Inside UCT student’s brave battle against rare type of cancer

It started as a small growth in his neck. Soon it became so large and uncomfortable Michael Cilliers could barely sleep.

The young man went from pillar to post, desperate to find out what was causing the swelling but most of the medical professionals he saw were baffled. Now the 19-year-old finally knows what he’s up against.

Michael has NUT carcinoma – a rare form of genetic cancer that usually occurs in young children and adults.