Dad, 38, diagnosed with cancer after…

Routine Question Sparks Life-Saving Discovery
Dave Paxton, 38, was refilling anxiety medication when a pharmacist asked, “Any other concerns?” He mentioned dark stools—a detail he normally wouldn’t report.

Rare Cancer Diagnosis
An endoscopy revealed duodenal cancer. A CT scan showed a grade four squamous cell tumour—one of just 22 recorded globally. It had spread to his liver and pancreas. “The diagnosis was such a shock. All I could think about was my son, I just burst into tears.”

Tough Treatments and Daily Struggles
Dave undergoes chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy, but still needs blood transfusions every four days. “It all feels very scary, and it’s a constant and exhausting battle every day,” he said.

Hope and Fundraising
Immunotherapy isn’t covered due to the tumour’s rarity. He’s raising £180,000 for 24 sessions. “This is terrifying and the treatment side effects are horrendous,” he said, but added, “One of the nurses said, ‘you can beat this… don’t lie down and give up.’”