Tom made repeated trips to the doctor but says his symptoms were ignored
A dad’s crippling stomach pains dismissed by a GP as the result of “drinking too many fizzy drinks” turned out to be a rare and incurable form of cancer. Tom Hayman, 28, said he was told he was probably suffering from acid reflux despite months of pain, rapid weight loss and repeated trips to the doctor.
But scans later revealed the true cause – a neuroendocrine tumour that began in his pancreas and spread to his liver. The plumber, from Warrington, Cheshire, had been feeling unwell since the summer of 2024 but claims his symptoms were repeatedly brushed aside.
He was “fobbed off” each time, being told there was “nothing to worry about” as at the time he was only 27, which his GP told him was “too young to have cancer”. His fiancée Mary Cooper, 28, said the GP even laughed at the suggestion of cancer despite seeing a “dramatic and alarming” change in Tom.
She added: “He’s a 6ft 5ins lad who loves his food – but all of a sudden, it was like he started forgetting to eat. He just didn’t want food. If he did eat, he’d get really bad stomach pains. He also started to lose a lot of weight.”
Despite fearing something was seriously wrong, Tom spent around six months going back and forth to his GP surgery with no answers. Mary said: “They were just fobbing us off with things like ‘you drink too many fizzy drinks’.”
Doctors initially suggested acid reflux – something Tom had suffered with before. Mary added: “The doctor thought it was acid reflux, but this was coming from his liver area. “I knew it wasn’t right for him to be doubled over in pain. Tom was worried it was something sinister – but the doctor laughed and said he wouldn’t have cancer at his age.”
She claims the GP suggested he undergo scans only because Tom appeared anxious. The tests, carried out at Warrington Hospital, changed everything. Mary said: “A day later, they rang to say they’d found something on his liver.”
Further tests in London confirmed the devastating diagnosis – a neuroendocrine tumour that had already spread, along with a blood clot on Tom’s liver. The couple were referred to Clatterbridge in May 2025 and have been researching treatment options ever since.
Mary said: “Tom felt like he was not being listened to and almost mocked. Hearing the word cancer was overwhelming. It was all a bit of a blur, to be honest. We were both crying and the next thing we were thinking was – how are we going to tell our family and friends?
“What is his life going to be like now? We couldn’t take in anything that was said during that appointment because our worlds had just stopped. I can’t explain the feeling. It was just sadness and anger. There was a wave of emotions.
“You think about the future and buying a house, getting married, having more children – but you’re asking whether these things are ever going to happen.”
With no cure available in the UK, the family’s hope now lies overseas in Germany, where doctors offer dendritic cell therapy, a form of immunotherapy designed to help the body fight cancer. Mary said Tom found out about the treatment through social media.
After reaching out to hospitals abroad and sharing Tom’s medical notes, discussions about treatment options began. The family are aiming to raise £50,000 which would cover medical fees, travel, accommodation, and time away from work while Tom focuses on getting better.
Despite everything, Mary says Tom remains positive – even when his health dips. She said: “He believes that if he thinks positively, then positive things will come. “He takes everything in his stride.”
Their son Ronnie, four, is unaware of the seriousness of his dad’s illness – but senses when something is wrong. Mary said: “He doesn’t know what’s happening, but he has seen when Tom’s not unwell, which upsets him. We’re just trying to keep life as normal as possible for him.”
Mary said she hopes sharing Tom’s story will raise awareness – particularly among young people whose symptoms may be ignored. They have launched a fundraiser to cover treatment costs.
To donate visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/hope-for-tom-supporting-his-cancer-treatment-in-germany
![Strategi 1% rule: Kenapa simpan RM50 lebih baik dari berangan RM10k [Kewangan]](https://wordupnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/1770720522_maxresdefault-80x80.jpg)
