A young Australian man has revealed how a seemingly minor ‘gym injury’ led to a devastating cancer diagnosis – proving just how crucial it is to listen to your body.
Xavier Saviane, 20, from Preston, Victoria, was a semi-professional footballer and university student when he first experienced what he thought was a back injury.
‘I was at the gym doing a box jump,’ Xavier recalled about a fateful day in late October 2024.
‘I landed, and I got a big shock in my back. It didn’t feel right at all.’
At first, physiotherapists and chiropractors dismissed the pain as muscle tightness, advising him to rest.
But the pain only got worse.
‘About a month down the track, I could barely walk,’ he said. ‘I saw osteos, chiros, everyone possible to try and fix it, but nothing helped.’
It wasn’t until he saw a sports doctor – who ordered a scan – that the truth was revealed.
A young Australian man has revealed how a seemingly minor gym injury led to a devastating cancer diagnosis
Xavier Saviane, 20, from Preston, Victoria, was a semi-professional footballer and university student when he first experienced what he thought was a routine back injury
‘He called my mum and said, “Can you please go into Royal Melbourne Hospital? There’s a mass on his back. It’s not a sports injury – this is out of my expertise”.’
Xavier was admitted to hospital for further testing.
A week later, doctors delivered the news that no 20-year-old expects to hear.
‘The doctor came into my room and said, ‘I’ve got horrible news, mate. Sorry – you’ve got cancer.,’ Xavier said.
The young man was diagnosed with lymphoma, a type of blood cancer, which had aggressively attacked his spine.
‘It basically ate my whole T10 vertebrae,’ he explained.
‘That’s why I was in so much pain – my T10 was gone.’
Lymphoma is a type of blood cancer that affects the lymphatic system, which is responsible for fighting infection.
The young man was diagnosed with lymphoma, a type of blood cancer, which had aggressively attacked his spine
It wasn’t until Xavier saw a sports doctor – who ordered a scan – that the truth was revealed
It occurs when lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) grow uncontrollably, forming tumours in the lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow, or – as in Xavier’s case – other organs, including the spine.
Unlike other cancers, there are no routine screenings for blood cancer, making early detection difficult.
‘You can’t just go get a check-up for blood cancer,’ Xavier said.
‘If it arises, it arises. That’s why it’s so important to spread awareness.’
Xavier underwent emergency spinal surgery to reconstruct the damaged vertebrae.
‘They put a cage in with four screws around it,’ he explained.
‘The plan is for the bone to grow back within that cage over time. But chemotherapy might slow down that process.’
Currently undergoing six rounds of chemotherapy over five and a half months, Xavier is staying as active as possible – hitting the gym when he can and trying to maintain a sense of normalcy.
Currently undergoing six rounds of chemotherapy over five and a half months, Xavier is staying as active as possible – hitting the gym when he can and trying to maintain a sense of normalcy
Xavier’s mates stepped up in a big way, organising a World’s Greatest Shave fundraiser that raised over $21,000 for the Leukaemia Foundation
But his greatest heartbreak is the uncertainty surrounding his football career.
‘Footy was massive for me. On a Saturday, when you go and play, it’s three hours where you don’t have to think about anything else.’
‘Doctors told me, “We don’t know if you’ll play again”. That’s scary.’
But the young man remains positive and claimed he was sure he’d find another avenue to spend that time.
Despite the challenges, Xavier has been surrounded by unwavering support from his friends and family.
‘My mum has been there every step of the way. I don’t think I’d be able to do this without her,’ he said, also thanking his father and siblings for their love and understanding.
His mates stepped up in a big way, organising a World’s Greatest Shave fundraiser that raised over $21,000 for the Leukaemia Foundation.
‘We had 20 of my good mates shave their heads. I put it on social media, and the whole community just started donating. Within a week, we hit $20,000.’
Initially, Xavier wasn’t planning on going public with his diagnosis, but seeing another patient in the chemotherapy ward changed his mind
Xavier now remains focused on his recovery and spreading awareness about blood cancer
Initially, Xavier wasn’t planning on going public with his diagnosis, but seeing another patient in the chemotherapy ward changed his mind.
‘I saw a woman who had just given birth, and she was sitting in the chair receiving treatment. That image stuck with me. I felt like I had to do something to help.’
Xavier now remains focused on his recovery and spreading awareness about blood cancer.
‘The best thing you can do with your life is save another person’s life,’ he said, quoting his mother.
‘If my story reaches one person and helps them, then I’ve done my job.’
Funds raised enable the Leukaemia Foundation to continue supporting people like Xavier and also fund life-changing blood cancer research.
You can donate to Xavier’s fundraiser in the bullet points.
