Fiona’s Pancreatic Cancer Diary

Part 1 – The day I realised something wasn’t right

In October 2025 my life changed, but it didn’t start the way you might expect.

I wasn’t ill.

I hadn’t lost weight. I didn’t feel tired. I had no pain, no loss of appetite, and I was still going to work every day. If you’d asked me then whether anything was wrong, I would have said no.

The only thing that caught my attention was something small, something most people probably wouldn’t even talk about.

My stool was floating.

It sounds strange to say now, but that tiny change was the very first sign that something wasn’t right.

Like most people, I Googled it.

Gallstones came up, but that didn’t seem to fit. Gallstones are usually painful and I had absolutely no pain at all. Still, something was nagging at me.

A few days later I noticed something else.

I looked in the mirror and thought my eyes looked slightly yellow.

When I called NHS 111 and mentioned jaundice they immediately told me to go straight to A&E.

That was the moment everything began to move.

When everything suddenly speeds up

The next few days were a whirlwind.

Blood tests were taken and almost immediately I was referred onto the cancer pathway. One moment I was waiting for answers, the next I was being booked in for scans.

Looking back now, things actually happened quickly:

• 14th October 2025: Referred onto the two-week cancer pathway
• 17th October: CT scan
• 22nd October: Ultrasound scan
• 29th October: Appointment with a specialist

At the time it felt like forever.

But now I realise how fortunate I was to be seen so quickly.

The test that went wrong

On 4th November I had a procedure where doctors used a camera to examine my pancreas and take cell samples.

Unfortunately, that test caused acute pancreatitis, which meant I ended up spending a week in hospital.

It was painful and unexpected, and it delayed everything slightly.

But eventually I recovered enough to continue with the investigations.

Hearing the diagnosis

On 2nd December 2025 I finally saw my oncologist.

That was the day I was told I had a tumour in my pancreas.

Even then there were still questions. The tumour didn’t look typical and specialists were unsure exactly what type it was. The cell samples were even sent to another hospital for review.

What they did know was this:

• The tumour was around 4cm
• It was in the head of the pancreas
• It was very close to major blood vessels

Because of that, it was described as borderline operable.

In simple terms, surgery wasn’t the first option yet.

The plan was to try and shrink it first.

Starting chemotherapy

The treatment plan was 6 rounds of chemotherapy over 12 weeks to shrink the tumour before surgery.

I started treatment on 30th December 2025.

My chemotherapy involves two hours in hospital followed by going home with a pump that delivers treatment continuously for two days.

At first the idea of going home with chemotherapy attached to me sounded terrifying.

But in reality it’s been manageable. The pump simply sits beside me and quietly does its job.

The strange thing about my diagnosis

What still surprises me the most is that the cancer itself hasn’t made me feel ill.

I’ve had:

• No pain
• No loss of appetite
• No weight loss caused by the cancer

The only symptoms I’ve experienced have come from the chemotherapy itself.

One drug made me extremely ill during my first cycle so my doctors removed it from my treatment. Since then things have been much easier.

The main side effect I deal with now is nerve sensitivity in my hands, especially when touching cold objects.

But overall I’ve been fortunate.

The symptom that gave it away

The only real sign something was wrong was jaundice.

Along with it came intense itching that was almost unbearable.

During my procedure doctors inserted a stent and the relief was almost instant. The itching stopped and the jaundice began to disappear.

It was a huge turning point.

My family and staying positive

I have three children and four grandchildren, and from the very beginning we decided to approach this with positivity.

There’s been no doom and gloom.

My daughter in particular has become my biggest researcher and advocate. She has multiple sclerosis and has already been through extremely difficult treatment herself, so she knows how important it is to ask questions and push for answers.

Thanks to them, I’ve never felt like I’m facing this alone.

What happens next

As I write this, I have one final round of chemotherapy left.

My final treatment is scheduled for 24th March, followed by a CT scan on 30th March to see whether the tumour has shrunk enough for surgery.

If it has, the next step could be the Whipple procedure, a major operation that removes part of the pancreas.

Right now, I’m focusing on getting through this last treatment and staying hopeful.

Walking 100 miles for pancreatic cancer

Alongside treatment I’ve also decided to take part in Pancreatic Cancer Action’s 100-mile challenge.

The idea is simple: walk 100 miles to raise awareness and funds.

My daughter is currently training for the London Marathon, so my plan is to walk the same routes while she runs.

If she can run a marathon with MS, I can certainly walk 100 miles.

Why I’m sharing my story

Pancreatic cancer often arrives quietly.

I had almost no symptoms. If it wasn’t for that small change I noticed, I might never have gone to the doctor when I did.

That’s why awareness matters.

Trust your instincts. If something doesn’t feel right, get it checked.

I’ll continue to share updates as my treatment progresses.

For now, I’m focusing on finishing chemotherapy and hoping the next scan brings good news.