17 Years Without Sick Leave, British Man Diagnosed With Blood Cancer After Beer Aversion

Andy Young, a 62-year-old man from Harpenden, England, received a diagnosis of multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer, in March. His health journey took an unexpected turn after he developed an aversion to beer, a drink he had enjoyed regularly for years.

Young, a retired finance manager, had a remarkable track record of not taking a single sick day in the 17 years leading up to his retirement. Even a routine health check-up at age 60 showed no issues. However, shortly after retiring, he began experiencing unusual symptoms.

The first sign was a significant change in his drinking habits. "I used to drink a couple of beers on an evening or at the weekend, but one day it took me almost three hours to finish one bottle," Young recalled. He found the taste strange and struggled to finish it.

Initially, he dismissed these changes as minor. But when the symptoms persisted for three weeks without improvement, Young decided to consult a doctor in January. A blood test recommended by his GP revealed a decline in his kidney function, prompting further investigation that ultimately led to his cancer diagnosis.

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I used to drink a couple of beers on an evening or at the weekend, but one day it took me almost three hours to finish one bottle. It tasted strange and it was hard to finish.