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Lucy with her dad Alan, who could’ve had longer with them if one simple question was asked by medics, the family believesCredit: Joel Goodman\/Pancreatic Cancer UK 9<\/p>\n ‘Fit and healthy’ Alan died four weeks after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancerCredit: Joel Goodman\/Pancreatic Cancer UK 9<\/p>\n Alan\u2019s children David and Lucy believe their dad could have been savedCredit: Joel Goodman\/Pancreatic Cancer UK<\/p>\n \u201cIf the doctors had asked about dad\u2019s family history, they\u2019d have found out his sister Judy died of pancreatic cancer<\/a> 12 years before when she was 60,\u201d David, 35, from Preston, Lancashire<\/a>, tells Sun Health.<\/p>\n \u201cIt could have changed everything.\u201d<\/p>\n Instead, it took 13 months for the retired council project manager to get a cancer<\/a> diagnosis from the onset of his first symptoms.<\/p>\n And when it finally came, it was too late – Alan died just four weeks later, aged 68.<\/p>\n Lucy, 33, says: \u201cThe medics never connected the dots despite the fact it felt strange because he was such a healthy person suddenly having issues.<\/p>\n \u201cI find those \u2018what ifs\u2019 really hard to deal with now.<\/p>\n \u201cHad the doctors known about his sister when investigating these sudden health issues in 2023, things may have been so different.<\/p>\n \u201cThat knowledge, combined with the pre-diabetes and heart issues, should have been three massive red flags.<\/p>\n \u201cWe might have had a chance to explore chemo or an operation, or to go private to speed things up.<\/p>\n \u201cInstead, when it did finally get diagnosed, dad\u2019s rate of decline was like going from 0 to 100 in no time at all.\u201d<\/p>\n I’m a doctor, NEVER ignore these pancreatic cancer symptoms<\/p>\n Alan had lived his life by the book, alongside his loving wife Julie, 69, a retired school bursar.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was so fit, so healthy,\u201d David says. \u201cHe was cycling<\/a> 20 to 30 miles four or five days a week.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019d never had a day off work in his life.\u201d<\/p>\n In May 2023, during a regular cycle with his club, Alan felt faint.<\/p>\n His Apple Watch<\/a> showed an erratic heartbeat and Julie rushed him to A&E.<\/p>\n Doctors discovered Alan was dehydrated <\/a>and suffering from atrial fibrillation<\/a> – an irregular heart rhythm.<\/p>\n By August, blood tests flagged pre-diabetes<\/a>. He was told to start taking up to 10 tablets a day.<\/p>\n Beauty business<\/a> owner Lucy, also from Preston<\/a>, says: \u201cHe was absolutely mortified.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was a really proud man who, like mum, took good care of himself but he actually got quite tearful because the doctor suggested he may be eating the wrong things.\u201d<\/p>\n 9<\/p>\n Alan’s Apple Watch showed an erratic heartbeat and wife Julie rushed him to A&ECredit: Joel Goodman\/Pancreatic Cancer UK 9<\/p>\n If the doctors had asked about Dad\u2019s family history, they\u2019d have found out his sister Judy died of pancreatic cancer 12 years before, David tells Sun HealthCredit: Joel Goodman\/Pancreatic Cancer UK<\/p>\n Alan carried on taking holidays in his beloved motor home with Julie and trying to stay active.<\/p>\n He became increasingly conscious of what he was eating.<\/p>\n On May, 26, 2024, Alan saw a cardiologist for the irregular heartbeat, atrial fibrillations, that were still bothering him.<\/p>\n His heart issues remained, and he was told he\u2019d likely need cardioversion to shock his heart back into rhythm.<\/p>\n But the very next day, on the May Bank Holiday, he took a turn for the worse.<\/p>\n TURN FOR THE WORSE<\/p>\n Lucy says: \u201cI looked at dad that day and I just cried. He looked grey. He\u2019d lost weight.<\/p>\n \u201cWe had walked into the village that day to watch my nephew [David\u2019s son] in a parade, and I ended up having to link arms with dad and he was propping himself up on a wall as he was tired and had a pain in his upper stomach.<\/p>\n \u201cI was such a daddy’s girl, I became obsessive from that day on.<\/p>\n \u201cI think because we were so close, I just knew he had cancer and I was terrified.\u201d<\/p>\n Alan returned to the GP<\/a> on May 31, following the sudden decline in his health.<\/p>\n That week, he had numerous doctor’s appointments.<\/p>\n He was told he now had type 1 diabetes<\/a> and started having to inject insulin.<\/p>\n But alarm bells rang when blood tests showed abnormalities in his liver and pancreas.<\/p>\n 9<\/p>\n Alan with his grandson GeorgeCredit: Joel Goodman\/Pancreatic Cancer UK 9<\/p>\n Alan’s wife JulieCredit: Joel Goodman\/Pancreatic Cancer UK<\/p>\n \u201cThe GP said he suspected pancreatic cancer and was referring Dad on the two-week cancer pathway,\u201d says David.<\/p>\n \u201cI had taken that day off and, when I heard, I Googled it on the beach while my son played. It was terrifying.<\/p>\n \u201cIt said he could have months – maybe a year at best so from that day on, until after he died, I chose not to look again because I wanted to remain positive and hopeful for Dad.