A POSITIVE attitude, fitness and a supportive family have helped guide Adam Brook to be cancer free for the first time in more than a year.
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What followed was an all-out war on stage III melanoma.
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The haircut saved the 29-year-old's life as he had 55 lymph nodes removed from his neck, followed by 12 months of immunotherapy.
"It will be two years until I am officially all good, but this sort of treatment has a high success rate," Mr Brook told the Leader.
"From what I'm told, the treatment has only been around for about 10 years, so there's not a lot of data for them to go off, but it's looking really good.
"Honestly, it's just starting to sink in, but I am over the moon."
A talented boxer in his youth, Brook said his sporting background and passion for fitness played a vital role in keeping him well.
"I just looked at my treatment and everything like boxing," he said.
"I just took it one step, one round, one day at a time and I just tried not too focus on the future too much.
"There was certainly some tough times during the journey, but I'm sure that mindset and trying to be as fit as I could really helped.
"It's something I'm looking to pass on to others who are going through it, because it just has such a positive impact on your mental state."
The experience has given the personal trainer a new outlook on life and led to him being the face of the Melanoma Institute's 'Game on Mole' campaign.
"To be honest, I have loved throwing myself into helping raise awareness through the Melanoma Institute," Mr Brook said. "There's been a few times where the Melanoma Institute guys have had to try to rein me in because I have been so keen.
"This year's 'Game on Mole' campaign will be starting up again soon and I'll be involved in quite a few exciting things including another 24-hour challenge at Fit 2 Function."
Mr Brook said he would not be where he is without the help of his "support network".
"When I was young I always managed to just scrape my way out of trouble, regardless of what it was and it seems like I've done it again now," he said.
"In times like this you really find out who your real supporters are and I can't thank my new partner, my dad and especially my mum - I just want to give mum the world for everything she's done for me through this.
"Honestly, I'm really excited to be in remission and can't thank my parents, my partner and all my family and friends enough for their support it feels like I've been given a fresh start."
Billy Jupp
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
