'Healthy' dad dies of cancer while wife-to-be also in hospital with disease
A "healthy" dad-of-two died of an aggressive cancer just weeks after his fiancée was admitted to hospital with the disease.
Stacey Chetwyn, 39, was devastated when she was diagnosed with pelvis cancer two years after being in remission. She had previously beaten cervical cancer and was in hospital last October when doctors said the cancer had returned. Just days later she was dealt a double blow when her "fit and healthy" partner Stuart Ashby was told he also had cancer in his oesophagus.
The 47-year-old dumper truck driver underwent tests but the cancer had spread to his liver and spleen and he died three weeks later on October 22. Stacey remained in hospital until she finished her treatment but now faces months of tests to discover if the cancer has gone. Stacey, who works for a multi-academy trust, said: "The last few months have been really hard.
"I'd only been in hospital for two days before Stuart found out he had cancer too. He was always fit and healthy but had been complaining of stomach pain. He had a test and initially doctors thought it was a heart attack. More tests were done and it came back that he had oesophagus cancer."
Stacey Chetwyn and her partner Stuart Ashby with their children (Stacey Chetwyn/SWNS)"We couldn't believe it, we were both being treated for cancer at the same time. Unfortunately Stuart sadly deteriorated extremely fast." After a week in hospital, Stuart was moved to LOROS hospice in Leicester where he passed away. Stacey, who was engaged to Stuart at the time of his death, added: "We tried everything we could but the disease was too strong."
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"There was nothing anyone could do. I have lost the love of my life but for the sake of the kids I get up each day. Without them I don't know where I'd be. So they were the strength through the storm." Stacey previously battled cervical cancer in September 2020, but was treated and told she was in remission in April 2021.
She went back to work but was admitted to hospital on September 10 last year after complaining of pain and mobility problems. While she was in hospital having tests, Stuart was admitted on September 24 after suffering stomach and chest pains. On October 5 he was told he had cancer in his oesophagus, liver and spleen.
Then six days later on October 11, doctors told Stacey she had cancer in her pelvis. An appeal to help Stacey and Stuart's two sons, Niall, ten, and six-year-old Louie, was launched which has so far raised £26,000. Stacey, from Syston, Leicestershire, says she has been "overwhelmed" by people's generosity since Stuart's death.
Stacey Chetwyn in hospital with her partner Stuart Ashby before he fell ill himself (Stacey Chetwyn/SWNS)She added: "Every little bit of help I am forever thankful for, whether it's taking the kids out or helping me in the house or taking the financial strain away, that has helped massively. I can't even put into words how thankful we as a family will ever be for that, especially while we were trying desperately to sort things out."
Stacey will hold a celebration of Stuart's life on March 2 to raise money for the charity which cared for him in his final days. It has been timed to mark what would have been Stuart's 48th leap-year birthday on February 29. Stacey said: "Stu was born on a leap year and in 2024 he has an actual birthday, so this will be his 12th birthday."
"I'm hosting it as a charity event to raise as much money as I can for LOROS for the immense care that they provided for Stu in the short time he was there at the hospice."
Stacey is also encouraging women to get screened for cervical cancer through her Facebook page, called Cerviving: My Journey with the Big C. She said: "For anything that you feel is not right, just go and get it checked, because it might be nothing but it might be something."
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