David Westlake

Part of our Patient Stories Series

Embark on a poignant journey with Dave as he shares his transformative year of 2023. From prioritising mental and physical health to confronting unexpected challenges, Dave's candid narrative offers profound insights into resilience and self-discovery. Despite facing the daunting diagnosis of Ewing's Sarcoma, a rare form of cancer, Dave's resolve remains unyielding as he navigates treatment and recovery. Join us as we follow Dave's inspiring story, filled with hope, gratitude, and unwavering determination.

2023, The Year I Focused On My Mental and Physical Health

In January 2023 I decided that was going to be the year I focused on my mental and physical health and stopped avoiding or bottling up things, just as I had been doing for years and years.

In February I was signed off work for stress and sought help through Talking Therapies who put me on a stress management course. The course was great and really helped me recognise, understand and manage stress better. In July I suffered my first-ever panic attack at my daughters dance show. I then had to come to terms with understanding and coping with anxiety, something I've never had to deal with before.

In August I finally sought help, got diagnosed and put on a waiting list for counselling for an eating disorder I’ve carried all my life, which got worse as a result of COVID-19. So by this point in the year, I really was accepting and trying to work through each of my personal problems to become a better ‘me’.

Then October came and I started to get some discomfort and odd heat pain on the right side of my tummy. I also completely lost my appetite and started losing weight. I sought medical advice and had an ultrasound that oddly found nothing. I was then assured by my GP that it was all part of my anxiety, and that, once I'd weaned myself up to a higher dosage of anti-anxiety / anti-depression medication, I would likely feel much better.

However, one evening in early December everything changed. When having a bath, my son noticed a large lump on my back that had appeared very quickly, likely overnight. He got my wife who also confirmed I did have a large lump (looked a bit like another shoulder blade) just to the right-hand side of my spine. I managed to get in to see the doctor quickly and was booked in for a scan in early January to investigate.

By mid-December the pain was getting much worse and I was now sleeping on the sofa due to the discomfort and not to disturb my wife’s sleep. I found some respite from having a hot water bottle on my lump which took some of the pain and discomfort away. I then got to a point where I was applying a hot water bottle every 2 hours throughout most nights just to get through the night. It ended up damaging the skin on my back. Not recommended!

It’s now towards the end of the week before Christmas 2023. I had a lot more pain in my back and hadn’t slept now for 3 days straight. I was mentally and physically exhausted! My wife was so concerned about me that she got me into A&E in Musgrove Park Hospital. I was seen quickly, booked in for urgent review the next morning, and sent home with strong painkillers that would help me sleep.

The next morning I went to SDEC (Same Day Emergency Care) in Musgrove and waited to be seen. I was in such pain that the team kindly gave up a triage bed for me, as sitting in the waiting room was just too uncomfortable. I had a CT scan at around lunchtime that day and returned to SDEC to await the results. That afternoon a lung Consultant came to see me with his colleague. He said that it wasn’t really his place to say this to me but that the scans showed I had cancer. Furthermore, he said that the reason he, as a Lung Consultant, was there was because I also had extreme fluid blocking my right lung that needed to be drained immediately. He advised that his colleague, who was already dressed and prepared to perform some sort of operation, was going to perform a chest drain procedure there and then with my permission. It all seemed to happen so quickly. It was probably a good thing I was in so much pain at this point as I could understand what I was being told and it softened the blow of the impact of being told the ‘C’ word. Something no one ever expects to happen to them. My mind then somehow went straight into survival mode and ‘what do I have to do to beat it’.

I managed to string just 7 words together over a few Whatsapp messages to my wife; “Major problem”, “not good”, “cancer” and “need you”. She then rushed into the hospital to replace my mum who had sat with me all day. The consultant advised me and my wife that I was being admitted into hospital immediately and until further notice so they could focus on draining the chest fluid and move on to diagnosing and treating my cancer. From the moment I was told I had cancer, I felt like my life had changed forever. Plus, being told on the Friday before Christmas, Christmas 2023 was basically cancelled. Not the end to the year I had hoped for.

Things Moved Quickly

After a stay in hospital for nearly 2 weeks, over both Christmas and new year, I was finally discharged home with a lot of medication. I was put on steady 12-hour Morphine which near enough switched off the pain I was in and I felt I could at least operate again somewhat normally. I’d come from a very dark place mentally over Christmas and New Year where I honestly didn’t know if I would even leave hospital. Knowing I was going home was a step towards realising I was going to have more time back in my life, I just didn’t know exactly how much time I would have.

As my diagnosis progressed, so did the type of cancer they thought I had. Initially, I was advised my cancer was likely Lymphoma, then a very rare type of cancer, then it was determined to be a Sarcoma, but they were not sure which one. What they could assure me is that they were eliminating cancers all the time, the potential cancer list was getting smaller, and that they wouldn’t give up until they diagnosed the exact cancer I had. Once we knew the cancer, we knew the treatment plan. On 9th January 2024 I was ocially diagnosed with ‘Ewing’s Sarcoma’, something I’d never even heard of but at least I was finally diagnosed. My cancer journey had really only just begun.

The staff and departments at Musgrove Park Hospital were amazing throughout my time with them during diagnosis and I cannot fault the help and support they gave me at such a difficult time for both me and them. As my cancer turned out to be very rare (just 600 cases nationally a year), Musgrove transferred me to Bristol Haematology & Oncology Centre (BHOC) for treatment, and as Musgrove hadn’t seen or dealt with a case of Ewing’s Sarcoma in over 10 years. It was scary knowing I would be under the care of another hospital that wasn’t my local one, but luckily for me it was only an hour up the road and they are specialists in Sarcoma treatment so I knew I would be in the best hands.

