A football mad Liverpool FC fan died from colon cancer five years after his dad lost his own battle with the same disease.
Mark White died aged 44 just months after being diagnosed with the disease. His dad Paul died from the same form of cancer five years ago at 58.
Mark's sister Cheryl said the dad-of-two from Birmingham had been feeling unwell in January before tests the following month revealed an issue with his liver. Mark's condition worsened as he waited for a scan and in March he went into hospital.
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He was devastatingly diagnosed with terminal colon cancer that had already spread to his liver. Mark died weeks later. Cheryl told Birmingham Live: "It was absolutely devastating. His prognosis was two months to live with chemo and two years with it if we were lucky.
"It was the same cancer our dad Paul had died from five years ago. Mark was told he has terminal cancer on what would have been his dad's birthday.
"He deteriorated fast and then was admitted back into to hospital with complete kidney failure. He was too ill to start chemotherapy."
"Mark was absolutely fine at Christmas - we had no clue it would be our last with him. He had minor symptoms and had been to see his GP and reassured it was nothing to worry about.
"My mum has been left devastated, sat at her son's side watching him slowly fade away. His death has left a huge hole in our family which can't be filled."
Cheryl said Mark had a love for football and was a die-hard Liverpool FC fan. She added: "He was such a lovely brother. When the rest of us fell out at times he was the one who would glue us back together. He loved his family.
"He was a fun guy and very caring. He loved his football and Liverpool was his club."
Mark leaves behind mother Dolores, sons Remiah and Marcus and siblings Cheryl, Daniel, Keira and Terrelle. Cheryl said she would like to raise awareness about colon cancer adding there should be regular NHS screening.
She said: "It is very important to have regular screening and especially if a member of your family has suffered from colon cancer. The NHS needs to make this a priority. I have lost my father and my brother to the disease and it is devastating."
You can support Mark's family's fundraiser for his funeral here.
