Dad complained of having itchy skin - and was later given just months to live

17 December 2023 , 23:00

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Yasir Masood received the life-shattering bile duct cancer diagnosis in January

A young dad who was given just months to live after being diagnosed with a rare cancer is now hoping to find an alternative treatment that could save his life.

Yasir Masood, 42, visited his GP with itchy skin on his lower body in January and was diagnosed with bile duct cancer. Medically known as cholangiocarcinoma, the cancer is more common in people over the age of 65.

The former online businessman, who is no longer able to work, lives in the Shawlands area of Glasgow, Scotland, with wife Yasmine Chaudhry and their daughters Nawaal, six, and 15-year-old Zoya. People with bile duct cancer may not show any symptoms as it can be a hard disease to spot. Symptoms could include itchy skin, loss of appetite, feeling tired and jaundice.

Yasir and Yasmine with their children

Yasir's 42-year-old wife told Glasgow Live: "We are devastated. He is a healthy guy who doesn’t drink or smoke. He eats well and looks after his body. I have multiple illnesses, I have been ill since I was born and am in and out of hospital all the time. Seeing that and then thinking how does somebody like him get such horrible cancer?

"Our lives have completely changed. My children are used to seeing me not being well but now they have two parents who aren't well, it’s very hard for them. He is up and down physically but mentally he is strong, but has his down days."

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Initially, Yasir was told that the cancer could be cured by an operation - which he had in March - however when surgeons carried out the procedure they discovered that the cancer had spread locally. His oncologist at the Beatson offered chemotherapy treatment but told the family that it only works for 10 to 15 per cent of bile duct cancer patients.

Yasmine added: "She said it's a possibility that because it’s rare, the chemotherapy treatment will make him weaker but might also take his life. She said we can try it and have a three-month extension of life or go for quality of life.

"We went for a better quality of life for him and he is now in palliative care." Though Yasir will inevitably die from the disease, there's hope that the doting dad could live for longer through Dendritic Cell Therapy - which consists of vaccines that work to generate tumour-specific immunity in patients with advanced cancer.

The family is devastated following the diagnosis

This treatment would be done at a clinic in London, with his first appointment booked for January 16 - but it comes at a huge cost. Yasir needs at least £30,000 to fund the treatment. His family has already raised £10,000 and has now launched a GoFundMe to help bring in more funds. The page currently sits at over £10,750.

Yasir, who was advised about this treatment by a specialist consultant in Pakistan, will be flying back from South Asia to London in time for his appointment in the New Year. Yasmine said: "We looked at the cost but his life is worth so much more. I already raised £10,000 myself and people are donating.

"He will have his blood drawn and after day 21 it will be put back into him once they have done the dendritic cell therapy on the blood. It will give him a fighting chance. This treatment is not curative. It will prolong his life with a good quality of life. It will give him more time to create memories with our daughters and family who mean the world to him.

"As a couple, we have decided that we are not going to be miserable about this because we have to be positive. We are trying to keep everything as normal as possible. Thank you to everyone who has donated and shared the page, without you this is not possible." Support the fundraising appeal for Yasir here.

Fahad Tariq