A dad-of-two who began to feel back and stomach pain initially dismissed it as an injury from a tennis match with his son Rory. Richard Driver endured these symptoms for several months until a scan revealed a shocking rugby ball-sized tumour in his abdomen.
Richard, a retired IT consultant from Norfolk, had been dealing with the discomfort for a few months before celebrating his 60th birthday in August 2023. He assumed the backache was simply a result of playing tennis with his son.
His daughter Zoe, 32, said: "He thought the back pain was just what it felt like to get old. He's one of those people who never really gets ill, so he thought he was fine."
As the pain persisted, Zoe and her mother, Tina, urged Richard, now 61, to consult a doctor. He was referred to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, where after several scans, doctors discovered a rugby ball-sized tumour in his abdomen that could have been "growing for years."
Richard was diagnosed with stage three dedifferentiated liposarcoma - a rare cancer that originates in the fat cells - and required immediate surgery to remove the 26cm tumour that had grown so large it was "crushing" his organs. Richard underwent a 13-hour operation to remove the tumour, along with a kidney, his pancreas, his spleen and part of his bowel.
After undergoing surgery, Richard faced a battle with sepsis—a life-threatening condition where the body attacks its own tissues—as well as enduring a heart attack and a collapsed lung. Miraculously, despite these severe complications, he was given the all-clear and declared "cancer-free" in May 2024.
However, due to the high risk of recurrence, Richard is under constant vigilance with regular medical check-ups. Zoe, a winemaker from Wylye in Wiltshire, said: "When the biopsy came back - I couldn't believe it.
"The sheer number of organs affected was unbelievable. It was a bit like - how can anyone survive this?".
"It felt like it had gone from nothing to something huge very quickly. Dad is an active guy, and he doesn't like to lose, so when he played tennis against my brother, he thought he had just pulled a muscle in his back from overexertion."
Richard, who has always prioritised his wellbeing through a healthy diet and regular exercise, enjoyed long walks with his wife Tina, a retired allocation manager at British Airways, especially after their move from London to Norfolk, which also saw him losing some weight. But concern set in when Richard began to experience bloating and pain.
Zoe said: "We'd been through it already with mum, who had endometrial cancer. She had a hysterectomy and her recovery was quite straightforward.
"But for Dad, there was only one surgeon in the whole country that was willing to do the operation because that type of cancer is so rare. To this day, I don't understand how the doctors did what they did, and how Dad just got on with it. It felt like a mad, horrible dream."
Despite shedding over three stone, Richard has been slowly regaining his strength and is taking each day as it comes. His daughter Zoe is now preparing to participate in the London Marathon 2025 to fundraise for Sarcoma UK, having already raised £4,500.
"Dad is determined to get as strong as he can, but we don't know what the future holds," she commented. "I wanted to help but wasn't sure how I could."
Richard, who has been steadily recuperating at home, remarked: "It was very scary when I was first told, especially after learning about the surgery that was needed. But the care I received in the hospitals was superb. I do think it was harder for Tina and the kids watching from the outside though. I'm really proud that Zoe wanted to run the marathon for me. I think she will be brilliant as usual."
Donations to support Zoe and Sarcoma UK can be made at 2025tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/zoe-driver.
Sarcoma UK states that the most common symptom of sarcoma is a growing or changing lump. Other symptoms may include:.
- Bone swelling, tenderness or pain that worsens at night
- Abdominal discomfort
- Nausea
- Loss of appetite or feeling full after eating a small amount of food
- Blood in your stool or vomit.
If you notice any unexplained symptoms, it's advised to consult your GP.
