![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/i-was-a-fit-dad-of-three-now-im-recording-goodbye-messages-for-my-kids.png\")
\n\t\t\u2018I was putting off food because I was anticipating choking before every meal\u2019 (Picture: John Robertson)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\u2018I was putting off food because I was anticipating choking before every meal\u2019 (Picture: John Robertson)<\/p>\n
In February, John Robertson was enjoying the busy life of a dad-of-three.<\/p>\n
Married to his \u2018absolute rock and best friend\u2019, Nicole, the 35-year-old was active \u2014 he had a keen passion for bike riding, and loved paddle boarding trips to the coast with his kids, Jorja, 15, Paris-Cole, 8, and Clay-Ty, 4.<\/p>\n
But, just before Valentine\u2019s Day<\/a>, John began finding it difficult to swallow food.<\/p>\n \u2018It was getting trapped on the way down,\u2019 John, from Ayr, tells Metro. \u2018On many occasions, I had to force the food back out to get rid of the blockage.<\/p>\n \u2018Fast forward a few months and I was getting a severe crushing pain in the centre of my chest that would cause me to have to lay on the floor, and just pray that it would pass.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\tAsk Metro<\/p>\n Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about \u2013 powered by Metro and trusted publications.<\/p>\n \u2018This pain was then joined by a tightening around my ribcage, like someone was pulling a belt tight wrapped around me.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t Struggling to eat, John quickly lost weight.<\/p>\n \u2018I was putting off eating food because I was anticipating choking before every meal,\u2019 he explains.<\/p>\n After three months of this, Nicole persuaded her husband to visit his GP.<\/p>\n \u2018My wife pushed me to go, as I kept saying: \u201cIt will pass\u201d. I went, and when the GP heard about my symptoms and weight loss, they fast-tracked me for an endoscopy.\u2019<\/p>\n During the procedure, doctors discovered a bleeding tumour, blocking around 75% of his oesophagus.<\/p>\n After scans and a biopsy, on June 24, John and Nicole were given the shocking news that John had stage 4 oesophageal adenocarcinoma.<\/p>\n The cancer<\/a> had already spread to multiple parts of his body, including his liver.<\/p>\n \t\t \u2018My wife was screaming and in complete denial,\u2019 says John. \u2018She took it extremely hard. I was trying to stay as calm and collected as I could because I knew I had to take in the information.\u2019<\/p>\n Speaking of that moment, Nicole tells Metro: \u2018The noises that were coming out of me weren\u2019t normal. I actually lied on the hospital floor because I felt like I couldn\u2019t move.\u2019<\/p>\n Doctors explained that the disease was terminal and estimated he could have as little as nine months to live.<\/p>\n They also told John it was unlikely the cancer could have been detected any earlier as his symptoms appeared late. They believe he may have been living with the tumour for years.<\/p>\n \t\t \u2018My world fell apart,\u2019 says John. \u2018I have always worked in manual labour roles, kept very fit and healthy and active with the kids. <\/p>\n \u2018My body just keeps deteriorating. To be told I could only have nine months left to live, it didn\u2019t make sense.\u2019<\/p>\n Doctors explained chemotherapy could help control the cancer, but not cure it. He has yet to start chemotherapy, as he is awaiting further tests.<\/p>\n But John refuses to accept palliative chemotherapy care as his only option.<\/p>\n \u2018We\u2019ve never accepted that\u2019s just it,\u2019 he says. \u2018We refused to accept that was all they could offer.<\/p>\n \u2018I\u2019ve got far too much to lose and far too much to fight for.<\/p>\n \u2018My wife and I decided we couldn\u2019t just sit on our hands and wait.\u2019<\/p>\n The family have since sought second opinions from specialists in London<\/a>, Dublin<\/a> and Germany<\/a>.<\/p>\n A clinic in Germany outlined an alternative treatment plan with targeted treatments, but John needs to wait for further tests before pressing forward.<\/p>\n He\u2019s also in talks with another surgeon in Dublin about clinical trials, and Nicole spends about eight hours each day ringing up clinics and hospitals and researching treatment options, diets and therapies.<\/p>\n Nicole adds: \u2018The cancer world is a world I wish never existed. When you step into it, it\u2019s like living a completely different life. <\/p>\n \u2018It\u2019s like being a hamster on a wheel, pulling at every possible thing you can think of to try and keep the person you love here.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t Now, the future John had always imagined feels uncertain, but he is determined to stay positive for his family, who are his \u2018motivation\u2019 during this time.<\/p>\n More than anything, John fears missing the milestones in his children\u2019s lives as they grow up.<\/p>\n \u2018My kids do not deserve to lose their dad at such young ages. I have two daughters and a son to watch grow up and help them up when they fall and help guide them through this life.<\/p>\n \u2018To know that I may not be here to walk my daughters down the aisle, to watch my son grow into the gentleman he is already becoming, is not fair.