Paul Hunter was one of the most popular and talented snooker players of his generation, but his life was cruelly cut short when he passed away at the age of 27 in 2006
Nicknamed the ‘David Beckham of the baize’, 27-year-old snooker star Paul Hunter tragically succumbed to neuroendocrine tumours in October 2006. His diagnosis was triggered by a single symptom – a sharp pain in his side.
Hunter was rapidly gaining prominence in the sport, thanks to his formidable cue skills, handsome looks and long, blond hair reminiscent of Manchester United and England icon David Beckham.
By the age of just 25, he had clinched his third Masters title, an achievement only matched by two other players at the time. However, Hunter started experiencing sporadic pains, which became so persistent by early 2005 that he sought medical help from his GP.
He was subsequently referred to a specialist due to concerns about appendicitis. An abdominal scan, however, showed that Paul’s appendix was functioning normally, but there were six cysts in his abdomen.
A laparoscopy, a minor procedure involving inflating the abdomen with gas and taking a biopsy, was carried out, reports Surrey Live.
The results revealed that the cysts were actually tumours – and they were malignant. The prescribed treatment for Hunter was chemotherapy, consisting of continuous cycles of three sessions over three days each.
Hunter’s wife, Lindsay, shared her story with Mail Online, detailing how her husband courageously chose to continue playing as a means to distract himself from his illness.
“Two days later, [after the diagnosis] Paul left for the China Open. It had been arranged months in advance and as he would be away just over a week he wanted to carry on as normal,” Lindsay said.
“Amazingly, he reached the final eight, and when he got back at the beginning of April, we had our first meeting with the cancer specialist.”
The symptoms of a neuroendocrine tumour can vary based on its location and the hormones it secretes. For instance, a tumour in the digestive system might lead to diarrhoea, constipation or abdominal pain, while one in the lungs could cause wheezing or a persistent cough.
Certain tumours, known as functioning tumours, may produce excessive hormone levels that enter the bloodstream, leading to a range of symptoms including diarrhoea, flushing, cramps, wheezing, hypoglycaemia, blood pressure fluctuations and cardiac issues.
According to the NHS, surgery is an option to remove the tumour; however, if it’s not possible to completely cure the condition, surgery may still play a role in symptom management and reduction.
Other treatments aim to cut off the tumour’s blood supply, and in cases like Hunter’s, chemotherapy is frequently employed to combat the disease.
Following the 2005 World Snooker Championships in Sheffield, which commenced a fortnight later, Hunter started his initial round of chemotherapy. The treatment proved to be gruelling, causing him to suffer from intense nausea, weight loss and relentless pain.
Regrettably, the treatment ceased to be effective for Hunter as it only managed to stabilise his tumour marker level without reducing it. Given the severe impact on him and the lack of progress, it was deemed futile to proceed with another cycle. A subsequent scan revealed that his tumours had begun to expand.
Tragically, Hunter passed away on the evening of October 9, just five days shy of his 28th birthday. He left behind his wife, Lindsay, and their daughter, Evie.
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