‘Unusually tired’ grandpa diagnosed with deadly blood cancer

By Ben Barry

A grandad-of-two was diagnosed with a life-threatening blood cancer after feeling "unusually tired."

Harish Nersian, 73, went to see his local GP for blood tests after struggling with fatigue.

But after months of tests, his GP couldn't work out what the problem was but ruled out cancer.

Still concerned, Harish went to see a haematologist - a doctor specializing in diseases of the blood - who ran blood tests and a bone marrow biopsy in August 2025.

The results came back, and the doctor confirmed that Harish has high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) - a rare form of blood cancer - and his only chance for recovery is a stem cell transplant.

But due to his Indian heritage, it will be more difficult for Harish to find a donor, according to blood cancer charity DCMS, so his daughter, Sunny Andrea, 42, is leading an urgent campaign to find her dad a donor.

Sunny, from Northampton, said: "To be told the news that your dad has cancer, my world came crashing down.

“It’s devastating. My dad is my best friend – he is the kindest man with the heart of gold who always seems to have time for everybody else and simply adores his family and his grandkids.

"One day, we were planning family dinners, trips, retirement, and the next, we were handed a leaflet and told to process the fact that he has cancer.”

After starting to feel "unusually tired" in early 2025, Harish went to his GP, who couldn't work out what was causing it.

Multiple blood tests later, doctors still weren't sure what was causing his tiredness.

Sunny said: "He was feeling very tired, he went for regular blood tests anyway, but doctors couldn't figure out the problem.

"The blood tests were coming back with a few abnormalities, but doctors couldn't work out what they were."

Not feeling any better, Harish went to see a haematologist who ran further blood tests and a bone marrow biopsy in August 2025.

The results confirmed that Harish has high-risk MDS.

Harish's son-in-law, Peter Andre, said: "Harri is a wonderful man, and I wholeheartedly support the campaign with DKMS to encourage more people to join the stem cell donor register.

"With only 7 per cent of eligible people in the UK signed up, increasing these numbers could improve Harri’s chances of finding a match, and give many others the lifesaving opportunity of successful treatment."

Harish’s only chance for recovery is a stem cell transplant, but his Indian heritage means it will be more difficult for him to find a donor.

Stem cells are the building blocks which allow the body to regenerate and heal. For many patients with blood cancer like Harish, a stem cell transplant from a matching donor could be their only opportunity for recovery.

However, only one in three patients will find a match in their family. Most patients will rely on finding a match from a complete stranger who has signed up to the stem cell donor register, but just 7% of the eligible population in the UK are signed up.

Sunny said: “It’s hard to feel so helpless.

“I’d do anything for him. I’m being tested as a potential donor, but the odds I’ll be eligible are not very high.

"My nine-year-old son has been asking if he can be the donor; he just loves his grandad so much, which has been breaking my heart.

"The hardest part is knowing medicine isn’t enough. He needs one matching stranger to say yes.”

Harish’s family is now working with blood cancer charity DKMS to encourage more people to register as potential stem cell donors, and they are hoping to find a match for him or other patients like him who need a stem cell transplant.

They are particularly encouraging people of South Asian heritage to join the stem cell donor register, but anyone aged 17-55 and in general good health can sign up.

DKMS spokesperson, Bronagh Hughes, says, “For Harish and patients like him, a total stranger joining the register could give them their lives back.

"The process is very simple; it’s so easy to give someone a second chance. Joining the register only requires a quick health questionnaire and a few simple and painless mouth swabs.

"It takes ten minutes of your time, but you could be the match that someone is waiting for. If you are matched to a patient and called up to donate, DKMS will be there to support you through the whole journey.”