John Robertson, 35, was diagnosed with Stage 4 oesophageal cancer last month after struggling to swallow food — the disease has spread to multiple parts of his body including his liver
Fionnuala Boyle and Emma O’Neill Content Editor
19:01, 04 Jul 2026
(Image: Supplied)
A fit and healthy father-of-three has been “handed a death sentence” after difficulties swallowing food led to a terminal cancer diagnosis.
John Robertson was diagnosed with Stage 4 oesophageal adenocarcinoma last month, which has spread to numerous areas of his body, including his liver.
The 35 year old from Ayr began experiencing trouble swallowing food in February, which ultimately caused him to shed three stone in just two and a half months, while also enduring agonising chest pains similar to those of a heart attack.
John and his beloved son on his wedding day in 2022(Image: Supplied)
He visited his GP, where he was fast-tracked for an endoscopy that uncovered a bleed and a mass tumour covering 75 per cent of his oesophagus. He has been given just nine months to live.
John is “crushed” by the thought of not watching his children, Jorja, 15, Paris-Cole, eight, and Clay-Ty, four, grow up, or sharing a future with his partner of 11 years, Nicole, 29, reports the Daily Record.
John told the Record: “It was the most devastating, world-crushing news. My world fell apart.
“My kids don’t deserve to lose their dad so young. I want to watch them grow up and guide them through life.
“To know I might not be here to walk my daughters down the aisle or watch my son grow into the gentleman he is already becoming is heartbreaking. I don’t want them to remember me as ill. They’ve already seen enough.
John and his partner of 11 years, and wife of four years, Nicole(Image: Supplied)
“A future with my wife has been stolen from me. I don’t understand how I’m dying but look the picture of health.
“I refuse to believe that my time is almost over.”
John, a glazier by trade, has always kept himself in good shape, but when food began getting stuck on its way down — forcing him to bring it back up to ease the discomfort and clear the blockage — he knew something wasn’t right.
Several months on, he began suffering an intense, crushing pain in the centre of his chest, accompanied by a tightening sensation around his ribcage, which led him to visit his GP and subsequently be referred for CT scans and biopsies.
The medics who delivered John’s diagnosis told him there was simply no way the cancer could have been detected earlier, as by the time symptoms had presented themselves, it was already too late. John was informed he had potentially been carrying the tumour for years.
John feels “deep sadness and heartache” at the thought of leaving his three beautiful children(Image: Supplied)
The illness has since spread to John’s lungs, throat, right adrenal gland, and liver.
He is currently on an entirely liquid diet, is due to begin chemotherapy this month, and may require a feeding tube going forward.
John said: “I remember seeing a pool of blood in my throat on the screen during the endoscopy.
“The doctor’s face dropped. I was so panicked.
“Doctors have told me I’ll look like this until the end except a bit paler and thinner.
“My bloods, liver function, and heart rate are good. I’m still strong and active.
“Looking at me and hearing my story doesn’t marry up.”
John with two of his three children who he can’t bare the thought of leaving behind(Image: Supplied)
John has since launched a fundraising campaign to cover the costs of private medical treatments and trials not currently available on the NHS, and is awaiting word on whether he has been accepted onto trials in both Germany and London. The funds will also be used to create lasting memories with his loved ones during the time he has remaining.
He continued: “We’re trying to cram a lifetime of experiences into a few months.
“I’m writing cards and recording video messages for my family to cover birthdays and other celebrations.
“I want them to know I will still be there with them through every milestone.”