'I was teased for Googling symptoms - then told I wouldn't live to 30'
He was youthful, athletic and in good health, so cancer was the furthest thing from his thoughts. But when Daniel Hettmann started experiencing some peculiar symptoms, he realised something must be seriously amiss.
His GP, however, appeared untroubled, attributed it to inflammation and even mocked him for searching online for his condition. "I had a lump in my neck," Daniel said.
"After a while of observing it, it turned into a chain of lumps, which freaked me out. I went to the doctor, who ordered a couple of exams, but told me I wouldn't have to worry."
Additional tests failed to uncover what was causing the lumps so Daniel, who was residing in Paris at the time, headed to A&E. The hospital referred him to the haematology unit, who instantly recognised his symptoms and diagnosed him with stage two Hodgkin's lymphoma, a form of blood cancer.
It was 2008 and Daniel was merely 22. The diagnosis left him completely devastated - but he had no notion of what lay ahead.
"I had a first round of chemotherapy that lasted for four months and the result was I was in remission," Daniel explains. "But after two months, I found a new lump on the other side of my neck and already had a relapse after not even two months. I was mentally and physically still quite in a weak place."
The doctor, Daniel said, lacked compassion and bluntly informed him that he would need to quit his fashion career, begin intensive chemotherapy and undergo a stem cell transplant.
The prospect of more aggressive treatment left him feeling utterly dejected, and for a period he ignored hospital calls and correspondence, instead pursuing alternative approaches including naturopathy, magnetism, Ayurveda and even starvation.
Eventually, one of his Ayurvedic practitioners advised him to return to the hospital.
"The doctor said: 'I know that you've learned a lot in the past year and a half by trying to explore alternative healing'," Daniel recalls.
"'How do you feel about going back to the hospital, using what innovation and medical science has to provide, and at the same time strengthen your body by using all the alternative methods that you've learned about?' So that's what I did."
Daniel returned to the hospital and fortunately the cancer's spread was limited. The tumour had expanded to apple-size, but remained contained to one area. A year and a half of various chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments ensued.
"At the end of that year and a half, the doctor said that we could continue like that, but I would probably not make it until 30 because my body would not be able to take much more treatment," Daniel explains.
"She said if I'm ready, she would really strongly recommend intensive chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant. So that's what I did in 2012 and it was successful."
In 2017, Daniel relocated to London and it was then that he discovered a fresh lump. Further chemotherapy and a second stem cell transplant followed.
Both stem cell transplants were autologous, meaning his own stem cells were utilised. By 2018 he was able to return to a more normal existence. However, in 2023 he became perpetually unwell.
Blood tests revealed that his immune system was significantly weaker than it ought to be and incapable of protecting Daniel from bacterial or viral infections. In January 2024, medics decided to investigate further.
"In February, they sat me down and basically said, 'Listen, chemotherapy can be great in healing cancer, but unfortunately too much of it can also lead to other types of cancers,'" Daniel adds. "They announced that I had MDS, which is a type of cancer in your bone marrow.
"It means that the toxicity of the past treatments have altered the makeup of my bone marrow and my bone marrow was basically broken. So my bone marrow was no longer able to produce healthy cells, to have a healthy immune system and so forth."
The sole method to cure MDS is a stem cell transplant or bone marrow transplant, though this time from a donor. Medics informed Daniel he didn't need to begin treatment immediately and that he could carry on working through September and October, his busiest months during Fashion Week. But in October, he underwent another biopsy and discovered that the condition had already advanced to leukaemia.
Daniel was rushed to hospital immediately. Initially he received chemotherapy to eliminate the leukaemia and then, in November, he underwent another intensive course of chemo to clear the bone marrow.
In December, he received the stem cell transplant using stem cells from a donor, and fortunately, the procedure was successful. But throughout this period, Daniel had been battling the horrific side effects of chemotherapy.
