"The bravery she showed was so humbling"
Sarah's mum was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in June 2022. Then, in September the same year, after experiencing pain, bloating and indigestion, doctors discovered a mass in her abdomen. Eventually, tests revealed she had stage 4 pancreatic cancer.
Sarah’s story
Mum was prescribed Metformin to help manage her diabetes, but continued to feel unwell, suffering abdomen pain, bloating and taking lots of painkillers and indigestion remedies.
When she was taken to the local hospital outpatients’ department, the doctors were surprised by the mass that was visible in her abdomen. After various tests, it was discovered that she had stage 4 pancreatic cancer.
Unable to tell us herself, the surgeon broke the news that due to the tumour size and her symptoms, she had 6 months at most to live.
All of our lives were completely turned upside down at that point.
She managed to cope with the pain, but the nausea was debilitating. After a short stay in hospital to try and get the nausea under control, we discovered that she only had weeks to live.
She returned home on 21st October and myself and my sisters looked after her, with support from the local district nurses and Marie Curie. She passed at home on the 1st November 2022, surrounded by her family and in the home she loved.
The bravery she showed was so humbling. At 64, she felt she was blessed to have seen her children grow up and to become a grandparent. We had been able to enjoy a family afternoon tea, and she enjoyed a day trip to Beamish, which is something she was desperate to do.
In the end, we just ran out of time, which I think is common in pancreatic cancer. We feel that we have been cheated of time with her.
Myself and other family members have begun to fundraise in memory of my mum, completing the 28 miles in February challenge and just trying to raise awareness. I want to share her story, as she would be delighted to think she may help anyone reading it. She was the most selfless person.”
Thank you so much, Sarah, for sharing your mum Di’s story with us and for raising awareness of pancreatic cancer.
There are plenty of ways to get involved by fundraising or raising awareness in memory of a loved one.