Diane Wood (17 Jul 1944 - 28 Mar 2015)

In loving memory of the late Diane Wood who sadly passed away on 28th March 2015

This site is here in the hope her death does not go in vain. She battled Pancreatic Cancer for only a short time, in just 5 months, it took her from a healthy woman, who I was convinced would see out another 15-20 years easily to where we are here today, remembering that life.

I plead with everyone to follow the link and donate to the Pancreatic Cancer charity on this page. It is a severely underfunded area of research, yet it effects 8000 people in the UK annually, with one of the lowest survival rates, and towards the end, one of the most painful and cruel ways to die. I know it is difficult to comprehend unless you have gone through the process of watching a loved one die in this way, but I can assure you, if you had, you would be with me and not ignore it. If my Mums death can help just one person in the future going through anything similar it will not have been in vain.

One of the reasons the survival rate is really low is that the Cancer can go unnoticed with little or no symptoms showing until it is too late. Early symptoms of this disease can be any of the following:

Abdominal pain
Pain is a symptom in about 70% of pancreatic cancer cases. It often starts as general discomfort or pain in the abdomen (tummy) which can spread to the back. It can be worse after eating or when you are lying down. Sitting forward can sometimes relieve the pain. At first the pain may come and go, but over time it may become more constant. If any of the organs (pancreas, liver or gall bladder) in your abdomen are inflamed or enlarged the area may also be tender to touch.

Pain is caused by the cancer affecting nerves or organs near the pancreas. It can also be a result of a tumour causing a blockage in the stomach or duodenum (top part of the small intestines).

Jaundice
Jaundice occurs in about 50% of pancreatic cancer cases. The most common signs
of jaundice are that the skin and the whites of the eyes turn yellow. Other signs include dark urine, pale stools (poo) and itchy skin.

Jaundice develops when there is a build-up in the blood of a substance called bilirubin. The substance is a by-product of red blood cells breaking down and is always present in the blood. It usually gets removed from the body in the bile fluid produced by the liver which empties into the small intestines through the bile duct. Cancer growing in the pancreas can block the bile duct so that bile and bilirubin keep building up in the body. This is known as obstructive jaundice.

Jaundice can be caused by other non-cancerous conditions, such as a gallstone blocking the bile duct, so it's important for all the obvious causes to be explored.

Weight loss
Losing a lot of weight for no particular reason can be a sign that something is wrong. People may also notice a loss of appetite or changes in what they feel like eating.

Pancreatic cancer can affect the ability of the pancreas to produce digestive enzymes that help to digest food, especially high fat food. This means that the body can't digest food properly or get the nutrients it needs, leading to weight loss.
Other common symptoms of pancreatic cancer

These symptoms are also common, though not everyone will have every symptom. People may have these symptoms before a diagnosis, develop them later on, or perhaps not get them at all.

Bowel problems
A condition called steatorrhoea (stools that are large, pale, oily, floating and smelly) is a common symptom of diseases of the pancreas. It happens because the cancer affects the production of the enzymes needed to digest food, particularly high fat food. Undigested food passing quickly through the body can also cause diarrhoea and subsequent weight loss.

Nausea and vomiting
Nausea (feeling sick) and sickness can occur for several different reasons. A tumour can block the bile duct or press on the duodenum, which obstructs digestion. It may also cause inflammation around it in the pancreas, or jaundice. Both of these can lead to a chemical imbalance in the body which can make people feel sick.

Indigestion/heartburn
New, unexplained and persistent dyspepsia (indigestion/heartburn) can be a symptom of pancreatic cancer, particularly in older people.

Fever and shivering
If the pancreas is inflamed or the ducts are blocked because of the tumour, this can cause a high temperature and shivering.

Diabetes
Diabetes can develop if a tumour interferes with the pancreas working properly. This is because the pancreas produces the hormone insulin which the body needs to regulate the amount of sugar in the blood. People with diabetes often feel extremely thirsty, pass more urine than normal, lose weight and feel weak and lacking in energy.

Diabetes is particularly associated with pancreatic cancer in older people. If someone over 50 has developed type 2 diabetes within the past two years, with no other explanation, their GP should consider the possibility of pancreatic cancer.

Back pain
Pain in the upper back (not the lower lumbar region) can occur if the cancer spreads to the nerves around the pancreas.

Other symptoms can include

Extreme tiredness/fatigue
Feeling unusually full after food

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) (blood clots that form in a vein)
Unexplained acute pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas).
- See more at: http://www.pancreaticcancer.org.uk/information-and-support/facts-about-pancreatic-cancer/signs-and-symptoms/#sthash.aJ0BshE4.dpuf