Man’s back pain turns out to be advanced pancreatic cancer

By Isobel Williams

A plasterer who thought his back pain was from a pulled muscle or sleeping funny has been diagnosed with cancer - and told he has less than a year to live.

Kris Cooke, 46, spent several months in discomfort before getting medical help - assuming it was just down to the grind of daily life.

However, on January 13 plasterer from Erith, southeast London, was rushed to hospital with shortness of breath and pain in the top right of his back.

X-rays revealed that his left lung had collapsed and he had multiple blood clots around his heart, as well as a lump on his pancreas.

A few days later, he received the devastating news that this lump was advanced pancreatic cancer, and he was referred to palliative care.

His close friend Louise Comiskey, 43, from Dartford, Kent, says that this news came as a total shock to everyone, as Kris was extremely healthy and a vegan.

She said: “He had a slight back pain for the last couple of months but assumed it was a pulled muscle. He figured he pulled it at work or just slept funny because he just got a new mattress.

“Obviously, it was very concerning and upsetting for everybody involved. It is devastating. The cancer is aggressive and quick.

“He is a very kind and beautiful soul. He is such a well-loved, well-liked, fun, easy going, person. He has been so busy with people trying to visit him.

“We are just very shocked. He is vegan, he does yoga, and he has never had a health issue.”

Kris had been trying for a baby with his long-term girlfriend Maria, who is the sister of his late childhood best friend, and the pair were due to get married.

So, on Monday, January 19 they had a wedding ceremony in his hospital room, wanting to tie the knot while they still could.

Sadly, the next day Kris was given the news that the cancer had spread to his liver, and he now only has 6-12 months to live.

His wife Maria, 42, who is a mum-of-three, said: “It was a ridiculous shock. We are trying to cope as well as we can. He went to hospital because he thought he had strained a muscle.

“He was super healthy, he is a vegetarian, he doesn’t eat any processed food. He was really careful about what he eats.

“We wanted to get married anyway, that was the plan. Kris had found a ring. But when we found out the news, we just didn’t know how much time he had. We thought let’s just do it now.

“It was nice. It wasn’t what we wanted, but we are happy that we are married.”

Now, Kris is undergoing chemotherapy to extend his life for as long as they can, but he is extremely tired and on a lot of morphine for the pain.

Louise and some of his other friends have organized a GoFundMe page to help pay for Kris’ funeral and to support his family.

The page has already raised over $5,500, which Louise says is due to him being a “social butterfly” who everyone loves.

She added: “When the doctors said he wasn’t going to survive this he was very upset and almost catatonic at the time. Now he is trying to be positive and extend his life for as long as he can.

“He is a strong man. We just want the world for him. He just wants his partner not to have to worry about money. This is all very sudden. He just wants to look after his family.

“We started a GoFundMe page and within the first three days we got $5,000 which was amazing. He obviously never anticipated having to plan his own funeral.”

Kris’ loved ones are now trying to encourage others to get their aches checked out, stressing that this can happen to anyone.

Maria, who is a full-time carer, said: “He wants builders especially to be more aware. He worked as a builder for years and they are used to having injuries and back pain. They need to stop ignoring it and get checked out.”

Louise added: “It can happen to anybody. If you have an ache, even if you are fit and well, don’t ignore it. Always get checked out.”