The family of James Bainbridge, a 35-year-old forklift driver from Middlesbrough, is urging individuals experiencing persistent symptoms to advocate for thorough medical investigations after his advanced stomach cancer was initially misdiagnosed.
Bainbridge began experiencing severe heartburn and a significant unintentional weight loss of six weeks early this year. His initial consultation with a general practitioner in February led to the assumption that his symptoms were due to a hernia. A hiatus hernia, a type where the stomach moves into the chest, can cause symptoms like heartburn, bad breath, bloating, and difficulty swallowing. However, after two months without improvement, Bainbridge sought a second opinion, prompting further medical examinations.
In April, a PET scan revealed linitis plastica, a rare and aggressive form of stomach cancer often referred to as 'leather bottle stomach.' This condition affects the stomach wall, causing it to become rigid and unable to stretch. By the time of diagnosis, the cancer had already metastasized throughout his body.
His twin brother, Tom Bainbridge, recounted the devastating phone call: "He just rang me and said Tom, I've got cancer and it's everywhere." He added, "I think that phone call will haunt me for the rest of my life."
James Bainbridge is currently undergoing intensive chemotherapy and immunotherapy in an effort to reduce the cancer's spread. He requires a feeding tube for nutrition and has faced extended hospital stays due to complications. Tom described his brother as looking "like the pictures you see of soldiers who have been at war. He's just a different person."
Linitis plastica accounts for three to 20 percent of all stomach cancers in the UK and is typically diagnosed at advanced stages. Studies indicate that patients diagnosed with this condition have a survival rate of five to 17 months, with most surviving less than 18 months post-diagnosis. Treatment options, according to Cancer Research UK, include surgery, chemotherapy, or targeted drugs, depending on the cancer's stage.
Amidst his health battle, Bainbridge proposed to his fiancée, Jessica. His brother has established a GoFundMe page to help with living expenses, as Bainbridge's life insurance does not cover critical illness. The fundraiser garnered over £16,000 in its first week.
Tom Bainbridge has issued a strong plea to the public: "If you don't feel right and you know something's not right, keep pushing." He noted the common dismissal of cancer in younger individuals, stating, "They'll say, 'it won't be cancer because of your age,' but it does happen. The average age for that cancer is 70-plus, but it still happened to a 35-year-old."
Bainbridge's case emerges against a backdrop of increasing stomach cancer diagnoses among younger populations in the UK and the US. While cases decline in older demographics, there has been a reported annual two percent increase in diagnoses among individuals under 50 in recent years. Worryingly, half of these younger patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage, significantly reducing survival rates to approximately four percent. Experts suggest potential contributing factors include the increased consumption of ultra-processed foods, a rise in foodborne bacterial infections, and environmental pollution.