London teenager beats rare cancer and wins prestigious award

Adebola Lamuye30 August 2017

Ibrahim Omer, 19, was just two months into his apprenticeship as a finance assistant with St. Martin in the Fields when he had to stop due to the severity of his illness.

He was later diagnosed with Nasopharyngeal cancer (a rare type of head and neck cancer) and told by doctors he immediately needed to begin chemotherapy.

“I was pouring out pints of blood through my nose. The only solution was to put me in an induced coma. The scariest part was not knowing when I was going to wake up, if at all," Ibrahim said.

He was misdiagnosed two years earlier after he first noticed symptoms.

Omer explained: “I started having symptoms around July 2015 and by end of January 2016 I had a referral. I waited four months to see a doctor, who was giving me medications for chest infections that I didn’t have.”

After being referred to the Royal London Hospital, his diagnosis was confirmed. "It was one of the worst days of my life. I was just in absolute shock," he said.

During his second phase of chemotherapy, Ibrahim was told to travel to Florida for a three month gruelling treatment to kill the tumour.

Ibrahim stayed in constant contact with his employer, and the apprenticeship charity, Leadership Through Sport and Business. After returning to work, graduating from the apprenticeship scheme, and being presented with LTSB resilience award, he received the news that he was cancer-free.

David Pinchin, LTSB founder and chairman, said: “Ibrahim is an extraordinary young man and we’re all so delighted that he can now look forward and enjoy his life. He has a bright future and I can’t wait to see how he develops.”

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