{"id":156885,"date":"2025-09-24T04:58:12","date_gmt":"2025-09-24T04:58:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/156885\/"},"modified":"2025-09-24T04:58:12","modified_gmt":"2025-09-24T04:58:12","slug":"dad-dismissed-bad-cough-as-covid-before-shock-blood-cancer-diagnosis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/156885\/","title":{"rendered":"Dad dismissed bad cough as Covid before shock blood cancer diagnosis"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Ian Milton, from Paisley, became unwell before Christmas last year, dismissing his symptoms as a severe cold or coronavirus.<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/2_Ian-Milton-will-be-guest-of-honour-at-Shine-Night-Walk-Edinburgh-and-is-pictured-with-wife-Stacey..jpeg\" alt=\"Ian with his wife Stacey\" loading=\"eager\"  \/>Ian with his wife Stacey(Image: Cancer Research UK)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"dailyrecord\">A Scots dad has told how he dismissed his persistent cough as Covid before being diagnosed with blood <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailyrecord.co.uk\/all-about\/cancer\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"cancerLink opens in a new tab.\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">cancer<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"dailyrecord\">Ian Milton, 35, became unwell before Christmas last year, dismissing his symptoms as a severe cold or <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailyrecord.co.uk\/all-about\/coronavirus\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"coronavirusLink opens in a new tab.\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">coronavirus<\/a>. But when antibiotics failed to make him feel better and after he suffered sudden weight loss, his wife, Stacey, persuaded him to return to the GP.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"dailyrecord\">Several tests were taken and just weeks later, on March 30, Ian was diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma. He underwent 20 gruelling rounds of <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailyrecord.co.uk\/all-about\/cancer\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"chemotherapy Link opens in a new tab.\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">chemotherapy <\/a>over a five-month period.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/0_Ian-Milton-in-hospital-getting-cancer-treatment-accompanied-by-his-wife-Stacey-Miltonjpeg.jpg\" alt=\"Ian in hospital\" loading=\"lazy\"  \/>Ian in hospital(Image: Cancer Research UK)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"dailyrecord\">Speaking of his <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailyrecord.co.uk\/all-about\/cancer\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"diagnosisLink opens in a new tab.\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">diagnosis<\/a>, Ian, from Paisley, said: \u201cStacey is amazing and was by my side through it all. She was right there with me the day I was told I had cancer and in the worrying weeks before I was diagnosed too.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"dailyrecord\">&#8220;I was a busy dad and always on the go. I was working full time and I kept hoping my <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailyrecord.co.uk\/all-about\/cancer\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"symptoms Link opens in a new tab.\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">symptoms <\/a>would just disappear. But it was Stacey who said, \u2018this isn\u2019t right. You need to go back to the GP.\u2019<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"dailyrecord\">&#8220;When doctors discovered I had <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailyrecord.co.uk\/all-about\/cancer\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"cancerLink opens in a new tab.\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">cancer<\/a>, I ended up in hospital on a drip for ten days. They couldn\u2019t believe I\u2019d actually kept going for as long as I did. Right from the start I decided to remain positive and take on each challenge the disease threw at me. And I knew I had Stacey and a wonderful family behind me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"dailyrecord\">Sharing the <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailyrecord.co.uk\/all-about\/cancer\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"cancer Link opens in a new tab.\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">cancer <\/a>news with his children, Keira, 16, and Ollie, 10, was tough.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1758380410_776_0_WACOMMUNITYQR3.jpg\" alt=\"\"  \/>Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">You&#8217;ll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">All you have to do is <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/chat.whatsapp.com\/BZamc48XMaoEqKkIN7GWxV\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">click here if you&#8217;re on mobile<\/a>, select &#8216;Join Community&#8217; and you&#8217;re in!<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">If you&#8217;re on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click &#8216;Join Community&#8217;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don\u2019t like our community, you can check out any time you like.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose &#8216;exit group&#8217;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">If you\u2019re curious, you can read our <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailyrecord.co.uk\/privacy-notice\/\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Privacy Notice.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"dailyrecord\">Ian, who works for the Scottish Ambulance Service (<a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailyrecord.co.uk\/in-your-area\/lanarkshire\/nhs-strengthened-62-per-cent-35846593\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"SASLink opens in a new tab.\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">SAS<\/a>), said: \u201cI am proud of both our children and how they coped with the news. It was just months before Keira sat her national five exams at school. I worried about what kind of stress news about cancer would put her under. I didn\u2019t want to upset the kids.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"dailyrecord\">&#8220;And I was used to being always out and about at work. Instead those first few days felt long in a hospital room.