This is a story that this 44-year-old mother
wanted to tell to help other people. In September 2022, the latter was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer after six months of misdiagnosed symptoms following her first visit to the GP.
The failure to get the correct diagnosis earlier meant the cancer spread from her pancreas to her liver, which meant the mother had to tell her teenage son Thomas, 14, and daughter Aimee, who turns 12 in July. Claire is an administration co-ordinator in Inverkeithing, Fife, and is hoping to use her story to raise awareness of the early signs of pancreatic cancer.
Claire wants to do prevention through her story
The mother then testified in order to help people to recognize the symptoms of pancreatic cancer
: “I went to the GP for the first time in March 2022, I had some symptoms then. I was losing weight quickly. I was doing ‘Minceur Monde’ but at the time, even if I ate junk food for a whole week, I was still losing a lot of weight each week,” she delivered.
She then explained her pain:
“I had constipation and stomach pain. It started in March and the doctor immediately referred me to a bowel specialist.” It was then that intestinal cancer was suspected by the specialist, but the hypothesis was ruled out and a scan revealed an abnormality in his pancreas. Performing a biopsy confirmed the presence of tumors.
A testimony of his misdiagnosis delivered to help
Claire has since encouraged others who experience similar sensations to see their doctor. She delivered : “It didn’t go away no matter how much paracetamol, co-codamol or whatever. It just wouldn’t go away,” she explained.
According to figures, pancreatic cancer affects around 10,500 people each year in the UK. Although it can be successfully treated with surgery if caught early, it needs to be diagnosed early enough to prevent it from spreading to other vital organs. There are currently no screening or early detection tests to help doctors diagnose the disease, which is why Claire has shared her story.
