The father of two was diagnosed with esophageal cancer just days after he started vomiting blood.
Zach Van Aard – 41 years old, from the United Kingdom – maintained his fitness and health in his youth, regularly participating in long marathons in his spare time.
The man began suffering from esophageal reflux – a common cause of indigestion – in 2024, but he did not pay much attention to the matter.
His GP prescribed him omeprazole – a proton pump inhibitor that works by reducing acid production in the stomach – to relieve his symptoms, but the symptoms continued until his condition worsened in July this year.
His wife recalled to the Daily Mail: “I woke up at five in the morning and heard heavy breathing and someone collapsing. I ran outside and saw Zach on the ground and he was vomiting blood.”
Mr Van Aard was rushed to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, where doctors performed an endoscopy which they suspected would reveal a stomach ulcer, but he was diagnosed with stage four oesophageal cancer.
Esophageal cancer
Esophageal cancer is cancer found anywhere in the esophagus, the organ that connects the mouth to the stomach.
The majority of cases are discovered late because patients ignore warning signs as minor problems such as heartburn or sore throat.
Other common symptoms include swallowing problems, nausea, vomiting, esophageal reflux, indigestion symptoms, persistent cough, loss of appetite, unexplained weight loss, and fatigue.
While esophageal cancer can affect anyone, smokers, drinkers or those who are obese are at greater risk.
The doctors initially planned to perform surgery, which is usually the first treatment step when the cancer is detected early and has not spread, and after conducting more tests they decided to start chemotherapy in the hope of reducing the size of the tumor.
Mr Van Aard underwent bi-weekly chemotherapy sessions to combat the cancer, in addition to weekly blood tests and examinations to check the progression of the disease.