Dad Faces Rare Cancer Diagnosis After Months of Misdiagnosis

Tom Hayman, a 28-year-old father, received a devastating diagnosis after months of experiencing unexplained stomach pains. His fiancée, Mary Cooper, reported that Tom’s health deteriorated significantly from the summer of 2024, culminating in the revelation that he has a rare form of cancer known as a neuroendocrine tumour.

Tom and Mary, both 28, are engaged and parents to their four-year-old son, Ronnie. Mary described Tom as the “kindest, most generous man you’ll ever meet.” However, his persistent stomach issues led to alarming weight loss and intense pain that left him feeling lethargic and unwell.

In total, between January and May 2025, Tom visited their local doctor in Warrington seven times, but his symptoms were initially dismissed as non-serious. Following further concerns raised by the couple, medical professionals referred him for an ultrasound. Despite inconclusive results from local scans, a subsequent examination in London confirmed the presence of a neuroendocrine tumour originating in his pancreas and spreading to his liver.

According to Cancer Research UK, neuroendocrine tumours arise from nerve and gland cells known as neuroendocrine cells. These tumours can develop in various body parts and may grow slowly or rapidly. Macmillan Cancer Support notes that symptoms vary widely based on tumour location, often including appetite loss, weight loss, heartburn, and indigestion.

Tom’s diagnosis is classified as stage four, and medical professionals informed him that his cancer is incurable. Mary recounted their initial appointment at the Royal Liverpool Hospital, stating, “We expected we’d go and they’d say, we’re going to give you this surgery, you’re going to have six rounds of chemo, but instead we were told it was incurable.” The shock of the diagnosis left the couple devastated, grappling with the uncertainty of Tom’s future.

Mary expressed the family’s frustration regarding the unpredictability of Tom’s prognosis. “We’re in the dark because of the type of cancer that Tom’s got. Even if there’s someone next to me with neuroendocrine tumours, it’s still completely different. Nobody can say,” she said. The family has been left to contemplate an uncertain timeline concerning Tom’s condition, with doctors unable to predict whether he has months or years to live.

Despite the bleak prognosis, the family has found a glimmer of hope through dendritic cell therapy, a form of immunotherapy that enhances the immune system’s ability to combat cancer. This treatment is not yet widely available in the UK, leading Mary to assert that the country lags behind in neuroendocrine tumour research and treatment options.

The financial burden of this treatment, including medical costs, travel, and accommodations, has prompted Mary to set up a GoFundMe page with a fundraising goal of £50,000. She explained, “Tom, as a person, never asks for help from anybody. He’s a hardworking plumber, so for him to let me do this is a big thing.”

In addition to the online fundraising efforts, a fundraising event will take place at the Alford Hall Sports and Social Club in Warrington on February 28, 2025. The event will feature live auctions, a raffle, and live music, with tickets priced at £20 per adult. As of now, the family has raised over £17,000, which Mary described as “mind-blowing” and a testament to the community’s support.

Tom hopes to leverage this challenging period to raise awareness about neuroendocrine tumours. Mary emphasized his desire to educate others, stating, “He wants people to know that, if you’ve got symptoms like this, you need to go and get checked out. You’re not too young to get cancer at all.”

As Tom navigates this difficult journey, he remains focused on advocating for himself and others facing similar health challenges.