A MAN has been told he could have just months to live after being sent home from hospital with ibuprofen for his sore back.
Oliver Anderson, 31, a former car body repairer from Dunfermline, Scotland, was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in August 2019 at the age of 26, after experiencing a “sore back.”
Living with his wife Ann-Marie, 27, former security guard, Oliver initially managed his symptoms with radiotherapy and a targeted cancer drug.
However, after suffering seizures in March this year, Oliver was devastated to learn that the cancer had spread to his brain, kidneys, and oesophagus.
The journey to this heart-breaking diagnosis began in July 2019, when Oliver’s back pain became “excruciating.”
Initially dismissed by hospital staff and sent home with ibuprofen, Oliver’s condition deteriorated rapidly, leading to further hospital visits, tests, and his diagnosis with stage 4 lung cancer.
He said: “I thought I’d injured my back at work or maybe I’d pulled a muscle.
“There was no inclination it was anything more serious, and I had four or five doctors tell me at this stage, ‘Don’t worry, it’s not cancer’.”
Doctors have now given him “anywhere between five months and five years left to live”.
Oliver said: “I know I’m going to die, it’s just knowing when – and now I’ve been given that timescale.”
Despite being advised to complete a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) form, Oliver and Ann-Marie are not ready to give up.
With Oliver unable to work and living on benefits, the couple are now fundraising for £2,000 to help them “make memories” together, such as going on staycations, enjoying meals out, and renewing their vows.
“The fact is my wife could only have five months with me or she could have five years – but that’s not enough. That’s why we’re trying to make as many memories as possible.”
Just two weeks later, Oliver was called back to hospital, where he was introduced to a lung specialist, a doctor, and a Macmillan nurse.
On August 9, 2019, he was informed he had incurable stage 4 lung cancer.
He said: “When I was told it was cancer, I thought I should be okay, but when I was told it was stage 4 lung cancer, which means it’s terminal, then things started to change in my life,
“I went from being able to work to not being able to do anything. We just broke down and we couldn’t understand how something as simple as having a sore back could change your life so dramatically.”
Ann-Marie added: “All that went through my head at the time was, ‘Is he going to die’ It just broke me, I couldn’t function.”
Following his diagnosis, Oliver began radiotherapy on August 12, which left him unable to swallow food or drink.
He was then prescribed alcetinib, a targeted cancer drug, but was advised to avoid sunlight, further limiting his ability to enjoy life.
On March 4 this year, Oliver’s condition took a turn for the worse after experiencing seizures and paralysis on the left side of his body.
A second opinion confirmed the cancer had spread, and he now faces an uncertain future with just months to live.
Back pain that could be a sign of cancer is typically present alongside other cancer symptoms. Sometimes, these can be passed off as being due to another condition when they are related to cancer.
Examples of these symptoms may be:
Back pain doesn’t always have to be severe to indicate cancer. It can range in severity.
Having a personal history of cancer along with these symptoms might also increase your risk. If you have back pain and are worried it could be cancer, consider your overall symptoms and speak to your doctor as soon as possible.
Throughout this ordeal, Oliver has relied heavily on Ann-Marie, who has been his primary caregiver.
He said: “I can’t thank her enough for everything she’s done for me,
“When I first got diagnosed, I genuinely thought she’d run for the hills because I felt I was putting pressure on her to stay when she could have done whatever she wanted with her life.
“I love her to pieces.”
Determined to enjoy the time they have left, the couple have put bills aside to focus on “having more fun” and set up a GoFundMe page to help them achieve their dreams.
They hope to renew their vows on October 25, their wedding anniversary, and Oliver wishes to revisit some of his old hobbies, such as fishing.
Oliver said: “Making memories to us is as simple as going out for a bite to eat,
“I don’t have this extravagant plan of jumping out of a plane or going skydiving, it’s more about going away for a night at a hotel, having dinner one night, or going out for a steak or a hot chocolate.
“We don’t expect much because in our world we don’t need much to be happy. As long as we do the little things together, that’s all that counts.”
Ann-Marie urges others to seek medical attention if something feels wrong and to persist until they get answers.
To support Oliver and Ann-Marie in making memories, visit their fundraiser here.
Meanwhile, if you suspect cancer symptoms booking an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible is paramount as Cancer Research warns long waits for NHS cancer treatment have tripled since 2017.
The charity found 12 per cent of patients did not start therapy for 104 days or more in 2022.
NHS standards stipulate that at least 85 per cent should start treatment within 62 days of their first doctor’s referral.
The latest figure was a rise from four percent in 2017 and means more than 20,000 people faced the agonising delays.
Elsewhere, new technology could help the long NHS waiting lists as an AI software has been released which could cut waiting lists by spotting prostate cancer earlier and more accurately.
According to Macmillan Cancer Support, the Pi medical platform, designed by Cambridge University scientists, can detect the disease and avoid unnecessary biopsies.
