“The first lot of chemotherapy didn’t work”
June Simpson shares with us her experiences as a pancreatic cancer patient.
In July of 2011, I was diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer after experiencing mid back pain, indigestion, tummy pain, fatigue and smelly stools that don’t flush easily. The consultant could only offer me chemotherapy.
The first lot of chemotherapy didn’t work, so my consultant put me on continuous chemotherapy through the vein and tablets. After a few months, my tumours started reducing. I had started radiotherapy as well, and after a while my tumours reduced, leaving me cancer-free.
Then this year, I started with a mouth ulcer that wouldn’t go away. I saw my GP and he sent me to my dentist. My dentist then got in touch with Castle Hill Hospital and I got an appointment within two weeks.
My consultant did a biopsy while I was at the hospital, but told me it was cancer of the tongue, no connection with pancreatic cancer. I had a third of my tongue removed, lymph nodes taken from my neck, and skin removed from my wrist.
I was in the hospital for 10 days but I didn’t need chemotherapy, this time!