A young semi-professional footballer, Charlie Watson, has shown remarkable courage in his battle against skin cancer, despite being given only weeks to live. In a heartfelt social media post, Charlie shared the devastating news he received: “The last few weeks have been very difficult but things are on the up now.
“Four weeks ago I was told the cancer was spreading rapidly and had spread to my hip and spine. I was told I only had weeks left to live. Hearing this was just devastating but I knew I wasn’t going to let it win.”
He has embarked on various treatments and is following a strict diet with the help of a nutritionist.
Expressing gratitude for the overwhelming support, Charlie said: “I couldn’t have done this without the donations and support each and every one has given me so far, so thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
The Lochmaben native also extended special thanks to his girlfriend and step-dad, and most poignantly to his mother: “Most importantly my amazing mum who has stood by me every step of the way, I’ve watched her heart break in ways I didn’t know possible, I love you mum. I will win this fight.”
Charlie’s ordeal began when he was diagnosed with nodular malignant melanoma after noticing a mole on his abdomen upon returning from a holiday in Magaluf last summer.
The teenager’s mole grew to an alarming size before it peeled off, leading to a shocking diagnosis of nodular malignant melanoma, a perilous and rapidly progressing skin cancer. The remainder of the mole was excised in October 2023, confirming the grim prognosis.
Charlie’s mother has sounded the alarm on the dangers of sunbed use and neglecting sun protection after her son’s frequent usage and lapses in applying sunscreen while on holiday came to light.
The concerned mum-of-three, Amanda, 41, expressed: “I don’t want to attribute Charlie’s cancer to the use of sunbeds and sun exposure, but there is an awareness to be raised about it. The mole appeared after he came back from holiday and he had been using sunbeds frequently at the time.
“A lot of young people use them to look sun-kissed but I don’t think people understand the full risks. Even when I was younger, I’d hit them often.
“There is no amount of money in the world that a mother wouldn’t try to raise, to try to find a cure for their child.
“If I could swap places with him, I would in a heartbeat. As a parent I’ve never felt so helpless in my life.”
In response to his plight, a massive fundraising effort was initiated last August to support the former Queen of the South reserve player.
His struggle garnered widespread support throughout Dumfries and Galloway and further afield, with the campaign successfully amassing over £60,000 for clinical trial costs and research into finding a cure.
Richard, 44, the heartbroken stepfather, recounted the traumatic ordeal: “Charlie had what we thought was a skin tag removed, but after tests in October 2023 we were told out of the blue it was cancer.
“At the start of last year, we were told it had spread to lymph nodes under his armpits and he was stage 3C.
“He was put on tablets in a bid to stop it spreading, but then we received the news it has spread to his liver and lungs.
“Nothing prepares you for hearing that.”
Describing his son, Richard fondly stated: “Every parent will say the same but Charlie really is the perfect son. He is polite, respectful and puts his all into everything he does. He has every quality you would want in your child.
“Most of all, he loves life, and he wants to live it.”
This article originally appeared on Daily Record
