Blessed with extraordinary talent, striking looks and flowing blond hair, it came as little surprise that snooker sensation Paul Hunter was swiftly crowned "the David Beckham of the baize". Hunter, who turned professional in 1995, began to take the sport by storm following the turn of the millennium, claiming back-to-back Masters titles in 2001 and 2002 before securing a third just two years later at the tender age of 25. Alongside twice being crowned Welsh Open champion, he also lifted the British Open title in 2002.

Yet the year after clinching the Masters for a third time, the Leeds-born ace received a shattering diagnosis that would ultimately cost him his life just 18 months later. Hunter had sought medical advice after experiencing a single symptom - a sharp pain in his side. He was referred to a specialist amid initial concerns over appendicitis, but while this was quickly ruled out following a scan, it emerged that he had six cysts in his abdomen.

A laparoscopy subsequently revealed that those cysts were in fact malignant neuroendocrine tumours, with the snooker star immediately embarking on a gruelling course of chemotherapy in a desperate bid to overcome his illness.

The news was confirmed at the time by a spokesperson for the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA).

They said: "Paul will undergo treatment to cure himself of this illness. He would like to reassure his fans and supporters that, as with his snooker career, he is tenacious and positive in his fight against the disease."

While his treatment involved repeated cycles of three chemotherapy sessions spanning three days each, Hunter astonishingly chose to carry on playing as a means of distracting himself from his illness.

Yet, having acknowledged being in constant pain, his form also deteriorated and he plummeted from fifth to 34th in the world rankings.

Following a members' vote in 2006, though, the WPBSA announced a rule modification to allow Hunter to miss the entire season with his world ranking frozen at 34.

But, in a devastating turn of events, Hunter's treatment began to fail, only managing to stabilise his tumour marker level without decreasing it.

A subsequent scan revealed that his tumours had begun to grow, with it considered futile to persist with chemotherapy.

Hunter died on October 9, 2006, just five days before his 28th birthday, leaving behind his wife Lindsey and their daughter Evie, who was less than a year old.

Recalling her final moments with her husband in an interview with the Daily Mail, Lindsey said: "The last thing I said was: 'I love you'.

"His mum, dad and sister Leanne came in. All of a sudden he took a big breath, like he knew they were there, and then he was gone.

"We were all just crying. I was really happy, relieved for him, really. He had a bit of a smile on his face. We stayed there for about two hours after he died. He was fine. He was happy. He wasn't scared."

Neuroendocrine cancers are a category of cancers that originate in the neuroendocrine system and can emerge in various parts of the body including the stomach, bowel, pancreas or lungs.

Neuroendocrine tumours represent one of the two main categories of neuroendocrine cancers, alongside neuroendocrine carcinomas.

Symptoms of a neuroendocrine tumour can differ depending on where it develops in the body and which hormones it releases.

For instance, a tumour in the digestive system may cause diarrhoea, constipation or abdominal pain, while one in the lungs could result in wheezing or a persistent cough.

Some tumours, referred to as functioning tumours, may generate excessive hormone levels that circulate in the bloodstream, triggering a variety of symptoms including diarrhoea, flushing, cramps, hypoglycaemia and variations in blood pressure.

Regarding treatment, surgery to remove the tumour remains a viable option, and can also assist in managing and alleviating symptoms where a patient's condition is incurable. In cases such as Hunter's, chemotherapy is likewise commonly employed to fight the disease.

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