Newcastle Man’s Tummy Ache Was Deadlier Than He Thought!

In a heartbreaking turn of events, a man from Newcastle lost his battle with cancer just three months after dismissing his persistent stomach pain as a sign of aging.

Dave Smith, 58, had been experiencing discomfort in his abdomen and changes in his bowel habits for over a year. Like many, he brushed off these symptoms, thinking they were merely part of getting older. It wasn’t until 2023 that he finally decided to see a doctor. Unfortunately, the initial tests came back clear, offering a false sense of security.

It wasn’t until January, when Dave woke up in the middle of the night with what he feared was a heart attack, that the real cause of his symptoms was discovered. Further testing revealed the devastating news: multiple tumors had taken root in his liver and pancreas.

By February, Dave was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, a ruthless disease known for its silent progression. In just two short months, he lost four stone, and the cancer had advanced to a stage where chemotherapy was no longer a viable option. Tragically, Dave passed away at home on May 28, surrounded by loved ones.

Dave Smith suffered pain in his abdomen and changes to his bowel movements for more than a year before agreeing to see a doctor in 2023. But then tests confirmed he did not have a condition that would affect his gut. Pictured, Rachael and David Smith

In January the 58-year-old suddenly woke up in the middle of the night fearing he was suffering a heart attack, New tests showed he had multiple tumours on his liver and pancreas and he lost 4 stone in weight

Reflecting on her husband’s ordeal, Rachel Smith, a 36-year-old biologist, hopes that his story will serve as a wake-up call. “Dave is one of those who never got poorly. His health was something that I never worried about,” Rachel shared. “But Dave’s blase attitude to his health cost him his life.”

Rachel first noticed changes in her husband’s health around two and a half years ago. What started as a seemingly harmless change in his bowel movements soon became a cause for concern. “We laughed about it at first because whenever he went to the toilet, he would absolutely stink out the utility room, to the point where it made me feel a bit sick,” she recalled. But as time went on, Dave’s condition worsened. He began to look older, his once big appetite waned, and he struggled to finish even his favorite meals.

Despite these red flags, doctors initially ruled out bowel cancer, suggesting instead that Dave likely had diverticulitis, a condition common among older adults. But in January, when Dave woke in agony, thinking he was having a heart attack, further tests revealed a more sinister cause. A lump was found near his liver, and CT scans confirmed lesions on his pancreas. “Pardon my language, but it was just a complete s***show after that,” Rachel said bluntly.

He died weeks later at home on May 28. His wife, Rachel, a 36-year-old biologist, now hopes her husband’s experience will encourage people to take their health seriously and raise awareness about the ‘minor symptoms’ that could help people catch this deadly illness early

Alarm bells also went off when Mr Smith, who usually had a big appetite, stopped finishing his meals, even his favourite dishes like fillet steak and chips. An initial visit to the doctor ruled out bowel cancer. A second said he likely had diverticulitis, a condition which can cause abdominal pain and commonly affects people as they get older, Mrs Smith said

Pancreatic cancer, often referred to as the “silent killer,” takes the lives of about 10,000 people in the UK each year. The disease is notoriously difficult to detect early, with symptoms that are often subtle and easily overlooked. Celebrities like Sven-Goran Eriksson and the late Andy Rourke have brought attention to the illness in recent years, but the statistics remain grim.

In the weeks following his diagnosis, Dave’s condition deteriorated rapidly. His weight plummeted from 12st 7lbs to just 8st 7lbs. “I didn’t think that he could possibly lose any more weight, but he did, and it was so upsetting to see, because I was just looking at a skeleton, to be honest,” Rachel said. Chemotherapy was offered but declined; the risk was too great for a man already so frail.

As Dave’s final days approached, he expressed a wish to die at home, with Rachel by his side. On May 28, as Rachel lay next to him, Dave became restless. “I came up and I lay next to him, and put my head on his head, and he calmed down,” she recalled. In those final moments, Dave nudged her head, and as Rachel looked into his eyes, he took his last breath. “I held his hand and said that I loved him – it was traumatic but it was also a relief that he wasn’t in pain anymore.”

Now, Rachel hopes that Dave’s story will inspire others to take their health seriously and be proactive in seeking medical attention. “Take your health seriously and be an advocate for your own health,” she urged. “You are better than any GP, it doesn’t matter how much experience they’ve got, you know your own body.”

Pancreatic cancer has been dubbed a ‘silent killer’ due to its subtle signs that are often only spotted too late

Pancreatic cancer may be a “silent killer,” but Rachel believes that even the smallest symptoms should never be ignored. In her words, “It was a collection of minor symptoms that really raised alarm bells for me, and if I can see the problems, other people have got to be the same.”