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"dailyrecord\">Ian lost his hair to the side effects of chemotherapy shortly after he began <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailyrecord.co.uk\/lifestyle\/blood-cancer-red-flags-you-34083129\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"treatmentLink opens in a new tab.\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">treatment<\/a>. But with more time at home than usual, he was able to attend most of his son\u2019s football games with St Convals in Linwood and drive his daughter Keira to dance classes.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/0_Ian-and-Stacey-Miltons-wedding-day-in-May-2022-pictured-with-their-children-Ollie-and-Keira.jpg\" alt=\"Ian and Stacey with their children on their wedding day\" loading=\"lazy\"  \/>Ian and Stacey with their children on their wedding day(Image: Cancer Research UK)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"dailyrecord\">He had his final <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailyrecord.co.uk\/lifestyle\/blood-cancer-red-flags-you-34083129\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"chemotherapy Link opens in a new tab.\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">chemotherapy <\/a>session in July this year. He continues to receive regular check ups but latest scans show no evidence of disease.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"dailyrecord\">Ian said: \u201cWhen I was first <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailyrecord.co.uk\/lifestyle\/blood-cancer-red-flags-you-34083129\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"diagnosedLink opens in a new tab.\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">diagnosed<\/a> I didn\u2019t know what the outcome was going to be so I was determined to spend as much time with the children as I could.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"dailyrecord\">\u201cBut after the second cycle of <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailyrecord.co.uk\/lifestyle\/blood-cancer-red-flags-you-34083129\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"chemotherapy Link opens in a new tab.\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">chemotherapy <\/a>I was told the cancer was shrinking so I knew the treatment was working. And after round four it was a relief when I learnt that it was looking very good.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"dailyrecord\">\u201cThe nurses understood that there were important things like my son\u2019s tenth birthday party that I didn\u2019t want to miss. I can\u2019t fault the <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailyrecord.co.uk\/lifestyle\/blood-cancer-red-flags-you-34083129\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"NHSLink opens in a new tab.\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">NHS<\/a>. They\u2019ve been brilliant.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"dailyrecord\">Now, to mark the end of his cancer <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailyrecord.co.uk\/lifestyle\/blood-cancer-red-flags-you-34083129\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"treatmentLink opens in a new tab.\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">treatment<\/a>, Ian will be the guest of honour at Cancer Research UK\u2019s Shine Night Walk in Edinburgh. It will be an emotional moment as he sounds the horn on the start line at The Mound on Saturday September 27 to send more than 1,000 Scots on the 10k.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/0_Ian-Milton-will-be-guest-of-honour-at-Shine-Night-Walk-after-cancer.jpg\" alt=\"-\" loading=\"lazy\"  \/>(Image: Cancer Research UK)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"dailyrecord\">Money raised will help scientists find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailyrecord.co.uk\/lifestyle\/blood-cancer-red-flags-you-34083129\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"cancers Link opens in a new tab.\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">cancers <\/a>&#8211; moving closer to a world where everyone can live longer, better lives.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"dailyrecord\">Cancer Research UK spokeswoman for Scotland, Lisa Adams, said: \u201cOur scientists have helped to double cancer <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailyrecord.co.uk\/lifestyle\/blood-cancer-red-flags-you-34083129\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"survival Link opens in a new tab.\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">survival <\/a>in the UK in the last 50 years.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"dailyrecord\">&#8220;We\u2019ve led the development of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, paved the way for targeted treatments and improved the way we use surgery to tackle cancer. But, with nearly 1 in 2 people set to be diagnosed with the disease in their lifetime, we can\u2019t stop there. So, we\u2019re grateful to Ian for helping to raise vital awareness.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"dailyrecord\">\u201cOur vision is a world where everybody lives longer, better lives free from the fear of <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailyrecord.co.uk\/lifestyle\/blood-cancer-red-flags-you-34083129\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"cancer Link opens in a new tab.\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">cancer <\/a>and money raised through events like Shine Night Walk is critical to making this a reality. Whether people walk for loved ones, for future generations or with friends old and new, they\u2019ll be helping to power more progress \u2013 September 27 is Edinburgh\u2019s moment to shine.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Ian Milton, from Paisley, became unwell before Christmas last year, dismissing his symptoms as a severe cold or&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":156886,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[847,59,102,3776,56,54,55],"class_list":{"0":"post-156885","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-health","8":"tag-cancer","9":"tag-gb","10":"tag-health","11":"tag-paisley","12":"tag-uk","13":"tag-united-kingdom","14":"tag-unitedkingdom"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/156885","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=156885"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/156885\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/156886"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=156885"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=156885"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=156885"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}