<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A pair of </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/not-so-grey-nomads-south-australian-couple-allan-mercer-jess-smith-ditched-mortgage-and-rentals-for-life-on-the-road/c46712f9-d91b-4600-80ae-621757bfed51" rel="" target="_blank" title='"not so grey" nomads'><span>"not so grey" nomads</span></a><span> are refusing to let a stage-four </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/cancer" rel="" target="_blank" title="cancer"><span>cancer</span></a><span> diagnosis derail their dream trip around Australia.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Duncan Jones, 44, and Max Pascual, 46, set off on an indefinite lap around the country in early 2024 after selling everything they owned and quitting their full-time jobs.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We didn't really have an end date. We decided to just hit the road and keep going until we get sick of it," Pascual told </span><a href="https://www.nine.com.au/?rf=true" rel="" target="_blank" title="nine.com.au."><span>nine.com.au.</span></a></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/harrisville-pub-queensland-owner-plea-as-country-pubs-struggle-to-stay-afload/53d3c499-0b0c-4818-bba1-9373c9b14286" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Queensland pub owner's plea after being forced to raise menu prices</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>Do you have a story? Contact</span></strong></em><span> </span><strong><em><span>reporter April Glover at</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="mailto:april.glover@nine.com.au" target="" title="april.glover@nine.com.au"><em><strong><span>april.glover@nine.com.au</span></strong></em></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The couple were living and working in </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/queensland" rel="" target="_blank" title="Queensland"><span>Queensland</span></a><span> when they yearned for the nomadic lifestyle enjoyed mostly by retirees.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Pascual said they were desperate to escape the "trap" of normal life.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/not-so-grey-nomads-max-and-duncan-cancer-diagnosis-during-australia-road-trip/40ca16ad-c8f3-4539-832e-45b1c40bba01" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We lived on Gold Coast and we had everything – houses and cars. And then we moved to Bundaberg and it was kind of like starting again," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We found we got caught in the trap again where you find a job, then you need a car to get to that job... and then you need to stay in that job to pay for the car.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"People live on the Gold Coast with massive houses, but they have a lot of debt. And they have to stay in the job to pay for that debt."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Pascual and Jones were lucky to be debt-free and simply traded in their big house for a 1997 caravan.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The first 12 months saw them travel across Victoria, South Australia, NSW and Queensland.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But life permanently on the road faced its biggest hurdle last year when former plumber Jones noticed a suspicious lump on his neck.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/uk-eta-passport-scheme-how-dual-citizens-have-been-impacted/884e44d6-d134-48f5-9281-b46e2c1818ca" rel="" target="_blank" title="Panicked expats and 'ten pound poms': The people impacted by passport rule"><strong><span>Panicked expats and 'ten pound poms': The people impacted by passport rule</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I had a bit of pain in my neck, it was like a tender lump," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"His dad was the one that said, 'Oh, you should go see a doctor'," Pascual added.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Pascual and Jones had stopped over in Colac in western Victoria when they visited a GP.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They continued booking specialist appointments on the road as they traversed the state, including a biopsy and a CT scan.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The diagnosis was grim: a stage 4 salivary duct carcinoma.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Jones had no idea a rare cancer was laying dormant in his neck as he and his partner lived their dream on the road.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It wasn't diagnosed properly until two weeks ago," Pascual said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Because it's a very rare cancer."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Jones needed radical surgery to remove the tumour, which has impacted his vision and facial nerves, and will now undergo radiotherapy treatment.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Overall, his survival rate for the next five years is around 35 per cent.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's not great," Jones said, adding that he had always been "healthy" before the lump appeared.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/uk-eta-dual-citizen-rule-expired-passport-loophole-explained/f67b643f-992d-4e6d-930e-997dfe3dcf20" target="_blank" title="Mass confusion among expats over expired passport loophole"><strong><span>Mass confusion among expats over expired passport loophole</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>An advanced cancer diagnosis has certainly not spooked the couple into settling down somewhere, though.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Now with itchier feet than ever, Jones is more than happy continuing his treatment on the road.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The medical system, in a nutshell, has been exceptional," Jones said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I have absolutely zero interest in settling down.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's not an option, I couldn't think of anything worse."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Surprisingly, Jones said he rarely encounters any issues with undergoing cancer treatment while travelling.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In fact, they both agree it can be more "convenient".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Some people would find it difficult if they got this diagnosis and had a mortgage," Pascual said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>EXCLUSIVE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/pokemon-card-trading-how-lucy-makes-six-figures-buying-selling-cards-online/fa14a3d5-4369-46d6-b8e5-7f298be950cb" target="_blank"><strong><span>Lucy works a 9 to 5, but she makes more money trading Pokémon cards</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Jones is now also "medically retired" and won't be able to work on the road.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Pascual, meanwhile, picks up odd jobs at caravan parks whenever the couple need to top off their funds.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Their plan is to continue driving around Australia for years to come – as long as Jones is well enough.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We're living well, living on the road does give you freedom," Pascual said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The comment that is made to us frequently from older travellers is, I wish we'd done it when we were your age," Jones added.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 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