Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month | Personal Perspective | Louise Francis

This year, our Birmingham office chose to fundraise for Pancreatic Cancer UK in support of my brother, who was diagnosed with this devastating disease. For Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, I wanted to share my personal experience in the hope that it raises awareness of an illness that often shows few early signs and can be very difficult to catch early.

A life forever changed

When my brother was diagnosed, our lives changed overnight. It was a huge shock to our entire family. We had to come together quickly to support him through major surgery and ongoing treatment. Watching him in pain and feeling so unwell, knowing I couldn’t take it away, has been one of the hardest things I have ever experienced.

After his Whipple surgery and ongoing chemotherapy, his life has completely changed. His digestive system is much smaller now, so he can’t tolerate many dense foods. But through it all, he has remained wise, positive and incredibly grateful for each day. He really does make the most of every moment.

There are also practical challenges. My brother relies on PERT enzymes with every meal, even for something as small as a cup of tea. At one point, there was a national shortage of his tablets, and I had to contact the manufacturer myself and travel to another city just to get him the medication he needed.

Strength in family

Despite everything, this journey has shown me just how strong and close our family is. We’ve always been very close-knit and loving. I see my brother two or three times a week, he really is my best friend. This experience has reminded me that family is what truly matters. All the problems that once felt big just don’t seem that important anymore.

Why awareness matters

I want people to know how easily pancreatic cancer symptoms can be missed. At first, my brother thought he had a simple stomach bug because he felt sick and kept vomiting. Within weeks, he developed jaundice and received his diagnosis. If you experience vomiting, unexplained back pain, or jaundice, please go to your GP. Early diagnosis can save lives.

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I am incredibly grateful for our GP. My whole family has seen him for more than 20 years, and his quick, proactive approach is the reason my brother’s cancer was caught early. A few weeks later might have been too late. Pancreatic cancer progresses extremely quickly, so catching it early truly is vital.

A shift in perspective

Almost losing my brother completely changed how I see life. It was the scariest experience I’ve ever had. I’m now more grateful than ever for my health, my life, and my family. Everyday worries just don’t seem as big anymore.

Emotionally, it can be very hard watching my brother go through treatment that affects his daily life. Keeping busy at work and being surrounded by a supportive, positive team at Venn has helped me so much. I also play netball three times a week, which has been amazing for my mental and physical health.

I’m a big believer that positive thoughts create a positive life. I practice gratitude daily and have an incredible group of friends who support me every step of the way. I honestly couldn’t do life without them. Support and understanding from others a means everything.

My Christian faith has also helped me stay hopeful. I pray every day for my family, and my religion keeps me positive about the future, even when things feel uncertain.

A message from my heart

To anyone going through something similar: try to stay positive. I know it’s easier said than done. When my brother was diagnosed and I googled pancreatic cancer for the first time, the first statistic I saw said it had a 1% survival rate. It was the most terrifying thing I could have read. But two years later, he’s still here. So hold onto hope.

Above all, please listen to your body. If something feels off, even slightly, go to your GP. It could make all the difference.

To find out more about the Pancreatic Cancer UK please follow this link: Pancreatic Cancer UK - We bring more than hope