Sandwich that changed everything? Des Longstaff’s journey with stage-4 cancer

A routine bacon and sausage sandwich became a life-changing experience for 39-year-old gardener Des Longstaff. Having had trouble swallowing when he ate, Longstaff consulted his doctor, who revealed that he had stage-4 oesophageal adenocarcinoma, an aggressive form of cancer that had already invaded his liver.

The shocking diagnosis

Remembering the event, Longstaff told Bristol Live, "I was helping a friend when his girlfriend had made me a bacon and sausage sandwich. When I ate it, it was lodged in my oesophagus. I tried drinking water, but I couldn't get it down. I thought, 'Am I chewing wrong?'"

Worried, he went to a doctor who ordered an endoscopy. But before the operation could be performed, he had started vomiting blood and had seen blood in his stools.

Christmas Eve saw doctors remove a 35cm tumor from his oesophagus.

Limited treatment options

Early optimistic about having keyhole surgery to have the tumor removed, Longstaff's hopes were dashed when scans showed the cancer had already taken hold in his liver. He underwent immunotherapy and chemotherapy but recognized these treatments are not for a cure. "It's just to control symptoms so I don't die straight away," he said. NHS physicians told him he had only 12 months to live.

Seeking hope abroad

Pining for more time with his five-year-old son, Longstaff's mother Tracey started a GoFundMe campaign to collect £43,000 for specialized treatment in Germany. The treatment, which would cost €52,000 (about ₹46.5 lakh), aims to destroy cancer cells in his liver. Till now, the campaign has received more than £31,000. "In Germany, they don't believe in terminal cases," Longstaff explained. 

In spite of the bleak prognosis, Longstaff is committed to trying everything to prolong his life and stay with his family longer. His tale is a reminder of the value of early detection and how far individuals will go to fight for their loved ones.