'Who's going to be my dad?': Heartbreaking question from a seven-year-old girl facing life without her father - who at just 31 is losing his battle with a rare stomach cancer

A seven-year-old girl is facing the heartbreaking prospect of a life without her father after he was diagnosed with a rare form of stomach cancer. 

South Australian father Zander Uren, 31, was diagnosed with the rare cancer called Linitus Plastica just four weeks ago - and then on Tuesday he found it had spread to his liver and his abdominal lining.

Now Zander, from the Adelaide Hills in South Australia, has opened up to Daily Mail Australia about living with a terminal illness while his young daughter, Talika Rose, is only just starting to grow up.

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South Australian man Zander Uren, 31, is pictured with his seven-year-old daughter Talika Rose

The single father (pictured with Talika as a baby) has developed an aggressive form of stomach cancer known as Linitus Plastica

Zander has told Talika 'bits and pieces' about his illness, but not the complete story.

'She know's I'm very sick and have cancer and might die,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'Last night Talika said she doesn't want me to die and she asked "who's going to be my father?"'

Despite the emotional and physical pain Mr Uren is enduring, he has maintained a positive attitude for Talika.

'I have to keep smiling and making jokes,' he said.

'I'm going through chemo to spend more time with her.'   

Talika Rose as a toddler, with her father Zander, and her dad's sister Eliza (left)

Diagnoses of Linitus Plastica only happen when the cancer is quiet advanced, meaning survival rates are only between three and 10 per cent within five years.

'On Tuesday I was told there was no cure and I can't have surgery because it's spread to my liver and abdominal area,' Zander said.

Zander's daughter, Talika, will be genetically tested for the disease at 21. His mother, Margie Uren, said while that may seem like a long time to go without testing, it is highly unusual for anyone to get it under the age of 25.

'The cancer is genetically inherited, it's just bad luck and caused by mutated genes,' Margie, 56, said.

Diagnosis occurs once the cancer is already quite advanced, with survival rates for Linitus Plastica at only three to 10 per cent survival over five years

Zander cradles his newborn daughter: When Zander came home to visit his mother, he had lost a lot of weight and developed jaundice - symptoms that forced her to take him to hospital

Zander could live for between three to six months without chemotherapy, but having the treatment could prolong his life by up to two years.

'I'm having chemo to buy me more time,' he said.

When Zander came home to visit his mother, he had lost a lot of weight and developed jaundice - a yellow staining of the skin and whites of the eyes - symptoms that forced her to take him to hospital.

'My bile duct was blocked by lymph nodes that were enlarged,' Zander said.

Zander will undertake a bone scan as he is worried the cancer may have spread even further to his bones due to the back pain he's been experiencing.

But Margie says they won't know the results of the scan until he undergoes chemotherapy next Wednesday. 

'The first week is intravenous infusion and then the next two weeks he'll take tablets, and then the three week cycle repeats but we're not sure how many times it will be repeated depending on how effective the treatment is,' Margie said.

An emotional Zander after the birth of Talika Rose: 'On Tuesday I was told there was no cure and I can't have surgery because it's spread to my liver and abdominal area,' Zander told Daily Mail Australia

Zander's mother, Margie Uren, 56, said Zander could live up to three to six months without chemotherapy, but with chemo he could live up to 12 months to two years

Talika Rose: Zander's daughter Talika will also be tested at 21, and while that may seem like a long time to go without testing, Margie insists it is highly unusual for anyone to get it under the age of 25

But Zander is not the only one that has to undergo invasive testing.

'Zander's Dad and I have to do genetic testing to see which side he got the cancer from,' Margie said.

Zander's brother and sister also had an endoscopy and biopsy to detect whether they also had the aggressive form of cancer.

While one of them had an ulcer, Margie said they free of the disease.

Talika Rose with her dad Zander and mum Hunnah (right). Her parents have separated but remain close

Zander will undertake a bone scan as he is worried the cancer may have spread even further to his bones due to the back pain he's been experiencing

Zander and his mother, Margie, who will be genetically tested, along with Zander's father, in the coming weeks to see which side of the family the cancer was inherited 

Sophie Rose, a close friend of Zander's, has set up aGoFundMe page to raise funds to help him care for Talika.

'We've started the GoFundMe page to financially get ahead enough to help her out with schooling in the future,' Zander said. 

Funds raised will also go towards the latest medical treatments to give Zander the best chance of survival possible. 

In just three days, the campaign has already raised $30,825 of its $100,000 goal. 

Along with the GoFundMe page, Zander's family will organise fundraising events such as a silent auction or disco night.

'We're getting the immediate family together to have a holiday in Queensland where there's sunshine,' Margie said.

Despite the emotional and physical pain Zander is enduring, he has maintained a positive attitude for Talika

Zander with his siblings and step-siblings: 'I'm going through chemo to spend more time with her,' Zander said

Zander on a trip to Bali, Indonesia: Sophie Rose, a close friend of Zander's, has set up a GoFundMe page to raise funds to help him care for Talika

Zander with his father (middle), his daughter and siblings: In just three days, the campaign has already raised $30,825 of its $100,000 goal

Zander pictured with his new car that was donated by a friend: Funds raised will also go towards the latest medical treatments to give Zander the best chance of survival possible

A positive outlook: 'I have to keep smiling and making jokes,' Zander told Daily Mail Australia