Young Alex Able, at 29, envisioned a future filled with family and adventure, a vision tragically shattered by an unforeseen medical crisis just two years into his marriage with Elle. What initially seemed like a routine gym injury morphed into a harrowing battle against one of the world’s most aggressive and rare cancers, irrevocably altering the course of their lives.
The first signs emerged in September 2023, when Alex, an engineer, began experiencing persistent shoulder pain. Initially dismissing it as a common ailment from his active lifestyle, the pain intensified, disrupting his sleep and prompting an MRI scan in November, which surprisingly returned clear, offering only temporary reassurance.
However, by May 2024, the pain had escalated dramatically, necessitating another scan that unveiled a significant tumor on his shoulder, alarmingly close to his spinal cord. Surgeons successfully removed 90% of the growth, but a critical 10% remained, deemed too perilous to extract due to its proximity to vital nerves and the spine.
The subsequent analysis of the excised tissue delivered a devastating rare cancer diagnosis: Alex was afflicted with a Rhabdoid tumor, an exceptionally uncommon and aggressive form of cancer primarily observed in young children. His mother-in-law, Katie Bleach, highlighted its extreme rarity, noting Alex as potentially the first recorded adult case in the UK among an estimated 11 confirmed cases across Europe.
Katie described the rhabdoid tumor’s insidious nature, explaining how it behaves “like spider webs, fine strands that cling to whatever they can grab,” with Alex’s growth perilously intertwined with muscles and nerves essential for arm movement. Despite the grim prognosis, Alex embarked on a rigorous chemotherapy regimen, demonstrating remarkable resilience and an unexpected initial improvement.
Scans midway through his treatment showed the emergence of new, small tumors in his lungs, lower back, and shoulder bone. Yet, against the odds, by December, the secondary lung tumors had halved in size, and the lesion in his lower back had vanished, with the original shoulder tumor remaining stable, fueling hopes for a return to normalcy.
Before this life-altering cancer diagnosis, Alex and Elle, who had been together since 2019 and engaged quickly, shared a vibrant life of travel, dining, and outdoor adventures, dreaming of a move to Shropshire to start a family. Their hopes for an “outdoorsy life” were deeply intertwined with their plans for a shared future.
Tragically, a sudden onset of paralysis from the chest down revealed two additional growths on his spine, bringing the total number of tumors to seven and confirming the cancer’s uncontrollable progression. On July 11, the family received the heartbreaking news that treatment would cease, leading to a profound moment where Alex was asked where he wished to spend his final days.
Despite this devastating turn, Alex’s spirit remains unyielding. His mother-in-law conveyed his unwavering determination to be a “success case” and a pioneer for children facing this awful disease. This inspirational story of resilience, even in the face of terminal illness, has transformed despair into a renewed sense of hope for the family, who vow never to surrender in their fight alongside him.
