Zack Van Aarde, 41, was diagnosed after he collapsed and began vomiting blood
A dad who initially believed he was suffering from acid reflux was left stunned when he discovered his symptoms were actually due to oesophagus cancer after he began “vomiting blood”. Zack Van Aarde, 41, sought medical advice and started medication for acid reflux after experiencing heartburn and indigestion in early 2024.
However, in a terrifying turn of events in July 2025, Zack’s wife, Jess, 42, woke up to the sound of him collapsing on the stairs and found him vomiting blood. The father-of-two was immediately rushed to Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, where doctors initially suspected he had suffered a stomach ulcer.
But following an endoscopy – a procedure involving a camera down the throat – doctors delivered the devastating diagnosis of stage four oesophagus cancer. Zack began chemotherapy and will continue having treatment every two weeks with regular scans and blood tests to monitor if the 6cm tumour has reduced and if he will be suitable for surgery to remove it.
The couple are now fundraising to financially support their family – including their two children Joshua, 10, and Hannah eight – while Zack is unable to work. The funds are also being used towards “additional therapies” that are not available on the NHS to complement his chemotherapy like Hyperbaric oxygen chamber therapy – which increases the delivery of oxygen to the body – which Zack hopes will “rejuvenate” his cells more quickly. Doctors strongly advise that cancer patients should consult with medical experts before seeking alternative therapies.
Zack, an account executive at a cyber security firm from Bantham, south Devon, said: “It’s been a rollercoaster. I always kept myself fit and healthy as a young dad. It came as a massive shock, but we’re doing everything we can to give myself the best chance.”
Zack, who considered himself “active” and regularly participated in ultramarathons, started experiencing gastric issues at the beginning of 2024. Despite taking medication prescribed by his GP, the symptoms persisted and things “took a turn” in July 2025.
Jess, a holiday consultant, said: “I woke up at 5am and heard heavy breathing and someone collapse. I raced out and saw Zack on the floor and he’d been vomiting blood.
“We didn’t want to scare the kids, so quickly got him in the room and called an ambulance. He’d lost so much blood he was struggling to stand or sit up.”
Paramedics rushed Zack to hospital, where doctors conducted tests. The following day, they delivered the devastating news that Zack had cancer.
Jess added: “It was a huge shock. It was so surreal – it was like a film. You just can’t believe this is happening.”
Doctors initially planned to operate on the tumour, but decided to commence chemotherapy first with the hope of shrinking it. Zack is currently undergoing chemotherapy sessions every two weeks to combat the cancer, as well as having weekly blood tests and scans to monitor the progression.
Zack said: “It’s the hardest thing as a parent, telling your kids you’ve got cancer. But they’re very resilient and they’re handled it amazingly.”
The pair are currently raising funds for extra treatments unavailable through the NHS, with Zack continuing to run during his treatment and pledging to complete “one mile” for every £10 donated to his GoFundMe page.
He explained: “Chemotherapy kills all the cells – good and bad ones. To give my cells the best chance of rejuvenating more quickly, we’ve been researching additional therapies.
“I’ve undergone hyperbaric oxygen therapy chamber, which increases oxygen to the body, IV drips with intense doses of vitamin C – to boost the immune system – and red light therapy. I’m determined to do whatever I can to give to me the best chance for my family.”