ARTICLE

Personal Trainer with bone cancer, and still defying the odds after 7 surgeries

25 June 2025 dot 15-mins read
Healthy Body

This Personal Trainer Is Living with Bone Cancer, And He's Still Choosing to Move

Bryan Goh has always been in motion. As a personal trainer, movement was his livelihood, his passion, and, as he later discovered, his lifeline. 
 
But in 2017, at just 24 years old, Bryan found himself at a terrifying crossroads. What began as a nagging pain in his knee turned out to be a rare and aggressive bone tumour. The diagnosis brought his fast-paced life to an abrupt halt, or so it seemed. 
 
"I honestly thought the doctor was joking," Bryan recalls. "I was in my twenties. I don't drink, I don't smoke. I sleep nine hours, eat clean, and train consistently. You never think it's going to happen to you." 
 
But it did. And in the years that followed, Bryan would undergo seven surgeries, spend nearly two years on crutches, and face multiple relapses. What kept him going through it all? Movement while training, even when it was painful. 

Movement became his way of fighting back.

When Bryan first received the results of his MRI, the doctor's words were blunt: You might not run again. If you can walk, that would already be a blessing. 
 
"That hit me really hard," Bryan says. "Because sports, running, and being active, is everything to me. I cannot accept a life where I couldn't move." 
 
The giant cell tumour in his left leg was large, so large that doctors considered removing his entire knee joint. Eventually, they opted to cut away the affected bone and replace it with bone cement. Following the procedure, Bryan rejected chemotherapy, relying instead on his fitness and unshakable optimism to carry him through recovery. 
 
Just weeks after that first surgery, he was back in the gym. 
 
"I couldn't train like I used to, but I could do basic exercises," he says. "But I want and need to be there. I needed the environment, the routine, the energy. That's what lifted my spirits."
Image: Bryan (centre) with his fellow trainers in the gym after undergoing surgeries
His gym community, fellow trainers, friends, and clients became part of his support system. They helped him adapt his workouts, kept him motivated, and, more than anything, reminded him of who he was before the diagnosis and who he could be again. 

Relapse, Recovery, Repeat

Unfortunately, the tumour returned in 2018. Then again in 2019. Each time, Bryan went under the knife. Each time, he bounced back faster than expected. "The doctors were amazed at how quickly I could stand after surgery," he says. "It's because I never stopped training. Even if I couldn't do much, I still moved."
 
But the third relapse hit differently. Just before the COVID-19 pandemic, his lumbar spine got infected. Bryan lost sensation in his limbs. His strength disappeared. The recovery, which had previously taken months, now stretched into almost a year. 
"For the first time, I couldn't walk properly, couldn't even hold a spoon," he says. "That was when it got dark." 
 
Still, the goal never changed: Get back outside. Get back to training. Get back to life. 

The Trainer Who Never Stopped Teaching, Even on Crutches

Image: Bryan (centre) with his students following a fitness class
Throughout this journey, Bryan remained a personal trainer, even when many around him advised him to switch career. Even while limping through the gym with crutches, he continued mentoring clients and supporting trainees at Fitness First, where he's a team leader. 
 
"Every time I had to stop work for surgery, it wasn't just me who was affected. My students' and my clients' progress were interrupted, too. That made me feel worse than the physical pain," he said. 
 
But Bryan also became a living example of resilience. Many of his clients now come to him after their surgeries. Some are cancer survivors, and others are recovering from knee replacements.  
 
"My trainees and clients will refer their friends to me because I know what it takes to help them through it, and I integrate my own recovery process and lessons into theirs," said Bryan. 
 
His approach is rooted in experience and empathy.  
 
"People think the best thing to do after an injury, or an operation is to avoid using that body part. But I feel if you don't use your muscles, they won't respond to you post-op, which can delay the healing process, sometimes worsening it. Movement is what teaches your body to heal." 
Image: Bryan (centre) engaging in cycling with his friends as part of his postoperative recovery regimen
He speaks from years of lived data, monitoring his own performance, using cycling to train his leg strength, and distinguishing between soreness and true pain. 

Being Prepared for the Unexpected

Through it all, Bryan never lost sight of the importance of being prepared, not just physically and mentally, but also financially. With each relapse came new medical bills, and without steady income during recovery, the strain could have been overwhelming. 
 
"Honestly, I was lucky I had the right insurance coverage," he shares. "If I didn't have insurance, I don't know how I would've managed. The surgeries, the follow-ups, the months without work, it all adds up." 
 
That financial support allowed him to focus on healing, rather than stressing about bills. "Health isn't just about fitness," he says. "It's also about being ready for things you can't predict, so I always encourage those who are healthy to ensure they have the right insurance coverage." 

Still Moving Forward

These days, Bryan's strength may not be what it once was, but his mindset is stronger than ever. He continues to cycle, train clients, and find new ways to challenge his body. His goals are different now — not focused on speed or weight, but longevity and quality of life. 
 
"It still hurts to sit for long periods," he says with a laugh. "But walking, even with a limp, that's a blessing I don't take for granted."
 
Ask him if he ever regrets not taking the full knee replacement early on, and he's honest: "Maybe I could've avoided some pain. But the experience taught me so much. About myself, about others. I wouldn't trade that."
 
And if he could tell his younger self one thing at the start of this journey? 
 
"Listen to the doctors. But also trust your body. Train it well, not just for today, but for whatever life throws at you." 

The AIA Vitality Takeaway: Supporting Every Step of Your Health Journey

Bryan's story is a powerful reminder that resilience is built through daily choices, long-term habits, and the support systems we have around us. Movement helped him regain control. But it was also planning ahead, staying consistent, and protecting his future that gave him the confidence to keep going.
 
AIA Vitality supports holistic wellness by encouraging a healthier lifestyle - from staying active and eating well to keeping up with regular health screenings and more. AIA Vitality guides and motivates you at every step of your health journey and rewards you for making conscious efforts to improve your health. 
 
Living well isn't just about bouncing back. It's about staying ready and being confident in life. With AIA Vitality, every step counts, especially the ones you take before the storm.

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