'I've got young kids – I need to beat this'

Zack Van Aarde from Bantham has been diagnosed with oesophageal cancer

A man with stage four oesophageal cancer has been speaking about the shock of his diagnosis, and the importance of remaining positive.

Zack Van Aarde, 42, from Bantham in Devon doesn't fit the mould of people usually diagnosed with oesophageal cancer, which is commonly associated with smoking and obesity according to the NHS.

"It's a bit mind-boggling" he said, "because I've got stage four cancer, but I feel so fit and healthy, so it came as a massive shock".

According to the NHS about 40% of patients with this kind of cancer are aged over 75, with 35% of cases caused by smoking.

Zack first thought he had acid reflux, before he collapsed after vomiting blood in July.

Mr Van Arde initially thought he had acid reflux: "I went to the doctor multiple times, got given tablets, and being South African you know, we just always power through, where I should have been on the doctor a few more times."

The IT consultant and father of two said aside from the discomfort, he felt physically fine until he vomited blood one morning in July.

He said: "I tried to hide the blood from my kids.. my wife had to call the ambulance, and yeah that's where we got told – we got told at Derriford that I had cancer".

He is one of a growing number of people under 50 being diagnosed with cancer.

Cancer Research UK said the evidence suggests more younger adults are getting cancer than ever before.

"Speaking to friends the same age as me, it's like, crikey, this can happen" he said.

"Unfortunately, it happens to people like us, or 42-year-olds like me".

Mr Van Arde is having intense chemotherapy, along with a form of immunotherapy not available on the NHS

Mr Van Arde is currently unable to work as he undergoes intense chemotherapy and is using a form of immunotherapy not available on the NHS - the cost of which he is fundraising to cover.

He has also changed his diet to eliminate processed food and now sea swims without a wetsuit, believing the cold is beneficial.

"It's in your power to say, 'I'm going to change my diet, I'm not going to have a drink, I'm going to go for my runs, I'm going to carry on exercising', so do all of that. And be positive".

Zack said he will beat this for his two young children who rely on him.

"Stage four is stage four, it's quite advanced… but it's just doing everything I can possibly do.

"I've got two young kids who rely on me, a wife, I want to do it for them as well, to beat this as quickly as possible."

Mr Van Arde said the support he's had from his family and the community where he lives in Bantham has been amazing

Mr Van Arde and his family have booked a trip home to South Africa in January to see his parents and relatives.

He said it's his support network that has helped keep him so positive:

"My family, friends and community here in Bantham have been amazing.

"I think just having that positive mindset and saying, well, yeah, I've got it, I'm going to beat it... it's just waking up every day with a purpose.".