Dad kept smelling caramel before being diagnosed with devastating cancer

A British man who noticed a sudden change to his sense of smell had no idea that weeks later, doctors would diagnose him with a life-threatening variation of cancer.

In the months prior, Costas Fantis, 57, had boasted a 'fit and healthy' lifestyle', and was described by his eldest son Antonio as a 'hard-working typical father figure'.

Revealing he was nicknamed 'Rambo', the 27-year-old explained: "My dad is a fighter. He's always fought all of his life.

"His nickname has been Rambo all of his life, because he's just known to get from any battle he's had to face."

Out of the blue, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire local Costas began picking up on a number of sweet smells in peculiar locations - specifically, the sickly scent of caramel.

Costas initially believed his symptoms had been caused by his epilepsy (SWNS)

"His sense of smell changed and he kept getting this strange sweet caramel smell. We didn't think much of it," Antonio said of his father.

"We definitely didn’t know it was a symptom of something so serious."

Costas initially believed that his epilepsy - which he'd suffered from since childhood - was behind the change to his senses.

After being referred by his doctor for a biopsy and a number of rounds of testing last April, however, he was dealt a life-shattering diagnosis.

The father-of-four was suffering from stage 4 IDH-wildtype glioblastoma - a condition considered by many medics as the most aggressive type of brain cancer due to its inoperability.

Quantity surveyor Antonio admitted: "We were shellshocked. We didn’t really know how to take it.

"We were worried, scared, nervous but then still trying to get to grips with the situation and what was going on because he had no symptoms."

He continued: "It just kind of proves that you can be a fit and healthy man yet still have something wrong with you."

Costas was diagnosed with brain cancer (Getty Stock Image)

Returning to the sporadic sweet smells his father was encountering, Antonio continued: "From what we now know they define them as mini seizures, they last seconds, nothing happens to you whilst you do it."

Since receiving his diagnosis, Costas has completed both radiotherapy and chemotherapy - the only brain cancer treatments currently available in the UK on the NHS.

Despite this, his family are hoping to arrange for him to receive potentially life-saving treatment in Germany.

The price of the therapy is a staggering £464,000, however, and as such, the Fantis' raced to raise a further £350,000 on GoFundMe.

"In the last 20 years the treatments haven't changed for glioblastomas in the UK," Antonio explained. "So it's quite a scary thing to be diagnosed with, knowing that there's not much the NHS can do.

"Put it this way, they're telling us in the consultancy meetings not to cut back on anything and just enjoy your life, in the most harrowing way possible."

His family have been attempting to raise money for treatment (SWNS)

After thousands of pounds were donated by onlookers to their situation, Costas is reportedly one step closer to the DC vaccine therapy which is available in Munich, and undergoing a clinical trial in London.

"He's very giving which is why I think he's reaped the rewards now in terms of people giving back and the GoFundMe," Antonio gushed. "He loves rugby, he used to coach the local football and rugby team when I was growing up.

"He's so down to earth, always looking to help people - good morals, good values - but he's a hard worker and he'll fight this just like any battle he has faced before.

"And he's faced some battles. So this is just going to be another one, it's the toughest test yet."