Philippe, aged 32 when diagnosed with operable nonfunctioning neuroendocrine cancer

Philippe first noticed that he was having stomach pains in the early part of 2002, he visited his GP several times. He was referred to his A and E department and had some checks done (Barium Meal) that didn't lead to an accurate diagnosis. At first a grumbling appendix was suspected, then Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

In July 2002 Philippe went on holiday to Turkey. On his return he experienced diarrhoea and stomach pains. This later progressed to severe itching of the skin and weakness and weight loss. His GP diagnosed Hepatitis. Philippe deteriorated over the following six weeks, losing weight and with increasing jaundice. His only medicine was anti-histamine to stop the itching.

At this point (September 2002) he visited the A and E department at a hospital, as a last resort. The doctor performed an ultrasound scan and picked up a tumour at the head of the pancreas. Philippe was admitted to hospital that day.

Philippe was then transferred to UCL Middlesex and spent a further 6 weeks as a nil by mouth patient. This was due to the severe inflammation of the pancreas making it impossible for accurate imaging to be carried out.

The intravenous feed combined with the severe jaundice meant that Philippe was very weak and frail. Two stents in succession were placed into the bile duct to free some of the build up of bile but quickly became blocked.

Following a biopsy and no conclusive evidence of adenocarcinoma an operation was scheduled for November. The surgeon performed a full Whipple operation removing the bottom of the stomach, gall bladder, most of the pancreas, and approximately 30 lymph nodes. Philippe was in surgery for approximately 7 hours.

Philippe finally left hospital in mid December 2002, almost 4 months after he visited A and E. The tumour was neuroendocrine cancer, and we have since learnt it is the non-functioning type.

Philippe is under Martyn Caplin, a neuroendocrine specialist at the Royal Free hospital. Since the operation Philippe is monitored every 3 months, he has scans and blood tests. The operation did not remove all of the tumour and there is some remaining on the vein next to the pancreas. Recently there has been further spread to the liver.

They were waiting to see what kind of treatment options were available until May/June 2006.

Philippe's girlfriend Helen made contact with Sue Ballard through the Johns Hopkins discussion board and they discussed setting up a web-site of information on pancreatic cancer for the UK. They met in March 2003 and Philippe set up the initial web-site in June 2003 to coincide with Sue, Helen, Philippe, Corinna, Dominic and two of Helen and Philippe's friends undertaking a sponsored walk - 7months after Philippe's operation.

Helen and Philippe got married in September 2003 and went on honeymoon to the Galapagos Islands. They were originally planning a world tour but Philippe needed to be around for further tests at Royal Free Hospital so they limited the holiday to the Galapagos Islands. Sue took over development of the web-site.

It was eventually decided not to have any follow-up treatment and just to keep monitoring Philippe's progress.

Philippe returned to work after the operation and Philippe and Helen have very busy,full lives.

In June 2006 Helen and Philippe had their first child, a baby boy.

At the same time Philippe started on interferon, on 23rd June he had had two injections so far, he has had some tiredness for a couple of hours but has been told to take paracetamol and to to inject at night to counteract this.

November 2006 - Philippe is still on interferon and is being monitored

March 2007 - Philippe is doing very well, he has had a good response to the interferon and is continuing to take it. The tumour hasn't increased in size and they are hoping that it may even decrease, but this is a rare outcome. Helen says "He is better able to tolerate it now and has just started to play football again so that is a good sign."

July 2007 - Philippe is still on the interferon and there has been no tumour growth since he started it so it looks like it's doing the job.