The treatment left him feeling utterly drained: sick, shattered and frail, with no energy or desire to eat. One of his mates has parents who work as medical researchers, specialising in pain management.
"They kept telling my friends that I should think about using cannabis because it would help me with the side effects of chemotherapy," Daniel explains. "I was very, very anti-drugs back then, so I vehemently refused to do anything. But the side effects were pretty bad: I had a lot of nausea, I lost my appetite and I couldn't really sleep."
Daniel's mates managed to persuade him to try cannabis for medicinal reasons and he was astounded by the transformation he experienced. Suddenly his sickness vanished without needing medication to prevent it.
He was also able to get some rest, and his hunger returned. It also helped Daniel manage the psychological impact of so much treatment and allowed him to escape from the harsh realities of cancer. "Before the medical cannabis, I felt like a truck had run me over," he explains.
"I felt sick, I wanted to throw up, but couldn't because I hadn't eaten anything. I was exhausted but couldn't sleep."
Medical cannabis was available in the UK, so Daniel could access it easily through Wellford Medical Clinics. He has appointments with a doctor to discuss symptoms and treatment and gets the cannabis posted to his house.
Despite its legal status, access through the health service remains at a standstill even for the three conditions the NHS says it will consider prescribing for - epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and the side effects of chemotherapy.
"I usually bake with the medical cannabis because I prefer to ingest it," Daniel explains. "I don't really like to use a vaporiser or smoke it.
"It has been invaluable in helping me cope with the side effects. I know what it is like to not use it and how you feel, so I can really clearly see the difference, and always recommend it to others. Often people are reluctant, but once they actually try, they see what a huge difference it actually makes when you go through cancer treatment."
Daniel, now 39, wants others to be open-minded to the benefits of medical cannabis.
"I actually find it scandalous that it's not widely publicly known to everybody that this is available," he adds. "This is prescribed by professionals, not something you have to buy in the streets not knowing where it comes from.
"I've seen it for myself: I've done it without, and I've done it with, and the difference is huge. I don't understand why people need to suffer unnecessarily with nausea, lack of sleep, lack of appetite and just feeling terrible, when there's actually a solution that is natural and that doesn't really have any side effects, like a lot of the meds do have.
"I think also with cannabis, there's a huge stigma. A lot of people still see it as a gateway drug. I still haven't tried any other drugs in my whole life, even though I'm in the fashion industry, so I think I can vouch for it not being a gateway drug, because I've always stuck to it. I'm not addicted to it. I only use it when I really feel the need to."
Daniel is now on the mend following his stem cell transplant in December and visits the hospital every fortnight for blood tests. His energy levels are gradually improving and he remains optimistic about what lies ahead.
"I'm somebody who always tries to find a reason in everything, maybe just because it makes things easier for me, so I always say that I'm grateful for my journey with all the ups and downs," he adds. "My perspective on life is definitely a different one than what it would be if I hadn't gone through all of that.
"It's not been easy but so far I've had a very rich, amazing, eventful life and I don't regret any of it. There's nothing I can do about it and I always try to make the best out of it, try to stay as positive as I can and move on with it and make sure I get better.
"When it comes to cancer, I would tell people that the mind is a huge component in getting better. It's easier said than done to keep positive, but it is true that the mind is crucial in getting better, so it's also important to surround yourself with the right people and to try to create a positive environment while you're going through something that's definitely not positive."
Daniel hopes to inspire others to always seek medical attention if they spot any unusual symptoms and to demand second opinions if they're unhappy with their first consultation.
"Science is improving, and the earlier we catch cancer, the easier it is to treat," he adds. "The longer you wait, the harder it is for the doctors to do something.
