Volunteer Stewart’s Story

As always, we love to put the spotlight on inspiring volunteers who are making a huge difference. Meet Stewart, who has volunteered to support our work on the Optimal Care Pathway (OCP)

The pathway aims to shape consistent care and treatment for people with pancreatic cancer. As well as outline what care and treatment a person should expect based on the best available evidence and medical knowledge.

Stewart is a retired GP, and alongside his volunteer role at Pancreatic Cancer UK, he is also currently Chairperson of a local community cancer charity in Yorkshire and volunteer fundraiser for a Leeds based hospice.

What motivated you to volunteer at Pancreatic Cancer UK?

I was motivated to volunteer following the death of a lifelong friend from this terrible illness. It took over a year from the first symptoms before diagnosis. He underwent an operation knowing there are people who find their cancer is inoperable during surgery. He was unfortunately one of them, and very quickly started chemotherapy which did not prolong his life.

His quality of life reduced dramatically during the six months of chemotherapy up to his death. Two days before he passed away, he rang me from hospital and in the most difficult telephone call I have ever received said “I wish I had decided not to have treatment.”

What do you get out of volunteering with us?

The only way I can deal with the grief is to volunteer in different ways with Pancreatic Cancer UK. I feel by volunteering that I am making a difference. 

I hope that by working on the OCP, I was able to be part of a project that would help patients with pancreatic cancer have better outcomes in terms of life expectancy and quality of life.  

 The initiative brings together health professionals and people affected by pancreatic cancer to discuss, and agree on the improvements needed across healthcare services for people with pancreatic cancer. I participated in multiple workshops in 2022 and 2023, sharing my insights and perspectives on what optimal pancreatic cancer care should look like, as someone with a personal connection to this cancer. 

What has been your highlight to date?

I have 3 volunteering highlights:

1)Making a short video as part of the OCP

2)Being invited to the Launch of the OCP in London in October 2023, and seeing my video being played to attendees

3)Through a ballot, I got a place for last year’s London Marathon where another friend of mine completed the course and we raised £3600 in memory of my friend

This year, Stewart has also been invited to the healthcare service evaluation grant round. This is a programme at Pancreatic Cancer UK, which funds projects within the NHS, to implement and test improvements in pancreatic cancer healthcare services.

Well done Stewart, and thank you for all you do!

We’re aware there’ll be many of you who can relate to Stewart’s personal experience of losing a loved one to pancreatic cancer. Please do reach out to our support services if you ever need it.