Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
‘Jeff always had a smile on his face – he fought to the end’
Jeff Li, of the Dens Road area, woke up one day with a lot of pain in the area around his left hip.
Doctors thought he had suffered nerve damage as a result of him being on his feet for long periods in his job.
But when the painkillers didn’t work, Jeff, who worked at The Pearl Chinese takeaway on Clepington Road before becoming a postman, admitted himself to A&E and after scans were taken he was told he had giant cell sarcoma of the left proximal femur.
Despite removing the tumour and undergoing a hip operation, the pain returned soon after and the tumour was found to have spread to the bottom of Jeff’s spine. A course of radiotherapy seemed to work initially, but the tumour then spread up Jeff’s spine and into his lungs.
Jeff died this week at Roxburghe House.
Now his sister Mei, 31, wants to raise awareness about the aggressive tumours.
The mum-of-two, who is originally from St Andrews where she and Jeff grew up, said: “When they found the tumour, the doctors weren’t actually sure what it was. It was acting like a cancer but it wasn’t actually cancer so doctors around the UK were trying to work out what it was.
“Initially the hospital didn’t know what to do with him as it is a really rare condition.
“In the end, they said he might have had the tumour quite young, but they don’t know why it became a problem when it did.
“When he was younger he did say that sometimes after exercise he did feel a bit of pain in his leg.
“He always said to me that I should make sure if my son has any pains while growing up, I should keep an eye on it.
“I think there’s a message to get out there that people should go for medical help if they are concerned.”
Although Jeff knew his condition was terminal, his death on Monday had been unexpected.
Mei said: “Everybody was quite shocked. They said he had days, but sadly he just went very quickly and we didn’t expect it.
“He was in a lot of pain but he was so brave, strong and determined.
“He was always so positive, always had a smile on his face and fought till the end.
“Jeff had hoped he would get better because even though he was told it was terminal he had hoped he would still have a few years.
“He really cared for others. When he was told it was terminal he was always comforting our mum, rather than feeling sorry for himself.
“I will just remember him as positive. People said he was a gentleman, just a genuinely nice guy.
“A lot of his friends have been in touch and they have been really supportive too.”
Jeff, who attended Madras College as a youngster, was a popular postman in the Carnoustie area, but he left the Royal Mail earlier this year when he took ill health retirement.
A Royal Mail spokeswoman said: “Royal Mail colleagues are saddened to hear of the death of former postman Jeff Li, our thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time.”
A DUNDEE postman has died at the age of 33 after a battle against rare type of tumour.