"I would definitely recommend that everybody should get checked on a regular basis. At the end of the day, if you have cancer, the longer you wait, it's just going to get worse."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
STV News
2 hours ago
- STV News
'Extreme' waits at A&E 'unacceptable and dangerous', say emergency doctors
The number of people facing 'extreme long waits' at Scottish A&E departments is 'unacceptable and dangerous', emergency doctors have said. Despite the number of people attending accident and emergency going down, the number of patients waiting 12 hours or more increased in June. According to Public Health Scotland (PHS), more than 13,300 (9.7%) patients in Scotland waited more than eight hours, and 5,354 people waited more than 12 hours (3.9%). Overall, 70.8% of Scots were seen within the four-hour target, compared to 71.8% the month before. These figures are above the 68.4% average for last year. 'Yes, we have been able to move some patients through our departments efficiently, but thousands of others – who are most likely to be the most unwell and with multiple and more complex needs – have been forced to endure longer stays,' said Dr Fiona Hunter, the Royal College of Emergency Medicine's vice president for Scotland. 'A fact that is unacceptable, and dangerous. 'We know that the crisis in A&E is something our communities are deeply worried about. Politicians should respond to those concerns now and address these issues. 'Otherwise, in a few short months, we will be staring down the barrel of another awful winter where patient safety will again be put at risk.' According to PHS, the proportion of people waiting at A&E for more than eight hours or more than 12 hours has increased since May. Scottish Labour health spokesperson Jackie Baillie agreed that 'lives are being put at risk by the constant crisis in A&E'. 'Patients are suffering dangerously long waits for urgent care and staff are exhausted from trying to paper over the cracks of SNP failure,' she said. Health secretary Neil Gray said Scotland's core A&E departments have consistently been the best-performing in the UK over the past decade. 'We are determined to drive improvements and remain in close contact with health boards to ensure they have the support they need to deal with the sustained pressure we are seeing,' he said. 'We are investing £200m to reduce waiting times, improve hospital flow, and minimise delayed discharges. Building on success already seen last year, we expect the additional funding committed to result in more than 300,000 appointments and procedures this year. 'To help relieve pressure on teams we will deliver direct access to specialist Frailty teams in every Emergency Department by summer 2025 and expand Hospital at Home to at least 2,000 beds by the end of 2026. These are just some of the measures we are undertaking to shift the balance of care from acute to community.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
'I cracked my tooth and it nearly cost me my life'
Graham Bell was preparing for a Welsh getaway with his wife when he was rushed to hospital after complaining of pains - but doctors later made a grim discovery A dad-of-two's cracked tooth nearly cost him his life after doctors made a chilling discovery. Graham Bell and wife Sue were getting ready for a trip to Wales when Graham started experiencing a severe headache. Sue also spotted that one side of Graham's face had begun to droop. The pair rushed to hospital in mid-March, where medics ruled out a stroke – but scans later showed a 3cm brain abscess. Graham recalled: "It was a lot of information to take in a short time. I had the family around me, but I think we were all in a bit of shock. I was not well, so finding out what was going on quickly was key for all of us." Following the scans, Graham was sent to the Walton Centre in Fazakerley, Merseyside. Sue explained that when she realised the ambulance had taken her there, she "knew it was serious". She added: "Graham was prepped for surgery right away. The team was so professional, but it was obvious that speed was of the essence." Several days after his first A&E visit, Graham underwent emergency surgery to drain the abscess. This provided temporary relief, but within days his health started to deteriorate – sepsis had taken hold, reports the Liverpool Echo. He had to be rushed back into surgery to drain the abscess again. "They gave me high doses of antibiotics to help tackle the infection," Graham recalled. "My clinical team worked to understand what was going on and found that the infection had actually come from an infection in a cracked tooth I had." Graham had no inkling of the serious damage that a seemingly harmless crack in his tooth would bring. Although it's uncommon, dental infections can escalate and lead to brain abscesses. "It was bizarre because I had no pain or swelling in my mouth to tell me there was something wrong," he said. Following this second procedure, Graham spent six weeks in hospital receiving continuous, comprehensive care from a multidisciplinary team. The treatment significantly reduced the abscess, but he was left with cognitive difficulties due to scar tissue. Last month, Graham underwent another assessment of his condition, which Sue described as "encouraging". She continued: "He still has issues with communicating and moving around, but we're following the therapy and on our way to getting back to as close to normal as possible." Sue said the couple where "incredibly grateful" for the Walton Centre for being there at Graham's hour of need. "The hospital saved his life. For that there is nothing we can do to thank them enough," she said. "But as a family we can raise some money and give something back to support the outstanding care they give to patients every day." Graham's children Rob and Aimee, along with friends, completed a sponsored 50k walk for the Walton Centre around the Wirral on June 21. At time of writing, they smashed their original fundraising target of £2,500 by more than £700. They collected £3,203 and continue to welcome donations – click here to make a contribution.
