wedding, has been set up to support him.

Originally published as Lachlan Jones battles rare liver cancer