Rarer forms of pancreatic cancer stories
These stories are from people with rarer forms of pancreatic cancer.
Emma
In April 2024, Emma’s life took an unexpected turn. After months of persistent and unexplained pain, she was diagnosed with a rare form of inoperable pancreatic cancer at the age of 39. She has had chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and is hoping to be able to have more treatments in future. She talks about the impact of her diagnosis and the resilience she has found within herself.
Helen
Helen was 44 when she started to notice symptoms. She later found out she had ampullary cancer, where the pancreatic duct and bile duct meet. One year on, she tells us about her difficult but successful treatments, and how she is living life to the full.
Andy
Andy was 64 and taking part in a lung disease screening programme when a scan showed two growths on his pancreas. A year later, after surgery to remove them, he was formally diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumour and a microcystic serous cystadenoma. He reflects on how lucky he was to be diagnosed early.
Dovile
Dovile talks about being diagnosed with a rare type of pancreatic tumour. She shares her experience of treatment and the challenges she faces in her road to recovery.
Iain
Iain was in his late 50s when he was diagnosed with cancer on the Islets of Langerhans in the pancreas. Thanks to early detection and treatment, he was given the all clear and tells us about life after the Whipple’s procedure.
Carl L
Carl was diagnosed with a rare form of pancreatic cancer in 2014, when he was 43, and had surgery to remove the cancer.
Veronica
Veronica shares her experience of having the Whipple’s procedure 10 years ago.
Jamie
Jamie was diagnosed with a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour in 2017. He shares his experience of having surgery to remove his tumour.
Alan P
Alan was diagnosed with a tumour in his bile duct in 2017 – he had a Whipple’s operation followed by chemotherapy.
Jo
Jo shares her story of being diagnosed with a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour.
Lauren
Lauren was diagnosed with a glucogonoma in February 2017, when she was 32.
Carole W
Carole was diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumour in 2014 and underwent surgery to remove the tumour