My Purple Butterfly
When I woke up one Thursday last November, I had no idea that it was to be the last time I would ever do so without fear and heartbreak - fear and heartbreak at the thought of losing my star, fear and heartbreak at the reality of having lost her...
One phone call from my wonderful, crazy, kind mum turned the world upside down forever. Within just under five months of that call, I lay with her in my arms and kissed her goodbye for the last time. You see-we had no idea that, whilst she carried on as normal, this thing was silently taking over. It csused her few symptoms. A bit of sickness, a touch of "heartburn" here and there. We all get sick, we all get an upset stomach. It went away.
Back pain? Well, she had ongoing kidney problems and had undergone back surgery. They were part of life and no worse than her usual.
Did she turn yellow? Actually, no! In fact, mum was never jaundiced. Her tumour was deep in the middle of her pancreas.. it was so sneaky that it kept well away from any ducts, etc . So we had no clue!
It was only after literally going to bed one night and waking to find her leg to be swollen and so painful that she couldn't move it that we found out. Apparently, a DVT is often the first real sign of this cancer. Tragically, it was already established in her liver.
Mum was the bravest person I have ever known. Despite being determined, cancer had the upper hand. To this day, I try to think about how I never saw it. Why didn't I demand she see a doctor sooner? I would have done, but the symptoms stopped, she felt fine.
Mum's story is like a template for pancreatic cancer. There's simply no way of knowing and no way of screening, symptoms are vague and it's not a given that you will get a yellow tinge. Only 7% of patients will survive beyond 5 years & this number has barely changed in over 40 years!!
The only way forward is for research into a means of screening and more widespread education for medical professionals and the public alike. It needs to be identified in time for surgery - currently the only potential for a cure.
Please help us "Change the Numbers" for pancreatic cancer. I cannot bear to think about anyone else kissing their loved one goodbye.
Thank you, your kindness is appreciated beyond all measure, Love from Bev xx (btw Mum only ever called me "Dottie" or Beverley )
One phone call from my wonderful, crazy, kind mum turned the world upside down forever. Within just under five months of that call, I lay with her in my arms and kissed her goodbye for the last time. You see-we had no idea that, whilst she carried on as normal, this thing was silently taking over. It csused her few symptoms. A bit of sickness, a touch of "heartburn" here and there. We all get sick, we all get an upset stomach. It went away.
Back pain? Well, she had ongoing kidney problems and had undergone back surgery. They were part of life and no worse than her usual.
Did she turn yellow? Actually, no! In fact, mum was never jaundiced. Her tumour was deep in the middle of her pancreas.. it was so sneaky that it kept well away from any ducts, etc . So we had no clue!
It was only after literally going to bed one night and waking to find her leg to be swollen and so painful that she couldn't move it that we found out. Apparently, a DVT is often the first real sign of this cancer. Tragically, it was already established in her liver.
Mum was the bravest person I have ever known. Despite being determined, cancer had the upper hand. To this day, I try to think about how I never saw it. Why didn't I demand she see a doctor sooner? I would have done, but the symptoms stopped, she felt fine.
Mum's story is like a template for pancreatic cancer. There's simply no way of knowing and no way of screening, symptoms are vague and it's not a given that you will get a yellow tinge. Only 7% of patients will survive beyond 5 years & this number has barely changed in over 40 years!!
The only way forward is for research into a means of screening and more widespread education for medical professionals and the public alike. It needs to be identified in time for surgery - currently the only potential for a cure.
Please help us "Change the Numbers" for pancreatic cancer. I cannot bear to think about anyone else kissing their loved one goodbye.
Thank you, your kindness is appreciated beyond all measure, Love from Bev xx (btw Mum only ever called me "Dottie" or Beverley )
Organizer
Beverley Allen
Organizer
Pancreatic Cancer Action
Registered nonprofit
Donations eligible for Gift Aid.