Tragedy as dad-of-four, 40, dies just months after he blamed stress for his stomach ache
A DAD passed away months after complaining of stomach pain, which he initially put down to stress.
Kyle Ingram-Baldwin's ordeal began in October last year, when he sought his doctor's advice after suffering from a stomach ache for a couple of weeks.
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The dad-of-four, from Minster, Kent, had suspected his pain was stress related, and expected the diagnosis to be gallstones.
After his pain got worse, the 40-year-old went to A&E.
An ultrasound found bulges on his liver. A CT scan followed, and Kyle was given the devastating diagnosis of bowel cancer.
He said: "I didn't think a lot of it, but I thought I'd better get it checked out.
"The suspicion at the time was gallstones, which obviously it wasn't.
"They told me that I've got cancer that's spread.
"I was like, wow, okay. I didn't expect that, but you know, it is what it is."
Two weeks later he was told he had stage-four bowel cancer - meaning the disease was at an advanced stage and had spread to other parts of his body.
He said: "I was thinking, what's going on here? What have I done wrong?
"I was putting the blame on my own feet and worrying about the future for my wife and kids.
"That's probably the hardest thing - the mental side.
"Don't get me wrong, the physical is not funny either, but it's a mental challenge."
The 40-year-old went through six rounds of chemo and another, more targeted course, but these were not able to get the disease - which spread to his liver - under control.
Kyle spoke about how his cancer battle had impacted his wife and children aged 12, nine, three and one.
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He shared that he did not want his wife to have to cope on her own, saying he was determined to keep fighting.
Kyle said: "It's really hard to put into words, because I love my kids so much. You just worry about their future.
"They've got the best mum in the world, and I genuinely mean that. My wife's incredible."
On June 8 this year, the dad launched a GoFundMe to help pay for alternative treatments as he was "not prepared to give up" - more than £15,000 was raised in a matter of days.
What are the red flag warning signs of bowel cancer?
IT'S the fourth most common cancer in the UK, the second deadliest - yet bowel cancer can be cured, if you catch it early enough.
While screening is one way of ensuring early diagnosis, there are things everyone can do to reduce their risk of the deadly disease.
Being aware of the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer, spotting any changes and checking with your GP can prove a life-saver.
If you notice any of the signs, don't be embarrassed and don't ignore them. Doctors are used to seeing lots of patients with bowel problems.
The five red-flag symptoms of bowel cancer include:
Bleeding from the back passage, or blood in your poo
A change in your normal toilet habits - going more frequently for example
Pain or a lump in your tummy
Extreme tiredness
Losing weight
Tumours in the bowel typically bleed, which can cause a shortage of red blood cells, known as anaemia. It can cause tiredness and sometimes breathlessness.
In some cases bowel cancer can block the bowel, this is known as a bowel obstruction.
Other signs include:
Gripping pains in the abdomen
Feeling bloated
Constipation and being unable to pass wind
Being sick
Feeling like you need to strain - like doing a number two - but after you've been to the loo
While these are all signs to watch out for, experts warn the most serious is noticing blood in your stools.
But, they warn it can prove tricky for doctors to diagnose the disease, because in most cases these symptoms will be a sign of a less serious disease.
The dad said he was "blown away" by the huge sum and that it had given him hope.
But Kyle's wife Becky shared that he tragically passed away on June 16, barely a week after launching the fundraiser.
In an update on the GoFundMe page, she wrote: "Unfortunately, Kyle took a very sudden and unexpected turn and we lost him yesterday.
"He was the most incredible man I have ever met, and I know he would want me to thank everyone for all your sharing and donations.
"I wanted to personally thank each and every one of you who donated to try and help Kyle. I'm so sorry we didn't get to.
"Thank you to loved ones, friends old and new and complete strangers with huge hearts."
'Go get checked'
Becky told donors on June 18 that they would all be receiving a refund.
However, after an "overwhelming" number of messages, she set up a new fundraiser to support the family's young children, with more than £2,000 already donated.
She added: "As we raised such an incredible amount from so many selfless people, I thought maybe (and it feels so weird and uncomfortable) if people wanted to, once they get refunded, they can gift money to our children.
"I don't know if this is the right thing to do, but the amount of messages I've had is just overwhelming.
"If you want to give your donation to charity or just make memories with your families, that's what you should do. It didn't feel right for me to make that decision."
You can donate to the new fundraiser here.
Kyle worked for Automatic Retailing, a wholesale supplier for vending machines, and helped run the Men's Mental Health Support Talking Football project in Minster.
He wanted to encourage others to get checked out urgently if something doesn't feel right.
He added: "I didn't present with any of the conventional symptoms.
"If you think anything's wrong, please press your GP and go get it checked, because I genuinely wouldn't want anyone being in my position."
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