\u201d<\/p>\n A day later, Alan began to notice his vision worsening.<\/p>\n He was rushed to Lancaster Hospital by ambulance.<\/p>\n His insulin was increased which helped with his sudden diabetes<\/a> diagnosis, but over the next week, he found it increasingly hard to eat without experiencing huge discomfort.<\/p>\n Lucy, who had moved back into the family home, admits: \u201cI was obsessive, thinking I could heal him with juices.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of my friends made some for us and I bought a juicer.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d buy all organic vegetables and fruit and leave several options for him next to a little note that said \u2018I love you\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n The gastro consultant confirmed pancreatic cancer and that it had spread to his liver but it was all very fast.<\/p>\n David<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Alan\u2019s weight loss, pain and weakness continued.<\/p>\n On June 10, a full-body CT scan was carried out.<\/p>\n A week later, a doctor called Alan to say he had looked at the scan results and found blood clots on Alan\u2019s lungs and he needed to make his way to the hospital urgently.<\/p>\n What you need to know about pancreatic cancer<\/p>\n AS with most cancers, the earlier you detect pancreatic cancer the better a patient\u2019s chance of survival.<\/p>\n That\u2019s why it\u2019s so important to know the signs and symptoms, and to act and seek your GP if you\u2019re worried.<\/p>\n Here, Nicci Murphy, a specialist nurse who staffs Pancreatic Cancer UK\u2019s Support Line, reveals what you need to know.<\/p>\n How common is pancreatic cancer?<\/strong> Are there different types?<\/strong> What are the early warning signs and symptoms you should look out for?<\/strong> Common symptoms of pancreatic cancer include:<\/p>\n Other symptoms include:<\/p>\n If a person has any of these symptoms and they don’t know why they have them, they should contact their GP or call NHS 111. What’s the treatment and survival rate?<\/strong> Due to the vague symptoms associated with the disease and a lack of early detection test, 80 per cent of people aren\u2019t diagnosed until after the cancer has spread, meaning they are unable to have lifesaving treatment. It was that day, on June 17, 2024 that he finally got a diagnosis.<\/p>\n \u201cThe gastro consultant confirmed pancreatic cancer and that it had spread to his liver but it was all very fast,\u201d David says.<\/p>\n \u201cThey booked a biopsy for June 27, but Dad was already deteriorating rapidly.\u201d<\/p>\n Lucy, who was waiting with David in her car outside the hospital, recalls: \u201cI was beside myself when I saw them both.<\/p>\n \u201cThey were walking slowly towards the car clearly distressed and Mum said, \u2018it\u2019s not good.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cThey could barely speak because of the emotion of it all and then dad just gave me a massive hug and we were all just crying. It\u2019s something I\u2019ll never, ever get over.\u201d<\/p>\n Alan grew sicker by the day.<\/p>\n He suffered violent hiccups, caused by the tumour blocking his duodenum – part of the small intestine.<\/p>\n His first oncology appointment was set for July 9. \u201cIt felt like everything was too slow,\u201d David says.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery day matters with this type of cancer. It\u2019s one of the most aggressive out there. We kept being told there were processes to follow. But it felt like no one was in a rush.\u201d<\/p>\n Alan suddenly took a serious turn.<\/p>\n 9<\/p>\n![\"Man](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/2025-preston-uk-brother-sister-998967909.jpg\")
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Around 10,700 people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer each year in the UK.<\/p>\n
There are different types of pancreatic cancer, the most common being pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, which accounts for around 95 per cent of cases.
However, there are other, less common types of pancreatic cancer, such as pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (PNETs).<\/p>\n
Pancreatic cancer often doesn\u2019t cause symptoms in the early stages which makes it incredibly difficult to detect.
As the cancer grows, it may start to cause symptoms, but they are often vague and associated with common, less serious conditions.<\/p>\n\n
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If they have jaundice, they need to go to their GP or A&E straight away.<\/p>\n
Pancreatic cancer is the deadliest common cancer: more than half of people die within three months of diagnosis.
Research into the disease has been underfunded for decades, resulting in survival rates that have barely improved in the last 50 years \u2013 in stark contrast to other cancers.<\/p>\n
Surgery is the only potentially curative treatment for pancreatic cancer yet just 10 per cent of people are eligible for it.<\/p>\n![\"Man](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/2025-preston-uk-brother-sister-998967900.jpg\")
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