Julian Sillett He received a heartbreaking diagnosis of stage 4 esophageal cancer and was given only 14 months to live at 35 years old.
And it all started with a mild case of hiccups.
The business analyst and father of two from Melbourne said he had a hiccup attack for the first time while eating in June 2024.
This quickly turned into uncomfortable swallowing difficulties.
Doctors initially dismissed his symptoms as muscle spasms or stress, but Julian persisted as the pain and difficulty eating worsened.
“I went to see the doctor in July and he suggested that maybe I was eating too fast, that I was feeling stressed or that it could even be a temporary muscle spasm,” Julian told FEMAIL.
‘He advised me to go home, slow down while eating and see if the problem would resolve itself. But it wasn’t like that.
‘I went back to the doctor and at the beginning of August I was having quite a bit of trouble swallowing. Food would get stuck in my throat and it was very painful.’
Julian Sillett, a 35-year-old business analyst and father of two from Melbourne, received a heartbreaking diagnosis of stage 4 esophageal cancer.
The father revealed that the symptoms began in June 2024 as mild hiccups when eating and quickly escalated to severe swallowing difficulties.
He said he had to try to wash everything with water, which barely helped.
His primary care doctor referred Julian to an otolaryngologist and a gastroenterologist.
‘Weeks later, I visited both specialists. The ENT doctor performed an on-site examination using a camera to look at my nasal passage.
‘They didn’t find anything worrying and they recommended that I follow up with the gastroenterologist, who I already had an appointment with.
‘When I saw the gastroenterologist, they referred me to have a gastroscopy.
“A couple of weeks later, I had the gastroscopy, which revealed a tumor located in the lower part of my esophagus and the upper part of my stomach.”
A biopsy then confirmed that the tumor was malignant.
Further scans revealed that the cancer had spread widely throughout Julian’s abdomen, affecting his lungs, liver and other organs.
Doctors initially dismissed his symptoms as muscle spasms or stress, but Julian persisted as the pain and difficulty eating worsened.
In October 2024, doctors confirmed that it was stage 4 cancer, ruling out the possibility of a cure.
In October, doctors confirmed that it was stage 4 cancer, ruling out the possibility of a cure.
“It felt surreal when we found out… it just didn’t seem real,” Julian said.
He admitted that coming to terms with his diagnosis was a slow and emotional process.
“Over time, I realized it was real,” he said.
“I’ve been through so many emotions: sadness, hope, wishing things were different, even wanting to trade places with someone else.”
Before learning it was stage 4 cancer, Julian remained optimistic.
“I kept thinking everything was going to be okay,” he explained.
“Even if it turned out to be cancer, I thought it would be something small: just cut it out, have surgery and that would be it.” I didn’t really stress too much before the diagnosis because I couldn’t imagine it being that bad. It just didn’t seem possible.
The devastating reality only hit him after the oncologist gave him the final prognosis.
Before finding out it was stage 4 cancer, Julián remained optimistic
“When they told me it was stage 4, everything changed,” Julián said. “That was the moment it all became real.”
Julián’s wife, Evelyn, and his parents accompanied him to the oncologist when they informed him of his prognosis.
At first, his family also struggled with acceptance, clinging to the hope of defeating the disease.
“Even though we had been told it couldn’t be defeated, many members of my family kept talking about how to fight it,” he said.
Julian started palliative chemotherapy in November.
The father-of-two is facing a rare type of aggressive cancer and Julian’s genetic makeup also makes it harder to treat.
Julián’s surgeon has informed him that the tumor is inoperable and that there is no cure.
Before starting chemotherapy, a stent was inserted into her esophagus because the tumor, which is near the opening of her stomach, made it difficult for her to eat solid foods.
The father-of-two is facing a rare type of aggressive cancer and Julian’s genetic makeup also makes it harder to treat.
The treatment, which includes daily infusions and chemotherapy tablets, has brought challenging side effects, such as lethargy, loss of appetite and extreme sensitivity to cold.
‘My doctors put me on a treatment plan, but they said there was no cure. The cancer is too widespread and it is too late.
He has also been battling the side effects of chemotherapy.
“Infusions make me really nervous,” he explained.
‘I feel tingling, numbness and a metallic taste in my mouth. I can’t eat or drink anything cold, and I even have to warm food to room temperature to be able to eat it.’
Despite the physical toll, Julian is determined to make the most of his time.
Julián and his wife have two children, ages 1 and 3, who are too young to understand their father’s condition.
“We can’t tell them that I have cancer,” he said.
The treatment, which includes daily infusions and chemotherapy tablets, has brought challenging side effects, such as lethargy, loss of appetite and extreme sensitivity to cold.
Despite the physical toll, Julian is determined to make the most of his time.
‘But I would love to see my children go to school. That is my only wish.
The support of his family has been a source of strength.
“Both sets of grandparents have been helping a lot with the children, and friends and family have shown their support, helping around the house,” Julián shared.
Julian’s story is a stark reminder of the importance of early detection and perseverance in seeking medical advice.
Although there is a family history of cancer, environmental factors may have contributed to the development of the disease.
“I never would have imagined it could be so bad,” Julián reflected.
“I was just thinking it would be something small that could be fixed.”
Despite the overwhelming challenges, Julian remains focused on spending quality time with his family and cherishing every moment he has left.
You can donate to Julian’s GoFundMe at points.