A singer and music producer who only realised he was seriously ill thanks to his fans spotting a tell-tale sign on his social media, is warning others to speak up and seek help.
Nish Syed, who was performing around the world with his unique mix of music influenced by his birthplace in the UK and his family's heritage in Bangladesh, was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia in November 2020.
In the weeks before the 29 year old's diagnosis some of his loyal fans had messaged him online concerned about his dramatic weight loss.
Nish didn't consider it was that big an issue and thought he had just lost his appetite, but he eventually sought advice from his parents and older brother.
He was urged to undergo medical tests which revealed he had cancer.
Speaking to the Mirror, Nish, who regularly appears on the BBC Asian Network, said: "I was very shocked to find out I had cancer.
"I didn't know I had anything like that at all. I had lost a visible amount of weight and my followers were seeing it.
"Some of them messaged me and they were right. I didn't know it at the time but my spleen was enlarged and it made me feel bloated, I just thought I'd lost my appetite.
"I'm a very blasé person, I just go with the flow, but my mum and brother were very concerned."
After speaking to his family, and despite his fear of needles, Nish went to the doctors and was sent for a blood test during the height of the coronavirus pandemic.
Less than 24 hours later he was called back to the hospital and given the devastating news he had cancer.
Nish heard the news without his family by his side as covid restrictions meant he had to attend the appointment alone.
"The doctor said to me, this is what you have, it's not as bad as it sounds, and it can be treated.
"It didn't really sink in, I just thought it can't be right."
Nish's brother Naeem had been waiting anxiously outside the hospital and when they spoke Nish said it was then that the news hit him, and hit him hard.
"I didn't really want to tell him, but when I did, that's when it hit me. I broke down and thought 'this is real life now'.
"I remember him asking me, 'can it be fixed?' and when I said yes, he said 'right we are going with that'."
Nish, with the help of Naeem, wrote a message to his fans explaining what was happening and he says the messages of support made a huge difference to his mental outlook.
He said: "For me it was about my mental state, physical pain I was ready for, I was strong before that so if I could overcome the mental side of it, I'd get through.
"I was strict with my family, I told my mum you can't cry in front of me, I need you to be strong, I need everyone to be strong.
"I feel that strength that they gave me got me through. It built up, more and more people would message me and it would help me to stay mentally strong."
There were physically low points though too as the chemotherapy took its toll on his body.
But now Nish is through the worst and although likely to be on targeted chemotherapy tablets, known as TKIs, for the rest of his life he is getting back to what he loves, touring the world with his music.
Nish, who is working with Cancer Research's Stand Up To Cancer campaign, added that he is hoping speaking about what happened to him will help break the stigma among his community.
He said men are taught they shouldn't show any vulnerability and that leads to them not coming forward when they think there is a chance they might be ill.
"I always say live your life you never know what's round the corner, but also look out for yourself, your family and friends.
"If you feel something is wrong find out. If my family didn't push me to get that blood test maybe I wouldn't be here now."
Nish is supporting Stand Up To Cancer, a joint fundraising campaign from Cancer Research UK and Channel 4 bringing the UK together to accelerate life-saving cancer research.
G et involved and donate at SU2C.org.uk
