Dave Paxton, a seemingly healthy 38-year-old father from Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, never imagined that a casual chat with a pharmacist would change the course of his life. A father to a 9-year-old boy, Dave had no significant health complaints - just anxiety for which he was picking up a prescription when the pharmacist asked, “Any other health concerns?”

That question prompted Dave to casually mention something he had brushed off for weeks: his stool had become unusually dark. What seemed like a minor digestive quirk triggered a decision to see his GP just four days later - a decision that may have saved his life.

From Anxiety Medication to a Life-Altering Diagnosis

What followed was a whirlwind of medical tests, including an endoscopy, which revealed a shock diagnosis: Dave had a grade-four squamous cell carcinoma of the duodenum - a part of the small intestine. The condition is so rare that only 22 known cases have ever been recorded globally.

“This is terrifying and the treatment side effects are horrendous, but I’m very grateful to the pharmacist for checking in with me. I had noticed but wasn’t thinking much of it,” Dave shared with Yorkshire Live.

The cancer had already spread to his liver by the time it was discovered, causing heavy internal bleeding that now requires Dave to have blood transfusions every four days. He is currently undergoing a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in an effort to stop the cancer from progressing further.

“The diagnosis was such a shock. All I could think about was my son - I just burst into tears,” he continued. “But I also knew I had to get on with it. The cancer is so rare they just can’t say how long I have, only that they are treating me to prolong my life.”

One Chance: Immunotherapy and a Race Against Time

In a desperate bid to save Dave’s life, his twin brother Mark has launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for an experimental immunotherapy treatment - a last glimmer of hope.

“The only option giving us hope right now is the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab,” the fundraising page explains. “It’s been shown to work in other locations where this cancer appears, and in some cases, has even achieved full remission. But tragically, David’s insurance won’t cover it because it hasn’t been tested in this exact part of the body. We’re now fighting not just the cancer, but the clock.”

The treatment involves 24 sessions of immunotherapy, which could potentially shrink or eliminate the tumors entirely. It’s a steep and uncertain path, but for Dave and his family, it may be the only road that leads to more time - especially with his young son, Stanley.

"Bad Luck" - But Not Giving Up

Doctors still don’t understand why or how Dave developed such an unusual form of cancer at such a young age. “They said it was just bad luck,” Dave remarked. But despite the odds, he remains determined to keep fighting.

“If the immunotherapy works, I could be in remission by Christmas,” he says with cautious optimism. “And maybe looking toward a new start.”

A Message to Others: Don’t Ignore the Subtle Signs

Dave’s story is a chilling reminder that not all cancer symptoms are loud or obvious. Blood in the stool is often cited as a warning sign of bowel cancer - but in Dave’s case, it was the absence of that, and the presence of something far more subtle: darkened stool.

This brave father hopes that by sharing his story, others might learn to listen to their bodies more closely - and perhaps catch something before it's too late.

Please consider sharing Dave’s story to raise awareness and support his fight. A few seconds of reading might just save someone else’s life.