Glenside man Richard Simmons receives devastating diagnosis from cold symptoms

A father-of-two believed he had a cough a few weeks ago. His true diagnosis was life-changing.

Richard Simmons, who was diagnosed with cancer two weeks ago, with his wife Clair at his home at Glenside. Picture: Mark Brake

A few weeks ago Richard Simmons believed he was suffering from a bad cough.

After multiple rounds of antibiotics failed to cure him further tests revealed the heartbreaking truth.

The father-of-two had stage four kidney cancer which had already spread to his lungs and hip.

“My son sent me this text message —‘I want you to beat this cancer, I don’t want to lose you dad’,” he said.

“That came from my little nine year old.”

His wife Clair Simmons said her and Richard’s hearts are breaking because they “can’t promise” their children, 15-year-old Rowan and nine-year-old Jacob, anything as doctors say Richard’s cancer is not curable.

Richard Simmons, together with his wife Clair and his sons 15-year-old Rowan and 9-year-old Jacob. Picture: Supplied

When Richard developed a cough two months ago, his doctors believed it could’ve been a bacterial infection and prescribed antibiotics.

“I was still coughing constantly, I couldn’t speak because I was coughing so much,” the 51-year-old said.

But when Richard asked his doctor for sleeping tablets as he was having trouble falling asleep, it prompted his doctor to ask for a CT scan of his chest.

“(During the CT) they wanted to ask my doctor for permission to scan my abdomen and when I asked what for, they just said ‘to give your doctor a fuller picture’,” the Glenside man said.

“Within the hour, the doctor called and said he wanted me to come in with someone.”

The father-of-two had stage four kidney cancer which had already spread to his lungs and hip. Picture Mark Brake

Richard’s doctor told him “it’s bad, it’s really bad”.

He proceeded to tell him he had kidney cancer and needed to see him straight away.

“I had to go upstairs and tell Clair which was an interesting morning of tears … a lot of screaming,” Richard said.

Tests revealed a 100ml by 98ml by 96ml mass on Richard’s kidney which had been growing for the last 10 years — doctors said they would need to remove a rib to take out the cancer.

“The biggest fear is that you’re going to get told that it’s imminent and you’ve got months, that’s what we’re really worried about,” Clair said.

“When you have cancer and it’s bad and then it’s not curable you think oh god, we haven’t got enough time.

“And I can’t do anything to help him.”

Richard will undergo surgery on Wednesday August 21 to remove the mass on his kidney for biopsy. Picture: Supplied by family

Richard is self-employed working as the design director for interiors at his own company.

Clair said receiving this devastating news had affected every single aspect of their lives.

“It’s been a whirlwind two weeks,” Clair said.

“Our lives have completely changed in a heartbeat with a lot of unknowns, all because of a cough really.

Richard was scheduled for surgery on Wednesday August 21 which revealed more details about his cancer including how long he will need to continue treatment for and whether it would be considered terminal.

“It’s hard to plan, it’s hard to be in that middle ground,” Clair said.

If you’d like to donate to the Simmons family you can here.