The personal stories behind the breath test trial announcement
Announcing that the world’s first breath test for pancreatic cancer was entering a national clinical trial was one of the most significant milestones in our charity’s history. Its impact was amplified by supporters like Andrew sharing their story.
Last year, we invested more than £1.1 million to progress a breath test for pancreatic cancer to a national clinical trial involving over 6,000 patients with an unknown diagnosis. The team of Imperial College London scientists developing the test are confident it can detect pancreatic cancer even in its earliest stages and hope that it could be used by GPs across the country within the next five years.
To ensure the trial announcement received the media attention it deserved, we needed powerful, personal stories to show the real-life impact of a late diagnosis.
Andrew’s wife, Jen Palmer, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in February 2024. She died just over a month later, aged 50. Despite everything his family had been through, Andrew got in touch with Jen’s story just a year after she passed.
He wanted to do something productive with his grief and he didn’t want anyone else to experience the same heartbreak.
People still tell us that they saw the announcement for the breath test clinical trial on TV, online or in newspapers. Thanks to Andrew, many more people now know about our charity, the work we do and, vitally, the symptoms that should prompt them to visit their GP.
Andrew didn’t know there wasn’t an early detection test for pancreatic cancer until after Jen was diagnosed.
From April 2023, Jen had stomach pain and indigestion which she saw the GP about several times and was tried on different medications. She had several different blood tests, a gastroscopy, was diagnosed with type two diabetes, visited urgent care and had a CT scan of her urinary tract, yet her diagnosis was missed.
In November, Jen was referred to gastroenterology on an urgent basis, but later found out it had been downgraded and she would be waiting 12 months for an appointment. She was told in January 2024 that another CT scan had been requested but this never took place.
It wasn’t until February 2024, after Jen was rushed to hospital from a GP appointment, that she had a CT scan. It revealed pancreatic cancer which had spread to her liver. Jen died just over a month later, aged 50, leaving behind Andrew and their four children.
In the year leading to her diagnosis, Jen sought medical advice more than ten times, visited A&E three times and had countless tests.
Her story is a heartbreaking illustration of why the breath test is urgently needed, and Andrew was delighted to be asked to be the lead story for our media work around the national trial.
Andrew Palmer, 55, said: “Most people who receive a pancreatic cancer diagnosis right now need to count the days, not the months. Jen had so many different tests: blood tests, scans, endoscopies, but it didn’t pick up the cancer.
“The brutality of the disease can’t be understated. There are no options at late stages. There must be hope for those who will go through this in the future. I wanted something good to come from Jen’s experience. I knew that by sharing, I’d help to raise awareness of the symptoms and the lack of early diagnostic tests.
“If there had been a breath test for us, perhaps that would have been performed when Jen first presented with symptoms. She may have been eligible for treatment, at least giving her more time. Jen thought she had time and had planned things to do for the kids. We had no idea how little time we had left with her.”
Thanks to Andrew, and others who shared their story, the announcement of the national clinical trial had a massive impact.
The story was seen by millions of people, receiving more than 235 pieces of media coverage including on the BBC website, Radio 4’s Today programme, The Times, Sky News and Channel 5.
James Barker, Head of Engagement, Marketing and Communications for Pancreatic Cancer UK, said:
“Although still grieving someone extraordinary, Andrew was aware that, like Jen, half of people die from pancreatic cancer within just three months of diagnosis. He knew her experience could help others understand the urgent need for an early detection test and this selfless nature was evident from our very first conversation.
“Andrew was determined to help us reach as many people as possible, driven by the hope that sharing Jen’s story might spare other families from the same heartbreak his has been through.
“People still tell us that they saw the announcement for the breath test clinical trial on TV, online or in newspapers. Thanks to Andrew, many more people now know about our charity, the work we do and, vitally, the symptoms that should prompt them to visit their GP. We cannot understate how grateful we are to him and his family for supporting us in Jen’s memory.”
For his help in making the announcement so impactful, Andrew won the 2026 Oswestry Life Magazine Outstanding Achievement Local Hero Award.