My first Chemotherapy cycle started in Bristol on 13th January 2024, just 10 days after I was being diagnosed and discharged from hospital, so things did move very quickly for me. I met with my really nice Consultant Dr Ayre who discussed and talked me through my treatment plan and I was also introduced to my Specialist Nurse Anna who I could contact at any time for advice and support. Both of them have been exceptional, and my specialist nurse Anna really brightens my day when she comes to see me on the ward, as she's such a genuinely lovely person too.

I’m on a treatment plan of 14 chemo cycles lasting around 26 weeks. My cycles alternate between different chemo drugs and I'm admitted in for chemo as an inpatient every 2 weeks, so it’s quite an intensive type of treatment. I’ve also found out I will now have Radiotherapy starting from cycle 13 for 5 weeks which is really good news as originally I was told Radiotherapy wasn't even an option.

The BHOC sta have been absolutely amazing and I cannot fault the ward team on D603, my specialist nurse Anna and my Consultant Dr Ayre for the support and care I have received from them. They all do a dicult job at a dicult time and under some very tough circumstances. I cannot thank them enough for what they have done for me. They have literally given me my life back and I will always be forever grateful.

Ewing's Sarcoma

I've learned that Ewing Sarcoma is a type of primary bone cancer. Sarcoma’s are rare cancers that develop in the supporting tissues of the body such as the bone, cartilage, tendons, fat and muscle.

There are 2 main types of sarcoma: bone sarcoma and soft tissue sarcoma. Primary bone cancer can develop in any bone in the body. It can also develop in the soft tissue near bones. The bones most commonly aected by Ewing sarcoma are the pelvis, thigh (femur), shin (tibia), ribs and shoulder blades.

I was very surprised to learn that Ewing Sarcoma is most often found in older children, teenagers and young adults, but it can happen at other ages. Which is shocking that a debilitating cancer usually aects people so young. My Consultant did warn me that at 38, I was already at the higher end of the age spectrum for this type of cancer which made it a higher risk for me. I’ve also read that it is slightly more common in men than women.

Sometimes, like mine, Ewing sarcoma can start in the soft tissue near the bone. This is often treated in the same way as Ewing sarcoma that starts in the bone. Pain is the most common symptom of Ewing sarcoma, as I explained about earlier with my symptoms. However, symptoms can vary, depending on what part of the body the cancer is in.

Ewing sarcoma is rare, so it is treated by a team of doctors and other healthcare professionals at a hospital with a specialist sarcoma treatment centre, like the BHOC. The treatment you have depends on a number of things, including the position of the cancer, the size of the cancer, if it has spread (its stage), the grade of the cancer, and your general health. The main treatments for Ewing sarcoma are surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. You usually have a combination of these treatments.

Although Ewing's Sarcoma is rare, it is treatable and survivable. I learnt that the treatment success rate now, due to the developments in cancer research and modern medicine, was 80 - 90% successful. So even when you’re told the worst possible news, at what couldn’t be a worse time, with potentially the rarest type of cancers, you can and will still beat it.

Why I'm Writing My Story

I want to use my experience and my relationship with Friends of Bristol Haematology & Oncology Centre charity to highlight Ewing's Sarcoma, as I knew nothing about it until it affected me. I want to share my story and show that, even with something as serious as cancer and rare cancer, it can make you a more positive person and change you for the better as you become more grateful for what you have and time becomes more precious. It’s also important to know that even rare cancers like mine can be treated and you can and will likely get better. If you can remain positive, focus and act on exactly what you need to do to get better and receive the necessary treatment, you can get your life back on track and live again.

I've had excellent treatment & been looked after by some wonderful people in the NHS, now covering 6 different wards and 2 different hospitals. I am extremely grateful to all NHS staff who do an excellent job. We are lucky we have access to amazing healthcare in the UK that we don't even have to pay for! My wife, work, friends & family have been incredible! Their help & support has been amazing & I don't know how I can ever repay them. I'm lucky to have the perfect support network around me. You need a good support network to help get you through!

I would also like to say to everyone reading this, PLEASE don't put off getting health concerns checked. Don't end up like me where you go into hospital with one thing & find out you have something else you didn't even know was there. It may turn out to be really serious and may totally change your life too... "If in doubt, get it checked out!".

As I've now been affected by cancer, If we can do anything to help raise vital funds for Bristol Haematology & Oncology Centre, for other patients like me in the future, then why not. Cancer affected me & it could affect anyone at any time, and patients at BHOC would really benefit from funds donated to this great charity. So a HUGE thank you for any kind donation that you can make to them. I know personally that it's really appreciated & does make a big difference!

Please make a donation to Friends of Bristol Haematology & Oncology Centre if you can by clicking here. Thanks for reading my story. - Dave

Thank You For Reading David’s Story

In conclusion, Dave's journey serves as a powerful reminder of the strength that lies within each of us, even in the face of life's greatest challenges. Through vulnerability, resilience, and unwavering determination, Dave's story inspires us to embrace every twist and turn with courage and grace. As we reflect on his journey, let us carry forward the lessons of perseverance and gratitude, knowing that even in the darkest of times, there is always light to be found.

The Friends of BHOC blog shares personal stories from patients to provide support and inspiration. These stories are unique and not representative of all patients’ experiences. The content is for information and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Stories are shared with consent and, whilst we aim to be as accurate as possible, medical information and practice can evolve and change over time. Third-party links are for convenience and not endorsed. By reading, you accept this disclaimer and can contact friendsbhoc@uhbw.nhs.uk with concerns.