FOR MONTHS, Tom Hayman was told by his GP his crippling stomach pains were caused by having “too many fizzy drinks” – but they turned out to be a sign of rare and incurable cancer.
The dad, 28, said his symptoms were dismissed as acid reflux despite months of pain, rapid weight loss and repeated trips to the doctor.
Tom Hayman with his son RonnieCredit: SWNS
The dad, also pictured with his fiancée Mary Cooper had his stomach pain and weight loss dismissed for monthsCredit: SWNS
The dad was diagnosed with a rare and incurable cancer after being repeatedly fobbed offCredit: SWNS
But scans later revealed the true cause – a neuroendocrine tumour that began in his pancreas and spread to his liver.
The plumber, from Warrington, , had been feeling unwell since the of 2024 but claims his symptoms were repeatedly “fobbed off”.
Each time he was told there was “nothing to worry about” as he was only 27 at the time – “too young to have cancer”, according to Tom’s .
His fiancée Mary Cooper, 28, claims the 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.
Tom was told his symptoms were probably caused by drinking too many fizzy drinksCredit: SWNS
The dad felt he wasn’t being listened to when he raised the possibility of it being something more sinisterCredit: SWNS
Tom was told his cancer was incurable, bringing the family’s world to a stopCredit: SWNS
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.
Mary said: “Tom felt like he was not being listened to and almost mocked.
“Hearing the word cancer was overwhelming.
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
Mary Cooper
“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.”
Only hope
Tom was referred to Clatterbridge Cancer Centre in May 2025 and the couple have been researching treatment options ever since.
With no cure available in the UK, the family’s hope now lies overseas in , 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, and reached out to hospitals to share his medical notes and plan treatment options.
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 dips.
What are neuroendocrine tumours?
A neuroendocrine tumour (NET) is a tumour that develops from cells of the neuroendocrine system.
Neuroendocrine cells are similar to nerve cells, and they make chemical messengers called hormones, which control how different organs in the body work.
Neuroendocrine cells are found all over the body, in organs such as the stomach, bowel, pancreas and lungs.
Tumours that develop from the neuroendocrine cells are known as neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs).
Most are neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) and a smaller number are described as neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs).
Symptoms will depend on where in the body the NET is. For example, a NET in the digestive system can cause pain in the tummy, sickness or diarrhoea. A NET in the lung may cause chest infections and shortness of breath.
Some NETs don’t cause symptoms and are found by chance.
Source: Macmillan Cancer Support
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, which you can donate to here .
Ronnie hasn’t been told about his dad’s cancer but he’s noticed he’s unwellCredit: SWNS
Tom is trying to remain positiveCredit: SWNS
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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