A man who believed he had simply "overdone it with the food and drink" over Christmas was given a shocking diagnosis by doctors. Nicholas Brace, 44, who had been in remission from bowel cancer since late 2023, began feeling unwell over Christmas and New Year with nausea and stomach discomfort.

After initially brushing off his stomach ache, Nicholas decided to visit A&E in January 2026 when it developed into shooting pains and bloating. A scan revealed he had a tumour between his pancreas and stomach which was subsequently confirmed as secondary stomach cancer.

The father was informed his tumour is inoperable and the family are determined to try and raise funds for potentially lifesaving private treatment. Nicholas, who works in a warehouse, from South Ockendon, Essex, said: "I thought I'd overdone it over Christmas with the drinking and the eating."

Daughter Maddison Brace, 20, who works as a veterinarian, added: "We just believed he had overindulged as he did enjoy plenty of snacks over Christmas. It was only when his symptoms continued that we began to worry more."

Nicholas had previously been treated for bowel cancer but had been in remission since late 2023. The father-of-two initially noticed his stomach ache over Christmas but dismissed it, reports Wales Online.

But when his symptoms worsened he went to A&E on January 3, 2026. He said: "I just knew something wasn't right, and that's when I decided to go to A&E."

A scan unveiled a growth in the "lesser curve" region between his pancreas and stomach. Medics concluded that his cancer had metastasised, resulting in a diagnosis of secondary stomach cancer.

"Telling the girls that the cancer's back and that it's inoperable was the hardest part," Nicholas confessed.

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Doctors believe Nicholas is afflicted with a gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST), an uncommon form of cancer that specifically targets the soft tissue of the digestive system, predominantly in the stomach or small intestine.

By the end of January, it was confirmed that the NHS would not be able to perform surgery on the tumour due to the specialist treatment required, which is not provided by the NHS. Consequently, Nicholas was offered palliative care.

However, they were informed that specialists represented Nicholas' best hope for survival, and the family are now endeavouring to raise £8,000 for private treatment. This could encompass a PET scan for a more precise image of the tumour, chemotherapy to reduce its size, or surgical intervention.

His wife Laura, 42, who is employed in secondary school safeguarding, added: "It's been the worst time of our lives, even worse than before. It's just horrendous."

They've established a GoFundMe page and, thanks to the tireless efforts of Maddison and her sister Megan, 19, the fundraiser has already exceeded £7,000 in donations. Any funds not utilised for Nicholas' treatment will be donated to Cancer Research UK.

Maddison stated: "Hopefully, once we know the next steps, we'll know a bit more about the exact costs and it can help us get a more accurate goal for donations."

The Brace family expressed their astonishment at the support they've garnered since Maddison initiated the GoFundMe campaign. Megan, who works as a nursery practitioner, also boosted donations via TikTok videos, which the family acknowledged made a significant impact.

"Everyone we know on Facebook and social media is reposting and sharing," Nicholas revealed. "Without the girls we wouldn't have been able to do any of it."

In an effort to optimise Nicholas's recovery prospects, the family have entirely revamped their dietary habits. Laura now prepares all meals from scratch, shunning frozen food. She also mentioned that Nicholas consumes a pomegranate daily in the hope it will aid his health.

Nicholas maintains that adopting a positive outlook is crucial. He asserted: "You've got to have the mentality to think, I'm not going let it beat me.

"I've got to stay strong, stay active and eat healthy. I've got to fight it. I've done it once before and I'll do it again."

The family persist in their fundraising efforts for the vital treatment. The GoFundMe page can be accessed here.