Those who know me, will already know that I have had a passion for health and fitness for many, many years now. Originating from my love for soccer and then on to martial arts and resistance training I have always had a respect for training and the optimization of health and fitness.

For a long time, I maintained a good level of health and lifestyle and was highly active. I would be in the gym 6-7 days per week and had a decent appreciation of diet and I ate pretty well.

My family and I moved to Australia over 10 years ago and I immediately got straight back into my fitness and resistance training. I felt I was in a good place with my fitness and lifestyle and had no reasons to worry about my long-term health.

It was at a very sudden point in February 2016 when the world I had Infront of me changed and everything I had thought was going well suddenly stopped in its tracks. I had recently noticed a small lump on my eyebrow and as there was no visible mark or anything on the surface, I had just sort of kept checking it for around a month or so without worrying too much. After deciding that this lump was definitely strange and was, if anything, getting slightly larger albeit very slowly I decided to have it checked out by my doctor.

At first the doctor could not decide how to proceed and after various examinations and ultrasound scans my doctor asked if I would mind if she referred me to a plastic surgeon to carry out a biopsy.

I think it was during the biopsy that I began to realize that this was to be the start of some conversations that I had not really been prepared for. I am always optimistic and have always just done what needs to be done and got on with things.

1 week after the biopsy I was called into my plastic surgeons office for my results. I can remember the whole appointment from where I parked that day to the waiting room to the inside of his office.

I can also remember looking at my wife Leanne’s face when the plastic surgeon uttered the words... I am sorry Dean, but the tumour was malignant.

Without showing a lot of emotion I sort of accepted the information and comforted Leanne who was quite understandably upset. We discussed the route forward with the surgeon and it was agreed that we should remain positive as the lump was relatively small (the size of a very large pea) and that otherwise my health was really good. The next appointments to be made were for a follow up biopsy (to check that the tumor had not spread on the surface) and a full body PET scan.

We had these appointments and went back to get the results from the surgeon once more. Again, with vivid clarity I can remember the appointment and I think I already knew deep down that I would not walk out of the appointment the same Dean who walked in.

“Dean... the biopsy was good, and we didn’t find any surface spread but looking through your scans we unfortunately spotted some tumors in your lungs.”

We discussed the way forward again and once again with optimism we just took the information on the chin and made the relevant appointments with the oncology department at Sir Charles Gairdner to see an oncologist. At the first oncology appointment it was agreed that an endo-bronchoscopy would have to be done to carry out a biopsy on the tumors in my lungs. Once again with my rock Leanne by my side we attended the appointments and I had the operation to have biopsies taken from my lungs. My results were to be given to the oncologist for review and she said that they were having do various tests on the tissues to make sure they could give accurate results. I have never really put much thought into the process, but I guess you should know when the oncologist rings you at home at 7.30pm that the news is not going to be great.

“Dean.... unfortunately, the tumors in your lungs are malignant, this means you have Stage IV cancer or more specifically malignant melanoma which has metastasized”.

I remember calling my mum back in the UK within ten minutes of receiving the phone call from the oncologist and how I just thought “well, we will listen to the experts, make a plan, and get on with it”.

A series of hospital appointments at various departments followed where we discussed the various treatment options and how best to navigate the way forward.

We were invited to discuss a potential medical trial of a relatively new treatment where using a method called Immunotherapy the specialists could use two different medical treatments intravenously to elevate my own body’s immune system to attack the cancer cells within my lungs.

After some very serious conversations we decided to go ahead with the new treatment which was being offered and begin the process.

I had my first treatment in May 2016 and almost immediately we saw some fantastic results with the reduction in cancer cells in my lungs. The next scans which followed showed amazing results and my highly elevated immune system was now activated and fighting very strongly. The downside to this new treatment was that of all the long list of possible side effects the specialists could not guarantee which you may or may not get. I was truly fortunate in the fact that my immune system responded so strongly to the medication and treatment although this now led to led to some significant side effects.

After suffering from severe gastrointestinal problems and having to go on an extremely high dose of secondary medication to treat this I was able to continue working full time in my own cabinet making business.