Daily Mirror
10 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
'I thought I had the flu, but weeks later I was fighting aggressive cancer'
Andrew Williams, 50, thought he'd caught flu after he began feeling a little run down - but was soon diagnosed with a fast developing and aggressive form of cancer A dad who thought he just had the flu was stunned to be diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer - and is now due to undergo medical treatment after an "incredible" discovery. Andrew Williams, 50, from Higher Bebington, began feeling run down early last year and was prescribed antibiotics for what doctors believed might be pneumonia. "I felt absolutely fine," he recalled, but in February 2024, while supporting his 17-year-old son Nathan at a motorsport championship in Lincolnshire, Andrew was hit with severe chest pains and rushed to A&E. It was then that he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) - a fast developing blood cancer that requires urgent treatment. Symptoms of AML can be vague - including breathlessness, fatigue and trouble shaking off colds - and are often mistaken for minor illnesses, Liverpool Echo reports. According to Cancer Research UK, treatment must start swiftly because of how quickly the cancer can progress. It comes after the NHS warned of a mouth symptom that could be a life-shortening disease. Mum left 16 month old home alone to die when she went on holiday Andrew underwent immediate treatment and was given the all-clear in October 2024. For the next nine months, things were looking up. He was back at home, spending time with family, and cautiously optimistic. "It was always at the back of my mind," he admitted. "You start getting a sniffle and think, I hope it's not returning. But I was fully aware that the longer you go on, the less chance there is of a relapse." But on April 20 this year, after a routine test at Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, Andrew was dealt another blow. The leukaemia had returned, despite him showing no symptoms. In a surprising turn, doctors made what Andrew has described as an "incredible" discovery that's opened the door to further treatment. While the details haven't yet been made public, the news has offered a glimmer of hope at a critical time. Andrew was placed on the stem cell register with the support of blood cancer charity DKMS. Having a transplant means destroying as many leukaemia cells as possible and replacing these with healthy stem cells. But only a third of patients will find a stem cell donor within their family and none of the Williamses are a match, so Andy was left hoping for a stranger who was among the 43 million on the register to give him a second chance. He said: "When you hear that there's 40 million people on the register, you think, I'm pretty normal, there must be hundreds of donors but there wasn't." At the end of May, a match was luckily found for Andrew. "Out of 40 million people worldwide, there is one match for me and it's a 48 year-old lady living in Germany. It's incredible really. I've had one round of chemotherapy and have been given the all clear. I'm in the process of another round of it, but without the stem cell transplant there's a 90% chance that it would return." Andrew, who is scheduled to have the transplant next month, is calling on others to register as stem cell donors. He said: "It's quite heartbreaking to see people who don't have a donor match. It really pulls at the heart strings. It's so fortunate that DKMS has found a match for me." On August 10, the family will also be working with DKMS to hold a stem cell donor drive event at Convoy in the Park, in Donington Park, Derby. Nathan will be racing in the next stage of the OT Coupe series, and DKMS will be taking cheek swabs to add people to the stem cell donor register - including Nathan himself, as he is now old enough to sign up. Andrew, who is currently in hospital for a second round of chemotherapy, said: "Hopefully I'll be able to go home for a few weeks soon."
