Lynda & Sheila
Lynda’s mom Sheila was 79 when she started to get symptoms, in 2016. A year later, she was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer, and died just six weeks later. Lynda looks back at that time and stresses that people with pancreatic cancer deserve change.
My mom had been ‘off colour’ for a while, she had lost some weight and had general aches and pains. She’d been to the doctors several times over a few months. But coupled with her age (79) and diabetes, which was very well controlled by diet, I think perhaps they didn’t take it seriously. Or maybe the GPs just had no idea of the symptoms or what to look out or test for.
We pushed for tests
This went on for 12 months. My mom’s generation were taught not to question medical professionals, and her treatment only moved forward when myself and my sister got involved. I think mom just accepted it was her age. Unfortunately if you have no one to advocate for you then you just accept what the doctors say.
Eventually, after a couple of scans, she was told there was a mass on the head of the pancreas. After a brief discussion about treatments (chemo and the Whipple) more scans were scheduled.
The diagnosis came too late
Unfortunately, two days later I had to meet mom at the hospital as she’d been rushed in with pain in her side. After some tests, on February 14th 2017 we were told the cancer was stage 4 and had spread to her liver. They said nothing could be done and she may have six to nine months.
Sadly, mom never made it back home. After four awful weeks in hospital, she was lucky enough to get a bed in a local Marie Curie hospice, where six weeks from the day of diagnosis she passed away peacefully and pain free with my sister and I at her bedside.
We need change to tackle pancreatic cancer
GPs need to be made aware of the symptoms. When the diagnosis is so slow, it is a death sentence. And my mom suffered so much in hospital. The care was pretty poor. Though individual staff were lovely, it’s the system that’s broken. Money needs to put into research and making sure ground breaking treatments are available to all who need them.
Families need things to change too
The speed at which the end came gave us no time to process what was happening. Six weeks is just not right. I read daily that sadly there has been little, if any, improvement in swift diagnosis. Things need to change for sure.
At the end of March, it will be eight years since my mom’s passing. We were lucky we had Marie Curie to care for mom in the last few weeks. Their continued support after mom’s passing is why I’m still here today.
xx Love & miss you mom xx
Lynda
March 2025