Then at work one day, while I was installing a kitchen for one of my customers, I began to get unusually hot and dehydrated. No matter how much water I drank or even with fresh air I could not seem to cool down and was burning up, so I decided to go home and rest. After some hours resting at home in bed trying to sleep off this extremely uncomfortable pain I was in, I became very unwell and could not control either my body temperature or the abdominal pain I was feeling. For the first time in my life an ambulance was called, and I was rushed to Sir Charles Gairdner hospital. An absolutely wonderful member of the oncology department attended the emergency department where I was being tested and treated and after some further tests it was determined that I had been struck with drug induced hepatitis from all my medication and my immune system was currently attacking my liver which was now at the point of shutting down.

After this diagnosis I was then hospitalized for 10 days and placed on a very high dose of further medication to help gain control over my liver function and to reduce the inflammatory response my body was having to the immune medication.

This further medication began to work fairly swiftly and while this was reducing my liver function tests gradually we also noticed on my daily blood tests that my blood sugars were now through the roof because of the sheer quantity of medication in my system.

After further tests and due to the water weight gain and energy loss I was going through, it was then decided after very high daily blood sugar tests that I had drug induced Type 2 diabetes and I began a daily insulin treatment plan.

I listened to the experts and easily got into the habit of my giving myself the required daily insulin injections required to maintain a safer blood sugar level. Although I managed fine with treatment and medication and took the advice of the experts and specialists very seriously I think it was at this point as my appearance was changing dramatically that I really started to struggle with the mental toll this whole process had been having on me.

Before this very difficult period, we had planned to be flying to the UK to attend my brother Lee’s wedding where I had been enormously proud to have been asked to be his best man. This would have been one of the highest achievements in my life but due to the nature of my medication and the fact that the oncology department needed to be within reach at all times I was left heartbroken when I was told we couldn’t leave the country and fly over to attend the wedding.  I recorded my best man’s speech on video, and this was played at the wedding and to my joy it was well received by all accounts.

While at my lowest point of health, I vividly remember trying to play soccer with my son and my legs physically giving way underneath me and I fell over. I made light of this at the time, but I remember how much my pride was hurt and the impact this had emotionally and how I had become so weak.

I think the biggest pain to me was the fact that I had no control over what was happening to me and, if I’m honest, I think I felt angry that I had not asked for any of this and my appearance was getting worse daily. When I say that my appearance was getting worse, what I mean was that my body composition had changed dramatically and even my face shape changed profoundly. Over time I came to terms with this and with some internal work looking at my feelings and emotions toward the process I began to realize that the only person judging my appearance was me and that my loved ones and friends did not love me for how I looked but more for who I was. When I look back on photos from this period it still makes me incredibly sad but also enormously proud of how far I have come with the love and support of a wonderful family and friends.

Throughout some very dark days and hard times I have always had the most magnificent support from my wife and partner in crime, Leanne, who has literally at times picked me up off the floor and pushed me forward in life. Its true that you are only as strong as the team around you and let me tell you that Team Galloway are up there with the greatest!

Over time I began to be able to very slowly wean off my medication and despite numerous setbacks when we tried to wean too quickly, we eventually managed to bring my water retention weight down and my blood sugars began to stabilize and get somewhere nearer a normal level.

It was during this period that I began to really care and understand more about the benefits and advantages of exercise and a healthy balanced diet. I also realized that nutrition and exercise should not be taken for granted and we should never feel like we must exercise but more that we “get to” exercise. This change in perspective can be life changing if you let the thought sink in deep enough.

I have now been in remission from the cancer for nearly 4 years and throughout this recovery period I have placed mine and my families health at the forefront, whether that be in trying as many different activities and sports as possible or looking to eat well and maintain a healthy body and mind as these two things go hand in hand.

I genuinely feel that my story gives me a unique outlook on life and how valuable it is and how we should look to cherish it and optimize our health so that we can get the most from every opportunity that presents itself. It is with this outlook that I intend to help others set their own goals and take action on moving forward in their health and fitness journeys.

If you or someone you love is looking to take action and are just waiting for someone to offer that caring hand to take, then reach out and I assure you that I’ll do everything I can to maximize your potential whether it be general well being or taking your physique to the next level.

If I can do it, then trust me anyone can!!!