Real life stories: media, web & books
There are many other real life stories to be found in the media
and on the web: inspirational tales and exploits of pancreatic
cancer patients, families and friends, among them celebrities and
other people in the public eye. Here's a recent collection.
Stories of people with pancreatic cancer on
Healthtalkonline
The Healthtalkonline website contains interviews (in video and
written form) with 32 people about their experiences of having
pancreatic cancer and also interviews with 8 carers. More information
2012
Priya Andrews, diagnosed with pancreatic cancer
in September 2009. She initially turned down treatment but was
persuaded to have treatment by her daugther and is still doing well
in January 2012. More information
Liz Gray, diagnosed with
neuroendocrine pancreatic cancer in June 2009 organised a
sponsored walk for Pancreatic Cancer UK. More information
2011
Steve Jobs, Apple Co-founder died from
pancreatic cancer in October aged 56. He was diagnosed with a rare
neuroendocrine tumour in his pancreas in 2004. More information
Ralph M. Steinman M.D,
a professor of immunology died from pancreatic cancer
shortly before it was announced that he was to share the nobel
prize for medicine. He co-discoverd dendritic cells which are part
of the immune system. Research is looking into how these cells
might be used to treat cancer, HIV and transplant
rejection. He also used his own research to try and treat his
pancreatic cancer more information from the BBC and the Rockefeller
University.
Rachael Rogan has taken on the incredible task
of organising a fundraising walk to benefit research into
pancreatic cancer. Join her on the 7th May 2011 on a 23 mile
journey through the picturesque Lake District, passing along the
shores of Coniston water to test your strength on challenging
peaks. Rachael's father died from pancreatic cancer in 1986, you
can read her story here
Vic Heaney walked almost 2,000 kms, at
the age of 70, to raise funds for pancreatic cancer
research. A book about the walk "Vic's Big Walk" is now
available.
2010
Daily Mirror columnist, Sue Carroll, tells of
her experience of pancreatic cancer:
Daily Mirror
Anna Magnusson, Margaret Magnusson and Sally
Magnusson: the daughters of Mastermind quizmaster Magnus Magnusson,
pledged to help others by raising awareness of pancreatic cancer
More information
Trevor Price: Trevor's wife, Christine, died
from pancreatic cancer. He has written a book 'Shelter from the
Storm' about how the couple coped following Christine's diagnosis
in 2009 and how family and friends supported them. Any profits from
the book are being donated to Pancreatic Cancer UK & Pancreatic
Cancer Action. More
information
Trace Allen: Coming out the other side after
cancer... How one man's passion for running helped him through his
recovery from pancreatic cancer Runner's World
Survivor Jan Mumford:12 years after diagnosis
and Whipple's surgery. The Age, Melbourne, Australia
Peter Stothard, former Times editor was
diagnosed with a Neuro Endocrine Tumour that had settled in and
around the pancreas 10 years ago. More information He has written a book about
Spartacus's marches across Italy: "Taken as a whole, it is a single
huge digression, a circumvallation built around the most terrible
experience in the author's life" The Independent
How Mary coped when her husband of 40 years
died from pancreatic cancer. Daily Mail
Brian Lenihan: Irish finance minister sticks at
the day job while battling pancreatic cancer Irish Independent
Sister-in-law's death inspires 'bonkers' charity bike ride Kingston Guardian
2009
Yvonne Shepherd:grandmother-of-two defies the
odds in battle against aggressive pancreatic cancer Daily Echo
Patrick Swayze:Cancer 'putting me through hell'
Daily Telegraph ; 'I'm proud of what I'm doing New York Times ; Two-year battle ends BBC
Suzette Smith: "This isn't a glamorous cancer.
It's a particularly lonely diagnosis when you're young." Daily Express
2008
Dr Ron Davis: 'armed with knowledge, driven to
fight' -.....that scan New York Times
Voices of Pancreatic Cancer: New York Times
Rowing coach inspires teamwith own courage. Canadian coach
Bent Jensen received chemotherapy to help battle
pancreatic cancer in his hotel room during the Olympics just so he
could be in Beijing with his rowers The Star; Jensen's last great race (McLeans.ca)
Randy Pausch: US computer science professor
diagnosed with pancreatic cancer whose 'last lecture' became a
sensation on the web, as well as a bestselling book, dies aged 47.
Wall St Journal ; Youtube video of the 'last lecture'; Time magazine
Les Niewiara: the source of much of the
inspiration behind Pancreatic Cancer UK died four months after an
epic bike ride to Poland. He wrote a book 'Bike to the Future'
(available through Pancreatic Cancer UK).