Man diagnosed with stomach cancer aged 31 shares first symptom he noticed

Harry Large's dad died of stomach cancer aged 46 and he's now facing up to his own diagnosis, which will have huge impact on his life.

A young man has opened up about the prospect of losing his stomach after being diagnosed with cancer aged just 31.

Nottingham native Harry Large was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma – a cancer that has grown in the lining of the fundus, which sits at the top of the stomach – on 9 June this year.

The hospital cleaner is documenting his journey on his TikTok and YouTube channels in a bid to spread awareness, and underwent keyhole surgery on Thursday (25 June) which revealed that the cancer has not spread, which came as a 'massive relief.'

However, there is still a 'long road' to recovery. The cleaner – who works in the NHS hospital where he is receiving treatment – will now undergo chemotherapy and then have his stomach removed.

Harry has spoken to LADbible about the first signs he knew something wasn't quite right and his upcoming operation, which will have a huge bearing on the rest of his life.

Harry told LADbible he had been feeling tired for a couple of years, with doctors saying he had 'chronic fatigue', but things started to get worryingly worse at the start of 2026.

"It really ramped up since January. I would come to work, go home, and I'd be in bed all day," he recalls.

"If you're like coming home and going straight to bed, something is definitely wrong."

Then other issues began to impact Harry, an avid traveller who enjoys reviewing motorway hotels with his fiancé, Jessica.

"I noticed my eczema had flared up a lot, and it was unusual for that to happen, but even the creams weren't working," he says.

"After that, a few weeks later, I would eat, and then, after five bites, I'd be full. I knew something was definitely wrong.

"That's when I went to the doctors. The other things you kind of put off as 'might be something else', but I could feel it in myself. Something's wrong. Something's not right here.

"But fatigue was my first one, definitely."

Despite all his growing ailments and symptoms, it was actually a key piece of family medical history that put Harry on the fast track for treatment.

Harry's father died from stomach cancer in 2015 and, though he was 'estranged' from his father, that knowledge has hopefully meant he has caught the cancer early.

"The GP I went to was really good, actually, because my dad passed away from stomach cancer when he was 46," he says.

"So when I mentioned these symptoms to my GP, they put me on the two-week cancer pathway.

"If it wasn't for her, then I'd still be waiting."

Harry was joined by Jessica when he received the positive cancer results, but had to telephone his mother, Helen, who lives in Wales, and his brothers to inform them of the bad news.

"Jessica was with me, so she knew straight away, but then I just had to tell my mum first, and then my brothers and then family after that, so it was just horrible," he says.

"Explaining to someone you've got this, and they have more questions that you don't know necessarily. It's just horrible. Very sad, very shocking.

"Everyone's been super good. Friends and family, work have been really good about it."

Harry and Jessica were forced to move out of their newly-bought house and move in with Jessica's parents earlier this year due to a burst pipe. An issue that still hasn't been resolved.

Yet, that problem and all others have faded into insignificance following his diagnosis.

He adds: "You take time for granted and then when you get news like this, it just puts everything into perspective.

"You've got 99 problems until you've got a health problem. Then you've only got one problem. "

Though the prospect of losing a stomach can be a daunting one, with the esophagus being connected directly to the lower intestine, Harry says the choice is easy as he'd 'rather not have a stomach so I can live a bit longer'.

Big life adjustments are required, though, with a diet of mushy food required as your body adapts, with more fats needed to instigate digestion. Vitamin B12 Injections are also needed as his body will no longer be getting as much of the essential nutrient from his food.

Yet, there is optimism that he'll be able to and live a 'perfectly normal life' without a stomach.

If any good can come out of Harry's terrible ordeal, he is hoping to spread awareness, support Cancer Research UK and urged people to 'advocate' for their own bodies and be brave enough to go to a GP if they feel like anything is wrong.

"It's not just stomach cancer. It can be anything. You can get cancer at any age," he says.

"If something's not right, definitely get checked out. Advocate for yourself because you know your own body better than a doctor. You can explain better how you feel.

"In my mind, I always thought there was something. As soon as there's a new symptom or you feel yourself getting worse, then that was when I went back to the doctor and the doctor I've gone to has potentially saved my life.

"If you can go to the doctors when problems arise and catch it early, that's the best outcome you can ask for."

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