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Dad dies from rare blood cancer after dismissing fatigue as work stress
David Anthony “Tony” Williams, a fit 62-year-old father of three, died after being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia, an aggressive cancer of the blood and bone marrow. His family initially attributed his tiredness to long working hours and a stressful period, but later symptoms led them to urge him to seek medical tests.
Williams was diagnosed on 18 July 2025 and treated with chemotherapy at the Royal Marsden Hospital. The first round reduced the cancer from 70 per cent to 15 per cent, but it rose to 80 per cent after a second round. A lung infection and collapsed lung prevented possible clinical-trial eligibility; he died on 12 November 2025, five days after his family was told he might have about a month to live.
In short
- Tony Williams’ fatigue was later found to be acute myeloid leukaemia.
- The cancer initially responded to chemotherapy, then increased to 80 per cent.
- A lung infection ruled out a possible clinical trial before he died.
Explained simply
Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a cancer that starts in the blood-forming cells of the bone marrow. It can develop quickly and interfere with the body’s production of healthy blood cells, so symptoms may include tiredness, infections or unusual bruising.
AML is treated by specialists, often with chemotherapy; some patients may also be considered for clinical trials testing treatments. Whether a trial is suitable depends on the person’s health and the study’s criteria. Williams’s experience highlights why persistent or worsening symptoms may need medical assessment, even when they seem explainable by work or stress.
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