An Abertay University student has made an emotional appeal for cancer awareness as he prepares to graduate this week.
Ethical hacking student Sam Latronico has recorded an online video along with his mother Matilda, who has ovarian cancer, featuring the pair shaving their heads.
Sam made the gesture in solidarity with his mother as the effects of chemotherapy take hold.
The 27-year old admitted it was difficult to film the clip.
“My mum is a hairdresser by trade and has done well for herself in the industry,” he said.
“I knew the prospect of losing her hair would be difficult for her.
“I decided I would shave my head so she wouldn’t go through the process alone.
“We decided to film it to try and raise awareness, so we could turn a very negative situation into a positive, or as much of a positive as it can be.”
Matilda was diagnosed with cancer at the start of the year after months of health issues relating to an ovarian cyst.
And after vomiting after eating a takeaway, she decided to go to the doctors. But the news was a lot worse than expected — Matilda was told she would have to undergo gruelling rounds of chemotherapy.
Sam hopes that his mother will feel fit enough to make it to his graduation on Thursday in the Caird Hall.
He said: “When we were travelling to that first chemotherapy session she was scared. I remember holding her hand and saying it would be fine.
“We’ve had to remain light-hearted to get through this and after leaving that first session she looked at me and told me it wasn’t so bad and that chemotherapy would be plain sailing if it was going to be like this, and that her cancer didn’t know what had hit it.
“We’ve had so much support on the back of the video. My mum has had old school friends who she hadn’t heard from in years reach out to her, we’ve even had strangers get in touch.
“It’s made her want to fight more. It’s made her not want to wear wigs, and to wear headscarves and she looks absolutely amazing.”
Matilda wants to use her situation to raise awareness and the signs of ovarian cancer, which include a bloated feeling, a swollen stomach and a loss of appetite.
She said: “Sam has been taking care of me as I go through chemotherapy, yet he’s still managed to achieve his degree. I’m so proud of him, he’s such an inspiration to me.
“I can’t wait until graduation day. It’ll be so emotional to see him take to the stage.
“He has worked so hard and it won’t be a day I’ll ever forget.”
