John Robertson, 35, from Ayr, said he, his wife and their three children are ‘trying to cram a lifetime of experiences into a few months’ after he was diagnosed with terminal cancer last month
A dad of three who visited his GP after struggling to swallow food has spoken of the moment he received the “devastating, world-crushing news” that he has terminal cancer.
John Robertson, 35, from Ayr, Scotland, was diagnosed last month with stage four oesophageal adenocarcinoma, a rare cancer that develops in the glandular cells of the oesophagus. He first began having difficulty swallowing in February and went on to lose three stone in just two and a half months while suffering unbearable chest pain.
After seeing his GP, the glazier was fast-tracked for an endoscopy, which revealed a bleed and a tumour covering around 75 per cent of his oesophagus. The cancer has since spread to multiple parts of his body, including his lungs, throat, liver and right adrenal gland. Doctors have told him he has around nine months to live, the Daily Record reports.
John has said he is “crushed” by the thought of not seeing his children – Jorja, 15, Paris-Cole, eight, and Clay-Ty, four – grow up or building a future with his partner of 11 years and wife, Nicole, 29.
He told the Daily Record: “It was the most devastating, world-crushing news. My world fell apart. My kids don’t deserve to lose their dad so young. I want to watch them grow up and guide them through life.
“To know I might not be here to walk my daughters down the aisle or watch my son grow into the gentleman he is already becoming is heartbreaking. I don’t want them to remember me as ill. They’ve already seen enough.
“A future with my wife has been stolen from me. I don’t understand how I’m dying but look the picture of health. I refuse to believe that my time is almost over.”
John had always been fit and healthy but became concerned when food started getting stuck while he was eating. A few months later, he developed severe chest pain and a tightening sensation around his ribcage, prompting him to visit the GP. He was referred for CT scans and biopsies, which confirmed the diagnosis.
Doctors told John it was unlikely the cancer could have been detected any earlier as his symptoms appeared late. They believe he may have been living with the tumour for years.
John is now on an all-liquid diet and is due to begin chemotherapy, with a feeding tube also a possibility.
John said: “I remember seeing a pool of blood in my throat on the screen during the endoscopy. The doctor’s face dropped. I was so panicked.
“Doctors have told me I’ll look like this until the end except a bit paler and thinner. My bloods, liver function and heart rate are good. I’m still strong and active. Looking at me and hearing my story doesn’t marry up.”
John has launched a fundraising campaign to help cover the cost of private treatment and clinical trials not currently available on the NHS. He is waiting to hear whether he has been accepted onto trials in Germany and London. Any money raised will also go towards creating memories with his family.
“We’re trying to cram a lifetime of experiences into a few months,” he said. “I’m writing cards and recording video messages for my family to cover birthdays and other celebrations. I want them to know I will still be there with them through every milestone.”