Julian Sillett has been dealt a heartbreaking diagnosis of stage 4 oesophageal cancer and given just 14 months to live at 35-years-old.
And it all started with a mild case of the hiccups.
The business analyst and father-of-two from Melbourne, said he first developed a bout of the hiccups while eating in June 2024.
This then quickly escalated into uncomfortable swallowing difficulties.
Initially, doctors dismissed his symptoms as muscle spasms or stress, but Julian persisted when the pain and his difficulty eating worsened.
‘I went to see the doctor in July, and he suggested that I might be eating too quickly, feeling stressed, or that it might even be a temporary muscle spasm,’ Julian told FEMAIL.
‘He advised me to go home, slow down while eating, and see if the issue resolved itself. But it didn’t.
‘I went back to the doctor, and by the start of August, I was having quite a lot of trouble swallowing. Food would get stuck in my throat, and it was very painful.’
Julian Sillett, a 35-year-old business analyst and father of two from Melbourne, has been dealt a heartbreaking diagnosis of stage 4 oesophageal cancer
The father revealed the symptoms began in June 2024 as minor hiccups while eating and quickly escalated into severe swallowing difficulties
He said that he had to try and wash everything down with water – which barely helped.
Julian was referred to an ENT and a gastroenterologist by his GP.
‘Weeks later, I visited both specialists. The ENT performed an on-the-spot examination using a camera to look down my nasal passage.
‘They didn’t find anything concerning and recommended that I follow up with the gastroenterologist, who I was already scheduled to see.
‘When I saw the gastroenterologist, they referred me for a gastroscopy.
‘A couple of weeks later, I underwent the gastroscopy, which revealed a tumour located at the bottom of my oesophagus and the top of my stomach.’
A biopsy then confirmed the tumour was malignant.
Further scans revealed the cancer had spread extensively throughout Julian’s abdomen, affecting his lungs, liver, and other organs.
Initially, doctors dismissed his symptoms as muscle spasms or stress, but Julian persisted when the pain and difficulty eating worsened
By October 2024, doctors confirmed it was stage 4 cancer, ruling out the possibility of a cure
By October, doctors confirmed it was stage 4 cancer, ruling out the possibility of a cure.
‘It felt surreal when we found out… it just didn’t feel real,’ Julian said.
He admitted that coming to terms with his diagnosis was a slow and emotional process.
‘Over time, it just kind of settled in that it was real,’ he said.
‘I’ve gone through so many emotions – sadness, hope, wishing things were different, even wanting to trade places with someone else.’
Before learning it was stage 4 cancer, Julian remained optimistic.
‘I kept thinking it was going to be okay,’ he explained.
‘Even if it turned out to be cancer, I thought it would be something small – just cut it out, have a surgery, and that would be it. I didn’t really stress too much leading up to the diagnosis because I couldn’t imagine it being this bad. It just didn’t seem possible.’
The devastating reality only hit him after the oncologist delivered the final prognosis.
Before learning it was stage 4 cancer, Julian remained optimistic
‘When they told me it was stage 4, everything changed,’ Julian said. ‘That was the moment it all became real.’
Julian’s wife Evelyn and his parents accompanied him to the oncologist when he was told about his prognosis.
His family initially struggled with acceptance as well, clinging to hope of beating the disease.
‘Even though we’d been told it couldn’t be beaten, a lot of my family were still talking about how we’d fight it,’ he said.
Julian began palliative chemotherapy in November.
The father-of-two faces a rare type of aggressive cancer and Julian’s genetic make-up also makes it more difficult to treat.
Julian’s surgeon has advised him that the tumour is inoperable and there is no cure.
Prior to starting chemotherapy, a stent was inserted into Julian’s oesophagus because the tumour, which is near to the opening of the stomach, was making it difficult for him to eat solid food.
The father-of-two faces a rare type of aggressive cancer and Julian’s genetic make-up also makes it more difficult to treat
The treatment, which includes infusions and daily chemo tablets, has brought challenging side effects, including lethargy, loss of appetite, and extreme sensitivity to cold.
‘My doctors put me on a treatment plan, but they said there was no cure. The cancer is too widespread and it’s too late.’
He has also been struggling with side effects from chemotherapy.
‘The infusions really knock me about,’ he explained.
‘I get pins and needles, numbness, and a metallic taste in my mouth. I can’t eat or drink anything cold, and even room-temperature food has to be heated for me to eat it.’
Despite the physical toll, Julian is determined to make the most of his time.
Julian and his wife have two children, aged 1 and 3, who are too young to understand their father’s condition.
‘We can’t talk to them about me having cancer,’ he said.
The treatment, which includes infusions and daily chemo tablets, has brought challenging side effects, including lethargy, loss of appetite, and extreme sensitivity to cold
Despite the physical toll, Julian is determined to make the most of his time
‘But I would love to see my kids go to school. That’s my one wish.’
The support of his family has been a source of strength.
‘Both sets of grandparents have been helping a lot with the kids, and friends and family have shown their support, helping around the house,’ Julian shared.
Julian’s story is a stark reminder of the importance of early detection and persistence in seeking medical advice.
While there is a family history of cancer, environmental factors may have contributed to the disease’s development.
‘I would never have imagined it could be this bad,’ Julian reflected.
‘I was just going along, thinking it would be something small that could be fixed.’
Despite the overwhelming challenges, Julian remains focused on spending quality time with his family and cherishing every moment he has left.
You can donate to Julian’s GoFundMe in the bullet points.
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