Rising footy star diagnosed with aggressive cancer reveals the warning sign he initially dismissed - as he issues an urgent warning to young Aussies

By KYLIE STEVENS, SENIOR BREAKING NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA Published: 03:08, 22 April 2026 | Updated: 03:09, 22 April 2026 A young rising footy has opened up after a warning sign he initially dismissed turned out to be stage four cancer.  Kiwi expat Jay Barnett, 22, was young, fit, and healthy - having arrived on the Gold Coast four years earlier with big dreams of pursuing a professional rugby league career. But after noticing a lump on his calf, he initially dismissed it. As the pain worsened, doctors eventually sent him for an MRI, suspecting multiple tears in the muscle.  The diagnosis was far worse than expected and Mr Barnett was told he had stage four Ewing Sarcoma - a rare and highly aggressive cancer that had already spread to his lungs. 'It was a tough pill to swallow,' Mr Barnett told Daily Mail. 'Doctors gave me a 25 per cent chance of still being alive in five years time. 'They also said that my leg may have to be amputated - it was hard to hear and I lost a lot of hope. Four months since the shock diagnosis, Mr Barnett is more hopeful about the future.  Jay Barnett is fighting a rare and aggressive cancer The Kiwi expat has been forced to put his promising rugby league career on hold Jay (centre) shaved off his hair after he was diagnosed with stage four Ewing Sarcoma The cancer is currently responding well to weekly chemotherapy and has reduced by almost half. Mr Barnett will undergo surgery later this month to remove the remaining cancer from his calf. He has also been advised that his leg will unlikely be amputated.  'The five-year survival off odds have increased to 50 per cent,' he said. Mr Barnett will require radiation and rehabilitation to walk again following the first operation. He will also require more surgery to remove the cancer from his lungs.  He urges anyone who spots unusual body changes to not delay going to the doctor. The Kiwi expat will soon undergo surgery to remove the cancer from his leg The fit and healthy initially ignored the lump in his leg (pictured in December) The cancer has responded well to chemotherapy and has reduced by almost half 'I definitely wish I got my lump checked out sooner,' Mr Barnett said. 'My plea is to get it checked out - the quicker, the batter.' 'It could be the difference between survival and death.' While his chemotherapy is covered by Medicare, Mr Barnett is not eligible for any additional government assistance as he's not an Australian citizen.  He juggles treatment by continuing to work as a plumber four days a week to make ends meet, as mounting medical bills pile up. Mr Barnett's mother travelled from New Zealand to support him in the first three months of his cancer battle. Friends have also rallied around him by raising more than $42,000 for a fundraiser set up. Mr Barnett will be off work for six weeks following his upcoming surgery.  'The support has been extremely overwhelming - it has taken away a lot of the pressure and stress,' he said. Despite the 50 per cent odds against him, Mr Barnett hopes to return home for a well-earned holiday once he's is in remission.  Jay continues to undergo weekly chemotherapy Jay's five-year survival rate has doubled to 50 per cent He also dreams of one day playing footy again for the Burleigh Bears.  'Cancer has given me a different perspective on life,' he said. 'Every day I wake up, I take a deep breath and realise that life is not as hard as it could be.'  Click here to help support the young man  No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.