Man dies days after being told he has cancer - family urges others seek help

01 February 2024 , 17:01

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Gerald Green, 21, from Paisley, initially hid his symptoms from his parents

A young man has died just days after being diagnosed with cancer.

Gerald Green, 21, from Paisley in Renfrewshire, was experiencing back pain in the days leading up to his death. Initially, he thought he simply needed a new bed, but then started vomiting and became more concerned. He had hidden the symptoms from his parents, but his mum Paula immediately rushed him to the Royal Alexandra Hospital on January 19 after learning he'd been coughing up blood.

Medics discovered he was severely anaemic and he was put through for surgery to drain his kidney. While on the operating, he stopped breathing and doctors were forced to put him in an induced coma in the desperate hopes of keeping him alive.

He started experiencing back pain, which he initially thought was caused by his bed

He woke up, but doctors then told the family he had an incurable form of cancer that was spreading rapidly. He was transferred to St Vincent's Hospice for palliative care on January 30. Within hours of arriving, he tragically died. His devastated family is now urging other young people not to ignore serious changes to their bodies.

Gerald's cousin Ailley Colquhoun told the Record: "When my auntie Paula found out Gerald had been hiding the fact he had blood in his sick, she immediately took him to hospital. He was obviously scared when he hid it so we're urging anyone who has any symptoms like his to get checked out immediately, before it's too late There was nothing they could do for Gerald, the cancer was just everywhere. It was in his bones and in his blood. Our whole family were with him when he died. He told us he loved us and he said goodbye. Those were his last words. He passed away a few hours later."

Baby boy has spent his life in hospital as doctors are 'scared' to discharge him

Ailley added: "It was so quick, it's hard to take in that he's actually gone. We're all in shock." As the family come to terms with the loss of Gerald, who was a carer for his dad Gerry following a stroke, a fundraiser has been set up to help them pay for his funeral and give him the "send off he deserves".

Ailley continued: "Gerald was the youngest in the family and he was Paula and Gerry's only son. He was a funny, cheeky lad. He loved his dogs and St Mirren FC. He was always up for a laugh and very easy going. He never took life too seriously. Everyone always says how polite and kind he was. So many people have been paying tribute to him have said he was a great footballer too. He played all through school but had given it up in recent years when he became a carer. He had his whole life ahead of him but he was unaware of what was going on until last week. It's just unbelievably sad."

Gemma Ryder