The Coventry dad put the symptoms down to “fatigue and COVID” as the sign of cancer was missed

A Coventry dad who died of incurable cancer put his symptoms down to “fatigue and Long-Covid”. Anwar Minhas worked long hours as a taxi driver and initially thought the back pain was caused by the job.

Just months later, Anwar was told he had pancreatic cancer, leaving his loved ones “devastated”. Wife Aisha said she can vividly remember the heartbreaking moment she was told the diagnosis in August 2022.

Anwar initially remained “really positive” after being told the prognosis was good, but just months later he was shocked to learn he only had weeks to live. He died at home, surrounded by family, in March 2023.

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Aisha, who works for the East Midlands Cancer Alliance, said: “Anwar had a great personality so everyone knew and loved him. He was very strong and tough with a great sense of humor and a kind and caring heart. When we found out he had cancer, we were devastated.”

Anwar initially thought his back pain was caused by his work as a taxi driver and blamed his fatigue on Long-COVID. “He was complaining of back pain, but he was just taking painkillers to go to work,” Aisha said.

“He also experienced fatigue, which I put down to Long-COVID, but when he started feeling more tired than usual, he went to a center and was given antibiotics, they thought he had a urine, but I had noticed that his eyes were yellow. If I had known then, this was a symptom that could have set off more alarms,” Aisha continued.

When his symptoms did not improve, Anwar decided to go to A&E. She was told she had a tumor on her pancreas and would need chemotherapy to shrink it enough for surgery, Aisha said.

Anwar walked his daughter down the aisle in October, but after treatment failures, the cancer had spread to his liver and by February last year, his condition had deteriorated so much that chemotherapy was no longer an option, Aisha explained.

She said: “With pancreatic cancer, there is a real difference in terms of research, early diagnosis and support. The symptoms are so vague. If I had known he had so little time, we would have spent that time doing what he wanted.”

Aisha said her experience made her passionate about campaigning for Cancer Research UK. “Many people’s lives are touched by this devastating disease and the numbers are only rising, so we need to make sure cancer is at the forefront of all future MPs’ minds.

“It is worrying to think how many friends, family and colleagues could be affected by the consequences if we do not accelerate progress in the fight against cancer. With so many challenges and funding issues surrounding cancer research and care, it is vital that saving lives comes before politics.”

Aisha added: “When you hear those terrible words, ‘It’s cancer’, all you want to know is that you or your loved one have the best possible chance of survival. Whoever wins the general election, the next UK government must help make this a reality for cancer patients everywhere.”

Analysis from Cancer Research UK found that within five years, the next UK government could help prevent around 500 cancer deaths in the West Midlands. Aisha has called for a long-term, fully funded strategy to be launched this year and is supporting a new campaign called ‘Turning Point for Cancer’.

Aisha urged people in Coventry and Warwickshire to call on their local parliamentary candidates to commit to transforming cancer survivorship by emailing them before Thursday 4 July at: cruk.org/localcandidates.

Paula Young, from Cancer Research UK, said: “Almost 1 in 2 people will develop cancer in their lifetime and it affects every family in every constituency. So, as political parties come to the fore, there has never been a better opportunity to come together and demand the action that people affected by the disease so desperately need and deserve.”

Ms Young continued: “We are grateful to Aisha for joining the supporters, scientists and celebrities behind our campaign and we hope her story will inspire people in the West Midlands to have their say by emailing local candidates. Urgent action to tackle the disease will mean more life-saving research, more people diagnosed and treated earlier and ultimately more people in the West Midlands living longer and better lives.”

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