‘I got cancer at 26 - it opened doors I never expected’

‘I got cancer at 26 - it opened doors I never expected’ Jordan Loydall is urging young people to 'trust their instincts' after his shock diagnosis Jordan Loydall ran 101 kilometres in March 2026 raising over £1,600 for Kidney Cancer UK barely two years after being diagnosed with stage 2 kidney cancer but the real shock of his diagnosis was the impact it had on his career. The 27-year-old hopes to spread awareness as he didn’t realise the disease could affect people as young as he was. He told the charity: “If my story helps even one person trust their instincts, seek medical advice, or feel less alone after a diagnosis, then it’s worth telling.” In 2024, Jordan had been dismissing some of his early symptoms as the side effects of having two bulging discs in his spine. The then-26-year-old went for an MRI where one out of 53 images showed a lump on his kidney. With reassurances from his doctors that cancer was unlikely, Jordan was floored when he got his diagnosis that December. He recalled: “My parents and my now fiancé were in the room with me when the doctor told us the news. “I’ve always been someone who worries about the people around me, so my first thoughts weren’t really about myself; they were about how my family would cope with hearing that I had cancer.” Jordan, from Newport, South Wales, had the cancerous part of his kidney removed in February 2025 and while the operation was a success, the recovery would change his life in ways the 26-year-old never expected. He shared: “I suddenly lost a lot of my independence. I needed help with things that I normally would have done myself, like getting out of bed or up and down the stairs, and it made me feel completely useless. “At times, I felt like I was a burden on the people looking after me, even though in reality, I wasn’t. My family and friends were incredibly supportive, but accepting help was something I had to learn.” His recovery meant time away from work in a graduate scheme at a telecoms company. The shock of his situation paired with space away from his work gave him an unexpected new perspective as he realised how unhappy he was. Growing up in a family of tradespeople, he decided to pursue a Health & Safety qualification. Today, he works in local government as a Health, Safety and Wellbeing Officer, supporting primary schools. He said: “I’m now in a job I absolutely love. Sometimes, life events that feel devastating at the time can also open doors you never expected.” With some psychological support, Jordan soon realised he’d spent so much time worrying about others that he hadn’t processed his own emotions about his diagnosis. Now on the otherside of his recovery, and career changes, the 27-year-old has turned his attention to more philanthropic ventures. In March 2026, he finished what he described as the hardest, but most rewarding, challenge of his life; running a total of 101 kilometres throughout the month and raising £1,645 for Kidney Cancer UK. He said: “As I learned more about the charity and the incredible support they provide to people affected by kidney cancer, I became passionate about helping to raise awareness of the disease and supporting their important work. “If my story helps even one person trust their instincts, seek medical advice, or feel less alone after a diagnosis, then it’s worth telling.”