In mid August 2020 my mother/Fiona was diagnosed with cancer of the pancreas, unrelated to the breast cancer she had in 2014. A different primary. As she said at the time, it was just really bad luck. I’ll say.

She opted to have aggressive chemotherapy treatment in the hope that the tumour would shrink enough to be operable. The treatment started in early September. Six cycles, once a fortnight. She was really poorly, unable to get out of bed most days, but she was undaunted and, amazingly, unsurprisingly, was carrying on her work with the Department of Health as National Data Guardian for Health and Social Care. 

Fiona’s chemotherapy came to an end in late November. On the 1st December she had some scans to see whether the treatment had had any impact. Devastatingly, she learned on 10th December that the tumour hadn’t responded to the treatment. It had, in fact, progressed. It  remained inoperable and there were no further treatment options.

Her wishes were to remain at home with her family for as long as possible and, apart from a brief stay in Warwick Hospital for a week over Christmas, she was peaceful and comfortable with us. She died with Robert and me by her bedside, surrounded by photos from her wonderful life, flowers and cards from family, colleagues and friends. 

My father, Robert, and I had wonderful help from the Myton Hospice at Home team, district nurses, carers, GP, and the palliative care specialists. A very big thank you to the different parts of our very stretched health system that made this possible at this terrible time.

Thank you to all my friends for your love and support too.

If you would like to remember Fiona or do something to help us, please consider making a gift to Myton Hospice via this page.

Thank you, Lucy and Robert