It’s unacceptable that more than half of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer die within 3 months. Survival rates have improved enormously for most cancers, yet for pancreatic cancer, this is not the case. 

More details of all our activities can be found on our Facebook blog, “Walking for Grandad”. 

On 8/11/20, we lost our dearly beloved Dad to pancreatic cancer, just 3 1/2 months after diagnosis. Our story is all too common, Dad lived a fit and healthy lifestyle, and was just 67 when we lost him. In 2019 he visited the gp due to sudden onset of diabetes, which he was advised to manage with his already good diet. Some months later he started experiencing back pain. Even though both of these are symptoms of pancreatic cancer, the gp never considered this, and he was given the all clear and told to go and enjoy his retirement. From February onwards, throughout pandemic he was not seen and was receiving online physio for his back pain which was becoming debilitating. He finally saw a gp in July, and was told to prepare for the worst. He was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer, spread to the liver and nymph nodes; like most pancreactic cancer patients who go miss-diagnosed before it is too late. The prognosis was bleak, but he was deemed fit enough for chemo, we all knew it was a race against time with this cancer. We knew it was all happening too slowly, and 2 months later, 2 days before he was finally due to start treatment, alone is hospital, he was indeed told they had been too slow and treatment was no longer an option and he would not see Christmas. He came home to see out his days. We did all we could to make him comfortable at home while this awful disease ripped through his body causing immeasurable pain to the end. 

We gave Dad our word that we would raise awareness and funds to stop other people going through this hell, and receive earlier diagnosis and the chance of treatment. He was an avid walker, so Grace and Joe will be joining in clocking up miles for their Grandad, and with monthly challenges. Nicola will be taking on the hills she once walked with her Dad. In September she will take on the Yorkshire 3 peaks challenge as she promised him she would, peaks she has reached with her Dad many times individually; they had always planned on returning to complete the all in one day challenge together, but it didn’t get to happen. Nicola will also be running, including half and full marathons. Nothing has changed in 40 years for this awful cancer, now has to be the time!  

Pancreatic Cancer UK is dedicated to taking on this injustice using every possible means. They're supporting people with pancreatic cancer now, campaigning, and funding vital research to transform the future. Help them to make the breakthroughs that people with pancreatic cancer so desperately need.