A seemingly healthy father of three died from a rare form of blood cancer after his symptoms of persistent tiredness were initially dismissed as a result of long work hours.
David Anthony ‘Tony’ Williams, 62, began complaining of fatigue in the summer of 2025. At the time, his daughter Zara was undergoing treatment for endometriosis, and Tony was working extended hours as head of IT. His family attributed his tiredness to the stress of the period and his demanding work schedule.
After returning from a family holiday, Tony continued to experience fatigue and began taking time off work. His family encouraged him to get a blood test at Croydon University Hospital. Following a blood test and a bone marrow biopsy, Tony was diagnosed on July 18, 2025, with acute myeloid leukemia, an aggressive cancer of the blood and bone marrow.
Tony underwent four months of chemotherapy, which initially appeared effective, with his blood cancer levels dropping significantly. However, a subsequent, more aggressive round of chemotherapy was unsuccessful. During his treatment, Tony developed a lung infection and a collapsed lung. Doctors indicated that if the infection had resolved, he might have been eligible for a clinical trial, but it did not.
He was given an estimated month to live in early November 2025 but passed away just five days later, on November 12, 2025.
His daughter Zara recalled the initial period, stating, "At the time, I just thought, he’s in his 60s now – he’s a bit older; people need to rest." She expressed confusion and anger over the outcome, adding, "There is absolutely nothing my dad could have done that would have prevented this or changed the outcome."
Zara is now supporting the Blood Cancer UK initiative, Trial Treat Beat, which aims to improve survival rates for those diagnosed with aggressive blood cancers. Helen Rowntree, CEO of Blood Cancer UK, stated that the initiative invests in clinical trials to potentially double survival rates for thousands of patients in the UK.