'I thought I had acid reflux - telling my kids diagnosis was hardest thing'

A father who initially believed he was suffering from acid reflux discovered his symptoms were actually due to oesophagus cancer after he began "vomiting blood". Zack Van Aarde, 41, sought medical advice and started medication for acid reflux after experiencing heartburn and indigestion in early 2024.

However, in July 2025, Zack's wife, Jess, 42, found him collapsed on the stairs and vomiting blood. The father-of-two was immediately rushed to Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, where doctors initially suspected a stomach ulcer.

Following an endoscopy – a procedure involving a camera down the throat – Zack was diagnosed with stage four oesophagus cancer. He commenced chemotherapy and will continue receiving treatment every fortnight, with regular scans and blood tests to monitor if the 6cm tumour has shrunk and whether he is suitable for surgery.

The couple are now fundraising to financially support their family – including their two children Joshua, 10, and Hannah, eight – while Zack is unable to work. The funds are also being used for "additional therapies" not available on the NHS to complement his chemotherapy, such as Hyperbaric oxygen chamber therapy - which increases the delivery of oxygen to the body - which Zack hopes will "rejuvenate" his cells more quickly. Doctors strongly advise that cancer patients should consult with medical experts before seeking alternative therapies.

Zack, an account executive at a cyber security firm from Bantham, south Devon, said: "It's been a rollercoaster. I always kept myself fit and healthy as a young dad. It came as a massive shock, but we're doing everything we can to give myself the best chance."

Always considering himself as "active", Zack regularly participated in ultramarathons when he began experiencing gastric issues at the start of 2024. Despite taking medication prescribed by his GP, the symptoms persisted and things "took a turn" in July 2025.

Jess, a holiday consultant, said: "I woke up at 5am and heard heavy breathing and someone collapse. I raced out and saw Zack on the floor and he'd been vomiting blood.

"We didn't want to scare the kids, so quickly got him in the room and called an ambulance. He'd lost so much blood he was struggling to stand or sit up."

Paramedics rushed Zack to hospital, where doctors conducted tests and the following day, they delivered the devastating news that Zack had cancer.

Jess said: "It was a huge shock. It was so surreal - it was like a film. You just can't believe this is happening."

Doctors initially planned to operate on the tumour, but decided to commence chemotherapy first with the hope of shrinking it. Zack is currently undergoing chemotherapy sessions every two weeks to combat the cancer, as well as having weekly blood tests and scans to monitor the progression.

Zack said: "It's the hardest thing as a parent, telling your kids you've got cancer. But they're very resilient and they're handled it amazingly."

The couple are currently raising funds for additional treatments not provided by the NHS, and Zack is maintaining his running regime throughout his treatment, pledging to run "one mile" for every £10 donated on his GoFundMe page.

He added: "Chemotherapy kills all the cells - good and bad ones. To give my cells the best chance of rejuvenating more quickly, we've been researching additional therapies.

"I've undergone hyperbaric oxygen therapy chamber, which increases oxygen to the body, IV drips with intense doses of vitamin C - to boost the immune system - and red light therapy. I'm determined to do whatever I can to give to me the best chance for my family."