Teen's exam results success after cancer diagnosis

James Dixon missed four months of studies due to a cancer diagnosis

A teenager from Staffordshire has thanked his teachers and peers for supporting him towards his A-levels despite a cancer diagnosis threatening to set back his studies.

James Dixon, 18, studied maths, physics and engineering at Newcastle College in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

He received two A's in his maths and physics A-levels and a distinction star in his BTec in engineering.

Mr Dixon was diagnosed with stage three Hodgkin lymphoma just days after starting his second year of study.

“It’s a really great achievement to have under the belt and I’m just so grateful to the people that have supported me through the last year,” he said.

“It’s been really difficult but it’s been a really great character-building moment.”

He had to take four months out of college for chemotherapy treatment, receiving work online from teachers.

“They were very helpful but obviously that was quite the challenge,” he said.

“Then when I’ve got back to college I’ve had to do double the work to get there.

“But thanks to all the amazing support from the people around me, from my teachers, I managed to make it through and get some really great grades today.”

His dad John said he was very proud of James and how he coped.

"He was asked if he could turn back the clock and not go through the very dark days and avoid cancer and he said he has learned so much about himself and developed his character that he wouldn't," he said.

"His darkest days saw him sent by ambulance on blue lights direct to Manchester twice as he was so unwell."

That was "terrifying" to witness, Mr Dixon said.

Driving test plans

His son said he had now achieved his dream of gaining a place to study mechanical engineering at the University of Sheffield.

“It’s just nice to be able to see that I’ve managed to get where I wanted to go,” he commented.

Before then, he has his sights set on passing his driving test in September and told BBC Radio Stoke he would be on the road for a driving lesson shortly after picking up his results.