Dad, 37, given five months to live after going to doctors with heartburn
A DAD has been given months to live after visiting an out of hours GP surgery with what medics said was heartburn.
Paul Walker was sent home and had taken some Gaviscon to relieve the pain but it progressively got worse.
His wife Laura had to call an ambulance for him as the 37-year-old dad-of-four was certain he was having a heart attack.
Paul, who lives in County Antrim, northern Ireland, said medics told him he was suffering from gallstones and diabetes.
He then had to go back to the hospital a few days later to have blood taken and a CT scan.
It was then that Paul was given the devastating news that he had stomach cancer and was told he had between five months to a year to live.
He said: "I just keep asking myself why this has happened. There must be a reason, because I am only 37 and can't understand how this has come all of a sudden”, he told BelfastLive.
Paul explained that after the blood and CT scan, he asked the consultant to “tell me straight” what was wrong.
“That is when he said things were far more dangerous than they thought and I only had five months to a year left.
"I go for a biopsy on Monday, when I will be told what my treatment is going to be, but even then it would only prolong my life as things have progressed too much", he said.
Paul had to try and explain his condition to his four children, Tavis, 14, Summer, 9, Kai, 7, and Xena, one.
He explained that it’s difficult to talk to the kids about it, but that he told his oldest son he is sick and that doctors are doing tests.
Paul praised his “amazing wife” who he says has been supporting him throughout the ordeal.
His goal now is to enjoy living life with his friends and family and to “make the most of it”.
His friend George Keenan has now launched a fundraiser so that Paul can go to Old Trafford to see Manchester United play.
The idea came to George after Paul had asked to watch the football on his 85-inch TV, saying it would be the closest he would get to seeing them live.
George said Paul deserves much better than that and that he is now trying to raise money for a VIP packaged for his friend.
Symptoms of stomach cancer
Stomach cancer, or gastric cancer, is a fairly uncommon type of cancer. More than 6,000 people are diagnosed with it each year in the UK.
The initial symptoms of stomach cancer are vague and easy to mistake for other less serious conditions. They include:
- persistent indigestion and heartburn
- trapped wind and frequent burping
- feeling very full or bloated after meals
- persistent stomach pain
Symptoms of advanced stomach cancer can include:
- blood in your poo, or black poo
- loss of appetite
- weight loss
As the early symptoms of stomach cancer are similar to those of many other conditions, the cancer is often advanced by the time it's diagnosed.
It is therefore important to get any possible symptoms of stomach cancer checked by your GP as soon as possible.
George added: “Paul has been my best friend since I was 11, and I feel devastated for him and his family and just want to be able to make sure that they are to live life to the full over the next months.
“I have set a target for £1,000 to make it happen, but if we raise anything more than that it will be set aside for his children to help them over the years."
The page has so far raised over £3,690.
To donate to send Paul to Old Trafford, click here.
Source: Read Full Article