A 'kind' Glasgow man has died after his sore shoulder was actually a symptom of a lurking fatal illness.

Alan Barr passed away last week after doctors discovered he had lung cancer just four weeks earlier.

The 53-year-old, from Pollok, had been complaining of pains in his right shoulder but had no idea how serious his health issues were.

He was left devastated after attending The Queen Elizabeth Hospital and finding out he had a tumour and his cancer had also spread to his oesophagus.

Now his mum has paid tribute and is hoping her son's death will encourage others to give up smoking.

Glasgow Times: Grace and Alan were closeGrace and Alan were close (Image: Sourced)

Grace Barr told The Glasgow Times: “Alan couldn’t have been a nicer or kinder person, he was really special.

“He took the diagnosis better than any of us, he thought it was his own fault for not giving up smoking.

“We all gave it up but couldn’t convince him, if this can help anyone to give it up that would be good.

“Alan thought he had a twisted nerve and was in a lot of pain because of his shoulder but thought it would get better soon.

“He could only lie on his left side and had to sit in a garden chair all the time, the painkillers didn’t seem to be working. After he found out he had cancer he got really sick quickly.

“He was devastated at first but soon accepted it which must have been hard, he was really positive.”

Glasgow Times: Alan died just four weeks after being diagnosed Alan died just four weeks after being diagnosed (Image: Sourced)

Lung cancer is one of the most common types of cancer with more than 43,000 people being diagnosed with the condition every year in the UK.

Although people who have never smoked can develop lung cancer, smoking is the most common cause, according to the NHS. 

There are usually no signs or symptoms in the early stages of lung cancer, but many people with the condition eventually develop symptoms.

These can include a persistent cough, coughing up blood, breathlessness, unexplained tiredness, weight loss, and pain when breathing.

Now Alan is being remembered as a bighearted man who loved his friends and computer games.

Glasgow Times: Alan is being remembered as 'kind'Alan is being remembered as 'kind' (Image: Sourced)

While spending his last days in hospital he created a movie theatre in the hospital by using his phone as a projector for other patients.

Now his mother wants to do “one last thing” to thank him for his kindness by giving him a personalised funeral.

She has bought a Star Trek themed coffin for him to make his final journey and will have call of duty music play at the ceremony.

Grace said: “We wanted to do something really special, he really loved gaming and Star Trek.

“He had his friends over all the time to play games at his house so it was a big part of his life.

“I wanted to do one last thing for him, he was such a good person.”