Edgware man falls victim to deadly killer

LONDON, UK. Tuesday 25 November 2025 – There is a deadly killer at large in the UK, claiming 26 lives every single day. For Denise Gradus, it took her father, Tony Fox, just one year after his diagnosis. Now she’s sharing his story to help others spot the signs early and stop this killer in its tracks.

Denise, 52, from London, is one of the faces of Pancreatic Cancer Action’s #DeadlyKiller campaign, launched this November for Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, to expose the devastating speed of the disease and the desperate need for earlier diagnosis.

Tony was 75 when the first signs appeared. A bit of indigestion, darker urine, and what looked like a suntan that turned out to be jaundice. Tests confirmed pancreatic cancer. “It was such a shock,” says Denise. “He was active, funny, and still so full of life. Watching him go through treatment and stay strong for everyone else was both heartbreaking and inspiring.”

Tony began chemotherapy to shrink the tumour, followed by radiotherapy. At first, there was hope, but the cancer later spread to his liver and adrenal glands. He died in November 2022, just nine days after Denise’s 50th birthday and the day before his granddaughter’s nineteenth.

“Dad never complained, even when he was in pain,” Denise says. “If telling his story helps one person get diagnosed earlier, that’s exactly what he would have wanted.”

Pancreatic cancer is often called the “silent” or “deadly killer” because its vague symptoms are easy to dismiss. In the UK sadly, 50% of people diagnosed with this deadly disease will die within 3 months, and a shocking 93% will die within 5 years. Despite being the deadliest common cancer, it receives just 3.1% of UK cancer research funding.

“Denise’s story represents the reality faced by thousands of families each year,” says Anthony Cummings, CEO of Pancreatic Cancer Action. “Her courage in sharing Tony’s journey will help others recognise the danger of this #DeadlyKiller and save lives through awareness.”

As part of Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, Pancreatic Cancer Action will be at Waterloo Station on Thursday 20 November, raising funds and awareness. The public are invited to come along, meet the team, and learn more about the symptoms that could save a life.

The #DeadlyKiller campaign urges people to know the symptoms, share them, and support life-saving research and education across the UK.

Common symptoms include:

• Persistent indigestion or heartburn

• Abdominal pain or discomfort, especially in the upper abdomen or back

• Unexplained weight loss

• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)

• Changes in bowel habits

• New-onset diabetes