A lorry driver says he owes his life to a tumour after it alerted doctors to a rare, often symptomless, cancer.

Alex Watson from Grove Hill Road in Tunbridge Wells was initially prescribed allergy creams after he went to his GP in July with severe itchiness across his body and “something funny” with his urine.

But three days later the 34-year-old’s condition worsened.

He said: “When I woke up on the Monday I saw jaundice in the whites of my eyes and my top half of the torso had a yellowy tint to it.

“I called my GP back and they recommended I go to A&E.

“I had a series of scans and stayed there for 15 hours in total being transferred from one department to another.”

The tests found the HGV driver had neuroendocrine cancer growing in his pancreas – a rare form of the disease that can grow anywhere.

It is estimated to affect just four in 100,000 adults each year, and often leaves the sufferer with no symptoms.

But, luckily, due to the position of Alex’s tumour, it caused issues elsewhere in the body allowing the problem to be spotted.

He said: “It was a scary time especially when they did a scan and it came back showing a mass on my pancreas. I stayed in Tunbridge Wells Hospital a week after that and then was transferred to a specialist at King’s College Hospital in London.

“But it was a saving grace that I got the symptoms because I would’ve been none the wiser and carried on my daily life. Things could’ve been a lot worse so I’m glad I went in when I did.

“Because of where the cancer was the tumour was blocking the bile duct preventing bile from being excreted.

“This meant it was ending up in my bloodstream causing the severe itchiness.”

Alex has not been through the ordeal alone though and has praised all the support his family and friends gave him, especially for his partner Kristlin.

He continued: “It was a huge shock for both of us as we sat there in the waiting area and understandably we were both upset and had a little cry. It was the fear of the unknown and when you hear that it’s like your worst nightmare.

“It was tough to hear it but now looking back I’m so grateful to be here and explain everything and tell my story.”

In October, Alex underwent something called the Whipple procedure to remove the tumour.

He was under the knife for eight hours with doctor Simon Atkinson removing the tumour as well as the head of the pancreas, the first part of the small intestine, the gallbladder and the bile duct.

Since then the 34-year-old has been in recovery waiting to get back to work – something he can do in a month's time as on Wednesday (November 22) he was given the all-clear.

He said: “I'm happy to talk about it now. I've gone through it and things are looking good.

“I’ve talked about it with friends and family and I am getting a lot of support and I can’t thank people enough for it.

“What I would say to anyone who doesn’t feel right, just go and get yourself checked it could save your life.”

Earlier this week Alex set up a GoFundMe page hoping to raise £3,000 for Neuroendocrine Cancer UK.

All funds will go to organising a music event in Tunbridge Wells in May where he hopes to host live bands and DJs and give back for the support he was shown through his four-month battle.

Any donations will be given to the charity.

He said: “I’ve had donations from people I haven’t even met which is crazy but please keep donating.

“Thank you to everyone who is supporting me from the bottom of my heart.”