23-year-old poker dealer dies from ultra-rare kidney cancer

The death of Nickodemus Dacres at age 23 has highlighted the severity of an exceptionally rare form of kidney cancer. The poker dealer from Croydon, South London, succumbed to stage four medullary renal cell carcinoma (RMC) on September 26, following a battle that began with severe stomach pains while he was at work last year.

Nickodemus was diagnosed last year

Rare diagnosis and initial symptoms

Dacres first experienced intense abdominal discomfort during a shift in July 2024. Initially dismissing the pain, his situation escalated when he noticed blood in his urine, prompting a colleague to rush him to A&E. For several months, he underwent various tests before scans revealed a small tumor in his right kidney. At this stage, the family was not informed that the growth was malignant.

As the lump continued to grow alongside increasing pain, surgeons removed the kidney and several lymph nodes for further testing in December 2024. The definitive diagnosis arrived on February 6, confirming RMC, one of the most aggressive forms of kidney cancer. By then, the disease had already spread beyond the kidney to his lymph nodes and lungs.

Treatment challenges and progression

Donna Dacres, the patient’s 59-year-old mother, described her son as an "energetic, independent young man" who was also "bubbly" with a "heart of gold." She noted that chemotherapy initially provided cause for optimism, but it ultimately led to liver failure. Donna stated she was told only nine other people in the UK share this specific cancer type. While the Ricky Casey Trust reports that global prevalence is unknown, MyLondon notes the rarity of the condition.

The single mum, originally from Jamaica, recalled being stunned by the oncology referral, noting that no one in their family had ever been seriously ill. Despite undergoing treatment, the cancer advanced to his liver and bones. This progression caused relentless vomiting, resulting in a drastic weight drop from 74kg to under 55kg.

Final days and funeral arrangements

Fundraising efforts helped secure targeted chemotherapy not routinely funded by the NHS. For several weeks, symptoms improved; Dacres stopped vomiting, and doctors confirmed the treatment was effective. However, new symptoms emerged, including dark urine, shoulder pain, jaundiced eyes, and black vomit. Although Donna questioned doctors about potential liver issues, scans showed no changes, so chemotherapy continued.

While attending a church conference in Manchester—the first time she had left her side—Donna received no warning of deterioration. On Saturday morning, Dacres called her to say things were serious. As she drove back, doctors phoned to inform her that her son had passed away. Upon arriving at the hospital, she learned his liver had failed.

"I just started to scream," Donna said. "I love him so much. He is my only son here, I don't have anybody. I had no indication that he was going to die." She added that watching her son suffer was heartbreaking, especially given how little could be done to alleviate his pain. Donna now urges others to seek medical attention for persistent symptoms and plans to fundraise for funeral costs after giving up work to care for him.