Dad-of-four given months to live following cancer diagnosis after going to GP with heartburn

A dad-of-four has been given just months to live after he went to the doctors because he was suffering from heartburn.
Paul Walker, 37, from County Antrim was given the news that cancer had been found in his stomach, after he went to the doctors complaining of heartburn (Photo: GoFundMe)Paul Walker, 37, from County Antrim was given the news that cancer had been found in his stomach, after he went to the doctors complaining of heartburn (Photo: GoFundMe)
Paul Walker, 37, from County Antrim was given the news that cancer had been found in his stomach, after he went to the doctors complaining of heartburn (Photo: GoFundMe)

Paul Walker, 37, from County Antrim, was given the news that cancer had been found in his stomach, after he went to the doctors complaining of heartburn.

The dad has now been given between five months and a year to live, reports BelfastLive.

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He said the cancer was discovered after he had gone to an out-of-hours GP with heartburn.

The pain got so worse over the next few days that he had to take an ambulance to hospital fearing he was having a heart attack.

Paul was then told that he had gall stones and type two diabetes, but a couple of weeks later, following a CT Scan, doctors told him that he had cancer.

Paul 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.

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"A few weeks ago I had gone to the out of hours GP with heartburn and after coming home and taking some Gaviscon, the pain kept getting worse. My wife Laura ended up having to phone me an ambulance because I was sure that I was having a heart attack.

"At hospital I was told that I had gallstones and diabetes and went back a few days later to have bloods done and then a CT scan. After that I asked the consultant to tell me the news straight and 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."

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‘I feel devastated for him and his family’

Paul’s friend, George Keenan, has launched a fundraiser to help Paul make the most of the time he has left with his family, including being able to go on a dream experience together to Old Trafford to see Manchester United play.

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George said: "I was talking to Paul about a few things that we could do and he asked about coming over to my house to watch the next United game on the 85-inch television that I have, because it would be the closest he would get to seeing them live one last time.

"While I am very much looking forward to that, I felt that Paul deserved much better being such a big fan of the team and am seeing if we can raise enough money so that he would be able to go on a VIP experience with his son in the new season at Old Trafford. I know that it would mean the world to him.

"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."

If you would like to donate to the Paul Walker fundraiser, visit the GoFundMe page.

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