“Do not ignore the signs.”

"On July 24, 2021, I lost my husband Nigel to pancreatic cancer. He was 67. Today, three years later, I feel compelled to share his story in hopes that it might help others recognise the subtle signs of this devastating disease.

“Nigel had been living with type 2 diabetes for many years, controlled by tablets. Toward the end of 2020, during a routine review at our doctor’s surgery, his blood sugar levels were unusually high. Despite efforts to stabilise them, they spiked erratically, and he was switched to insulin. Over six weeks, he was monitored, but there was no improvement. The GP suggested increasing his insulin dosage every two weeks, but even after six months, nothing changed. 

“Nigel, standing tall at 6ft 1, was always a big man. He carried more weight than usual, but in early 2021, he began losing weight rapidly. He didn’t want to bother the GP, especially with the ongoing pandemic. But something Nigel said during a phone consultation must have raised concerns, as he was sent for an endoscopy and colonoscopy. Both came back clear, but a later scan at Derby Royal Hospital detected an anomaly in his pancreas. On May 6th, 2021, we sat down with a nurse who explained that the cancer had spread to his liver and beyond. We were told he had just 6-9 months to live. 

“The mention of chemotherapy was brief. Given the severity of his condition, Nigel declined it, choosing to enjoy his remaining days without the side effects. Tragically, unbeknown to him, he had only six weeks left. 

“During this time, support services such as Macmillan Cancer Support and three dedicated cancer nurses became lifelines for us. Nigel was placed on Pancreatic Enzyme Replacement Therapy (PERT) to help with his appetite, but it caused severe constipation, leading to two hospital admissions. On one occasion, Nigel was placed in a general ward with four other patients because the reason for his admission was noted as constipation rather than cancer. It wasn’t ideal, and due to COVID-19 restrictions, I couldn’t be with him. 

“During his final hospital stay, I received a call from the hospital while shopping at the local Co-op, urging me to come quickly as Nigel had taken a bad turn and was unresponsive. In shock, I finished my shopping, something I still can’t explain. I called our sons, urging them to get to the hospital immediately. When I arrived, my son greeted me with hopeful new – Nigel was awake and chatting. For a brief moment, we thought perhaps it was just the heat that had caused him to feel faint and pass out. 

“That afternoon, he was starting to feel more pain so was given morphine and moved to the Macmillan ward, where he had his own room. At 7pm, we were advised to go home and rest, but just three hours later, the hospital called again. Nigel was agitated, and I rushed back. By 11pm, his breathing changed, and I was told to call our sons. They arrived by midnight, and by 2am, Nigel passed away. As a family, we take comfort knowing he didn’t suffer greatly in the end. 

“Nigel had always suffered from indigestion and other gastrointestinal issues, but nothing that signalled anything more sinister. The only signs pointing to something being wrong were his fluctuating blood sugar levels and a gradual loss of appetite along with weight loss. 

“This experience has taught me just how vague the symptoms of pancreatic cancer can be. I urge everyone: do not be afraid to reach out to your GP if you sense something isn’t right. It might just save your life”.