Hi, Shaz here!

Who Needs A Pancreas Anyway?

In January 2024, after months of anxious waiting, our world was shattered when my incredible mum received devastating news: a large pancreatic tumor, compounded by her third bout with breast cancer. The dual diagnosis seemed to close all doors to surgical intervention, leaving us with only two unbearable options, indefinite palliative chemotherapy or no treatment at all, which would give Mum mere months.

We chose to fight. There were too many adventures left to live, even if they had to be squeezed between rounds of chemotherapy. What followed was pretty brutal, five grueling rounds, each one delayed by infections or extended hospital stays lasting weeks. You can see from the pictures, she kept smiling, and kept fighting even through the hardest of times.

And then, against all medical expectations, a CT scan revealed no visible mass in her chest, suddenly making curative surgery a possibility.

Mum underwent the complex Whipple procedure, but complications, including a ruptured spleen, turned an already dangerous operation into an 11-hour battle for her life. Thanks only to her surgical team's extraordinary skill and determination, she survived. The surgery was mad, a complete pancreatectomy and splenectomy, but most crucially, the mass was removed with clear margins.

Recovery has been a journey of small victories, adapting to daily blood sugar management and enduring six more rounds of chemotherapy. Then, in February, came the news we hardly dared hope for; a clear scan. Against all odds.

Now, to celebrate this remarkable triumph and to support the incredible Macmillan team who stood beside us through every setback and victory, we're taking on a half marathon across the South Downs. Mum will be walking with us, currently building her strength from 4,000 steps daily to 13 miles.

We understand times are tough for everyone, but if you can spare anything at all, our team Who Needs A Pancreas Anyway? would be grateful for your support as we complete this monumental challenge alongside our extraordinary four-time cancer survivor.

Every step we take honors her fight, and every pound raised helps Macmillan continue their vital work for families like ours.