An "amazing" husband and dad tragically passed away from cancer - less than six WEEKS after receiving the shock diagnosis.

Andrew Westwood, 42, started experiencing stomach pains in mid-December - but initially just took plenty of painkillers in a bid to try and cope with them.

But on January 8, following an ultrasound and some blood tests, Andrew and his family were left reeling when he was told he had colon cancer that had spread to his liver.

Doctors initially told Andrew, from Grays, Essex, that the cancer was treatable, but not curable - but subsequent CT scans saw the dad-of-two rapidly deteriorating.

Andrew, who worked as a billing supervisor for a law firm, was offered palliative chemotherapy, and given just two to four months to live.

But he passed away on February 17, less than six weeks after his diagnosis - leaving behind devastated wife Lauren, 38, and daughters Hope, ten, and Grace, seven.

Grieving widow Lauren said: "It's all been really overwhelming. He wasn't even ill before December.

"By Christmas Day he was struggling to eat anything - but even then we didn't realise how severe it was.

"It was so hard seeing him in his last few weeks. He turned down the palliative chemo he was offered because he wanted to stay at home and be with his family.

"He initially stayed quite upbeat, but in the last few days he couldn't even get out of bed and could barely open his eyes."

And a tearful Lauren added: "He was such an amazing daddy and husband. Our girls adored Andrew and to him, they were his world.

"They still talk to him every day - they say good morning and goodnight to him. They're coping with things as best as they can."

Lauren said that Basildon Hospital had initially told Andrew his cancer was treatable, but not curable.

But she said: "Then we went for a second opinion, and we found out he had developed jaundice. After that, he was offered the palliative chemo."

Lauren added that she is "not sure" whether things would have progressed differently had it not been for Covid.

She said: "I don't know how long these things usually take - but it took six days after he had his first CT scan to be told he actually had cancer.

"Maybe things should have moved faster for Andrew because of how aggressive his cancer turned out to be.

"He had three subsequent CT scans and they showed him deteriorating each time.

"If Covid had not been a thing, I don't know whether things would have moved faster in terms of treatment. I'd like to hope maybe they would have, but I just can't say."

Friends of Andrew have now set up a GoFundMe page in his memory to help support his family - which has so far raised almost £15,000.

Lauren said: "It's been really overwhelming to see how much Andrew meant to so many people.

"He was so kind and witty and funny, and just such a genuine and lovely person. So many people thought so much of him, it really means a lot to us."

To donate, visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-loving-memory-of-andrew-westwood.