Pals Stephen McIntyre and Roisin O’Leary have three things in common - they are both from Paisley, they work in the town’s Club 69, and they are both fighting two incredibly rare forms of cancer.
The two colleagues say the chance of them both working together and fighting the diseases is “astronomical”, with Roisin undergoing chemotherapy, bone reconstruction, skin grafts and a mouth tissue rebuild being diagnosed with osteosarcoma to her lower right jaw.
While Stephen has lived with cancer most of his adult life, having first been diagnosed with stage three Hodgkin's Lymphoma when he was 19 after discovering a lump on his neck.
He is now facing his most difficult journey yet, having been diagnosed with a rare salivary gland cancer in 2019 - which doctors could find no other cases of in the world.
Don't miss the latest headlines from around Renfrewshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
And despite undergoing extensive surgeries to remove the tumour which at first appeared successful, he has now been told that it has returned once again and there are no options left to fight it.
The 42-year-old, who is a DJ at the New Sneddon Street club, is hosting an event on Saturday night alongside Roisin in the hope of raising cash to fund a trip to America to meet a specialist doctor for innovative treatment.
Stephen told the Express: “I am now at the stage where I am trying to fund the treatment myself.
“I have spoken with a great doctor in Fort Lauderdale who is willing to take me on as a patient and what he is doing is really progressive.
“It is a type of immunotherapy and it really is the future of cancer treatment.
“The NHS has been unable to do anything for me, but the consultants and staff that have been caring for me so far have been so supportive of this.
“I am feeling really excited and hopeful about it.”
Stephen has already been through more than most, having undergone gruelling radiotherapy treatments in his early 20s in a bid to beat stage three Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
After initial radiotherapy treatments, he went into remission.
But 18 months later it returned once again, leaving doctors no choice to administer chemotherapy.
And this time, the fight was successful, allowing Stephen to live cancer free for 20 years.
However, it is now thought that the rare illness he is now facing could have been caused by his previous radiotherapy treatments.
Stephen added: “The doctors had to deal with what was in front of them, and at the time what needed to be done was radiotherapy.
“I don’t have any regrets about what has been done.
“I have been able to live the past 20 years of my life because of the treatment I got.
“But there is always a worry in the back of your mind that it is going to come back.
“But I feel that has prepared me for what I am going through now.”
Both Stephen and Roisin have found comfort in each other, knowing what they were both going through - as well as their family and loved ones.
And it’s the impact on their families that has inspired them to also raise cash for Maggie’s Centre - which Roisin said gave vital support to her own mum when she was unwell.
The Express previously spoke with Roisin about her devastating diagnosis.
It was in May 2020 that she had four wisdom teeth extracted to deal with excruciating toothache.
But by October, she said the pain had gotten “unbearable” and also discovered a hard lump in her jaw.
Because of Covid-19, the 29-year-old was given the heartbreaking diagnosis that she had a rare cancer in her jaw on her own.
Roisin, from Gallowhill, spent months undergoing chemotherapy and extensive surgery to remove the lump in her jaw - using bone from her leg to help reconstruct her jaw.
The brave PR manager - who had to learn to speak, eat and swallow again - said: “The doctors and surgeons have done an absolutely unbelievable job.
“At moment I am completely clear of cancer.
“I couldn’t believe it when they told me. I didn’t register when they said it and my mum had to ask me if I had heard them.
“All my defences dropped at that point and all my emotions came out.
“I will have to go for immunotherapy until February and then I will have follow up surgery for my jaw and to replace my teeth which I can’t wait for.”
Roisin is hoping to raise some funds for Maggie’s Centre in Glasgow, which provides vital care and support for people going through cancer and their families.
Roisin added: “I myself have used Maggie’s services and they were amazing, but they really helped my mum.
“It can be a real struggle for families to watch their loved ones go through cancer, and I know my mum really needed someone to talk to and get support from.”
Roisin is also hoping to raise some funds to help her achieve her dream of travelling the world.
She added: “Going through what I have has really made me appreciate how short life is and I would love to have the chance to go and see some of the world.”
Both Roisin and Stephen are touched by the support from Club 69, which they say is like a “wee community with a lot of heart”.
The busy venue is hosting its Christmas Party tomorrow night - Saturday 18th - in aid of both their causes.
Buddies are being asked to don their Christmas jumpers and come along for the charity event which the club hopes will “hopefully contribute to life-changing events for both of our dear friends”.
Tickets are £10 and can be purchased via ticket sites RA and Skiddle.
To donate to Stephen’s fundraiser, visit https://gofund.me/d3294a96
To donate to Roisin’s fundraiser, go to https://gofund.me/6178a783
Download the FREE Renfrewshire Live app now for all the latest news, features and sport : smarturl.it/RenfrewLiveSocial
