Fit and healthy father, 60, hit by deadly cancer – he suffered a single symptom that you should NEVER mistake as an infection

A fit and healthy father has told how he dismissed signs of his blood cancer as the lingering side effects of a stomach bug. 

Tim Blackburn, from Somerset, suddenly began to feel fatigued in December 2022 during the busy festive period. 

But it was only after the 60-year-old then developed nausea and struggled to keep food down that his family urged him to attend A&E.

Here, medics told him he was suffering from kidney failure and he was transferred to Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital. 

Further tests, however, revealed his kidney failure had been caused by myeloma—a rare type of blood cancer that forms in bone marrow and attacks the kidneys and immune system.

After nine months of gruelling chemotherapy treatment and a stem cell transplant , he was told his cancer was in remission and he would need monthly tests to monitor if it has returned. 

Now, Mr Blackburn is urging others not to be put off seeking help for potential signs of the disease. 

Recalling his ordeal, he said: ‘I felt like I was constantly hungover but I only went to hospital because my family persuaded me to. 

‘Things escalated rapidly when I was seen to.’ 

Myeloma, also known as multiple myeloma is an aggressive cancer in which the bone marrow—the soft, spongy tissue inside bones that produces blood cells—generates white blood cells too quickly.

These immature cells, though crucial to the immune system when healthy, don’t function properly. 

Without enough healthy white blood cells, patients are more susceptible to infections. The defective cells can also accumulate, preventing the development of red blood cells.

This causes anaemia, leading to breathlessness, fatigue and, as Mr Blackburn experienced, kidney failure.

Whilst the cancer can be treated, it cannot yet be cured. 

Mr Blackburn’s stem cell transplant involved healthy bone marrow cells from a donor being introduced to the bloodstream, helping the body produce fully functioning white blood cells. 

‘It was a gruelling treatment,’ Mr Blackburn recalled. ‘It seriously affected my life, I lost weight, strength, stamina  and my hair—I could barely walk across the room.’ 

The avid cyclist also required regular dialysis—a procedure to remove waste products and excess fluid from the blood when the kidneys stop working properly. 

This involves diverting blood to a machine to be cleaned before being filtered back into the body. 

According to the NHS, common side-effects of the treatment include fatigue, low blood pressure, muscle cramps, joint pain and difficulties sleeping. 

‘To begin with, I’d have severe headaches and nausea,’ Mr Blackburn said. ‘I would spending evenings after dialysis throwing up before sleeping for 12 hours.’ 

Thankfully, the treatment worked and Mr Burton was given the all clear in October 2023. 

Despite this, he still needs three hour-long dialysis sessions a week to keep his kidney functioning properly, which he says has had a ‘huge impact’ on his life. 

After his stem cell treatment, Mr Blackburn was determined to build up his strength, despite feeling that he would never be strong enough to ride again with his cycling group. 

‘I realised I was really missing the social aspect and decided to purchase an eclectic bike to help me keep up,’ he said. 

Mr Blackburn has since cycled over 200 miles across Somerset and Devon while visiting dialysis centres—to raise money for Kidney Research UK, in a challenge he dubbed ‘Tour de Kidney’. 

He initially aimed to raise £2,040—£5 for each of the 408 dialysis sessions he has had since January 2023. 

But he has since tripled his goal, raising £6,205 through JustGiving in aid of research into the prevention, treatment and management of kidney disease. 

He said: ‘I had a great time and felt a huge feeling of satisfaction in what we’ve achieved. 

‘The staff at the dialysis clinics were all wonderful, giving me a cheer when I arrived and set back off again. 

‘It was hard work, there were a lot of gills to cycle up, but it was very rewarding.’  

Symptoms of myeloma can vary widely, as not all patients will develop symptoms of the disease and are often diagnosed by chance following a blood test for something else. 

Bone pain—often felt in the back, hips, shoulders or ribs—extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, muscle weakness, headaches, extreme thirst and unexplained weight loss are all tell-tale signs of the disease.

Blurred vision, dizziness, unexplained bruising, and unusual bleeding such as frequent nosebleeds or heavy periods can also be signs. 

After a diagnosis, patients should be aware of the signs and symptoms of infection, as their immune system is compromised meaning that an infection can get worse in a matter of hours, increasing the risk of sepsis. 

Blood Cancer UK advises anyone who is concerned they may myeloma to contact their GP and inform them of any signs of an infection, such as a fever, flu like symptoms, or a very low temperature below 36°C.

According to Cancer Research UK, there are around 6,200 new myeloma cases in the UK every year, and 3,100 deaths. 

Almost 80 per cent of patients will survive their myeloma for five years or more after diagnosis if caught early. 

At stage three, when the cancer has spread and affects more of the body, the prognosis is much lower, with only 40 per cent of patients surviving for five years after diagnosis.