<\/p>\n \u2018My son will ask if I\u2019ll still be his best friend when he\u2019s older,\u2019 John describes. \u2018Those conversations are incredibly emotional.\u2019<\/p>\n \u2018My wife and I have a life we are supposed to be living together, and that is being stolen from me.\u2019<\/p>\n Nicole says that while the kids are determined to be strong, it has been incredibly hard for them.<\/p>\n \t\t Nicole says: \u2018When Paris-Cole found out, she said, \u201cMum, please don\u2019t tell my brother. I can\u2019t have him feeling the way I feel.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018She asks if her dad is going to be there for her ninth birthday or when she starts high school<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2018She\u2019s so strong during the day, but at nighttime when everything goes quiet, that\u2019s when it all comes out.<\/p>\n \u2018We\u2019re trying to give them a normal summer<\/a>,\u2019 Nicole says.<\/p>\n The disease has already dramatically affected John\u2019s daily life. Unable to swallow solid food, he now survives on an almost entirely liquid diet.<\/p>\n Despite the devastating prognosis, John remains determined to fight for every possible opportunity.<\/p>\n Many of the treatments he hopes to access are not currently available through the NHS, meaning his family faces high costs for private medical care, travel and accommodation if he is offered a place. As such, they have set up a GoFundMe<\/a>.<\/p>\n Any funds raised will help secure passports so treatment abroad can be accessed without delay, cover private medical treatments and clinical trials, pay for flights and accommodation, ease the financial pressure on his family, and give them the chance to create precious memories together.<\/p>\n Unable to know what the future holds, John remains focused on one goal: doing everything possible to spend more time with his family.<\/p>\n \t\t \u2018I have all the reasons in the world to fight,\u2019 he says. <\/p>\n \u2018We\u2019re trying to cram a lifetime of experiences into a few months,\u2019 he explains, and the family have been visiting the beach and going on days out where they can. <\/p>\n \u2018I\u2019m writing cards and recording video messages for my family to cover birthdays and other celebrations.<\/p>\n \u2018I want them to know I will still be there with them through every milestone.<\/p>\n \u2018As long as there\u2019s another option to explore, that\u2019s exactly what I\u2019m going to do.\u2019 <\/p>\n Alongside raising money for treatment, John and Nicole are passionate about raising awareness of symptoms of oesophageal cancer, which is usually only caught after stage three, due to its often undectable symptoms for years. <\/p>\n \u2018When my symptoms started, they told me I may have already had it for years.<\/p>\n \u2018If you\u2019ve got any symptoms or any doubts, get them checked,\u2019 John urges.<\/p>\n To donate towards John\u2019s treatment, visit his GoFundMe page here.<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\tWhat is Oesophageal Adenocarcinoma?\t\t\t<\/p>\n Oesophageal adenocarcinoma is a subtype of oesophageal cancer. Adenocarcinoma begins in the cells of the glands in the oesophagus. These glands produce mucus. Adenocarcinoma happens most often in the lower part of the oesophagus. Oesophageal cancer is the sixth most common cause<\/a> of cancer-associated death worldwide, accounting for an estimated 1 in every 20 cancer deaths.<\/p>\n Symptoms to look out for:<\/a><\/p>\n difficulty swallowing Do you have a story you\u2019d like to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SEI_305280395-11c4-e1784107340617.jpg\")
\n\t\tDoctors explained that the disease was terminal (Picture: John Robertson)<\/p>\n![\"I](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SEI_305096110-8a7f-e1784186501438.jpg\")
\n\t\tJohn has three children who he says are his motivation (Picture: John Robertson)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SEI_305269887-f502-e1784098675970.jpg\")
\n\t\tJohn and his wife Nicole (Picture: John Robertson)<\/p>\n![\"I](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SEI_305096252-2eb0-e1784186485501.jpg\")
\n\t\tJohn\u2019s wife Nicole has been raising awareness and seeking treatments (Picture: John Robertson)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SEI_305269890-691a-e1784098661166.jpg\")
\n\t\tNicole has been fundraising and raising awareness (Picture: John Robertson)<\/p>\n![\"I](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SEI_305096251-08a7-e1784186470831.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe children have also gotten involved in fundraising and raising awareness (Picture: John Robertson)<\/p>\n
\nOesophageal cancer is a cancer that\u2019s found anywhere in the oesophagus, sometimes called the gullet or food pipe.
\nStage 4 oesophageal cancer means the tumour has spread from the oesophagus to distant lymph nodes or other organs (such as the liver, lungs, or bones).<\/p>\n
\nfeeling or being sick
\nheartburn or acid reflux
\nindigestion
\na persistent cough
\nloss of appetite or weight
\nlow energy
\nthroat or chest pain
\nblack poo or coughing up blood<\/p>\n
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