Pancreatic Cancer Patient Biographies Pancreatic Cancer Patient Biographies In January 2000, she had what appeared to be angina symptoms, and was admitted to hospital. After the angina had been stabilised, she was referred to a consultant, who did an exercise ECG and angiogram in March 2000. He concluded that her arteries were OK, and she was taken off the medication for angina. As far as can be seen, these symptoms were unconnected with the fatal disease which eventually developed.
A number of symptoms began to develop by the end of 2000, such as diarrhoea, stomach pains and back ache. These were treated, and blood tests were carried out, but nothing untoward was found. During the first three months of 2001, the diarrhoea and back pains continued. In February she was referred to a bowel specialist. Nothing was found. By this time she had begun to lose weight, but this was not seen to be significant. Back pains continued into March. The bowel specialist decided to do a colonoscopy, and this done on 21 March 2001. Nothing was found. Blood tests and ultrasound tests were done in April, and a high blood sugar level was found. During the summer the symptoms seemed to subside, and blood sugar monitoring was done. Diabetes was diagnosed, and controlled by diet. After the colonoscopy was inconclusive, there was no suggestion of a CT scan, until the symptoms returned after six months. They did do an ultrasound, but found nothing. During the six months March to September 2001, Joyce was well as far as I was aware, except that diabetes had been found, and she was doing blood sugar checks and watching her diet.
In early September she had been vomitting over a few days, which appeared to be due to a virus, but a week later there was severe abdominal pain and jaundice and she was admitted to hospital. Gallstones were suspected, but no diagnosis was made until an ERCP test was done early in October, when the growth in the head of the pancreas was found. The growth had been pressing on the bile duct, which caused the pain and jaundice. This was relieved by the insertion of a stent. The growth was soon confirmed to be malignant, but at that time it was said that it was operable. An appointment was made to see a pancreatic cancer surgeon, which took place on 26 October 2001. He said they would need to do a more detailed CT scan before planning an operation, to check whether the cancer had spread to other areas. These tests were done early in November, and at first it was said that no operation would be possible, as the cancer had probably spread to the liver. However, after review it was decided to attempt an operation, as the impact on the liver was in doubt. The operation was carried out on 19 November. On examination, it was found that both lobes of the liver were affected, so the operation was limited to a by-pass and removal of the gall-bladder. She recovered well from the operation, and was home within ten days.
Looking back over the early symptoms and the actions taken, there is inevitable regret that no-one seems to have suspected PC, or if they did, they didn't tell us! By the time the correct diagnosis was made, it was too late to do anything other than palliative actions. So work towards improvement of early diagnosis is important as well as the need for more effective treatment.
First produced February 2004
Updated 6th September 2004