George Dudnik, 36, was initially told he had mumps after waking up at 3am with a swollen face in December 2023.
The health enthusiast quickly dialled 111 - unaware this could be an early symptom for cancer - and was referred to an emergency NHS appointment, where a doctor also concluded he had caught mumps.
Despite not doing any tests, George, who is a full time office worker for TfL, was sent home and told to rest and take some paracetamol.
A second warning sign came in March last year when the cycling enthusiast started getting sharp, shooting pains in his calf, which he dismissed as being caused by exercising too much.
Two months later, George began coughing up blood in the shower before struggling to breathe and collapsing on the floor. He was rushed to hospital and tests found he had exposed blood clots in his lungs, legs and arms.
Doctors again ruled out cancer and assured George he was 'too young and too healthy' to get the disease. They allegedly suggested his vegan diet had caused the clots instead.
Following a CT scan in October, George was diagnosed with Stage 4 ROS1-positive lung cancer - a rare and aggressive form of cancer, which doctors say is incurable.
Describing the moment of his diagnosis, George told BristolLive: 'At that moment, it was like I was underwater. I could see her (the doctor) talking, but her voice faded into the distance. Everything went quiet.
'My body just went numb. I felt like I was glued to the chair. I couldn’t move, not even look at my partner.
'It was like a countdown timer had been activated, ticking away the final minutes of my life. I was still young. I still had so much to do. But suddenly, it felt like my time was up.'
He added that his diagnosis 'felt like a death sentence' as doctors told him that no matter what he does, he will die from cancer.
George was dealt another huge blow on December 19. Just as he was due to start chemotherapy, he was told it would no longer be possible.
The ROS1 mutation meant the cancer was too aggressive for chemotherapy to work and he was warned it could spread to the brain and the bones.
He is instead taking a targeted therapy drug called Entrectinib along with daily blood thinners in order to prevent further clotting.
George was told he would need to take these medications for the rest of his life, with doctors saying he may only have a few years left.
But George is refusing to give in to the disease and is currently doing everything he can to fight it.
He has set up a fundraiser to reduce his financial stress while continuing to battle his cancer and provide access to non-conventional cancer treatments.
'While I follow my prescribed treatment, I am also actively taking control of my healing by investing in alternative therapies that support my body and mind,' George wrote on his GoFundMe page.
He added: 'While cancer treatment in the UK is free, everything else I do to support my healing is not.
'My expenses vary each month, but I want to be transparent about where the donations will go.'
Money from the page will be go towards things such as meditation retreats, healing workshops, sauna sessions and detox therapy.
George continued: 'I truly believe in self-healing, energy work, and the power of the human spirit. I am committed to fighting this disease for as long as it takes.
'The financial burden is heavy, and I don’t want to have to choose between proper nutrition and the treatments that could save my life.'
George is continuing to spread a positive message about living life to the fullest and has come a long way since his initial diagnosis.
He has already raised almost £8,000 and, in another positive sign in February, George was told his cancer had decreased in size.
He believes this is down combination of targeted therapy, alternative medicine and nutrition, supported through the money raised on the site.
George no longer thinks his cancer is an 'automatic death sentence' and while he knows he may not win, he is keen to live 'like I have another 40 years ahead of me'.
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