A single mum battling pancreatic cancer is urging others to be vigilant for symptoms of the deadly disease.
Claire Blair, 44, was diagnosed with the illness in September 2022, six months after she first visited her GP with symptoms.
Misdiagnosis and a delay in receiving crucial test results allowed the cancer to spread from her pancreas to her liver. She then had the heartbreaking task of telling her son Thomas, 14, and daughter Aimee, who turns 12 in July, about her diagnosis.
Now, the administrative coordinator from Inverkeithing in Fife, Scotland, is sharing her early symptoms in the hope that others can receive an early diagnosis.
"I first went to the GP in March 2022, I had a few symptoms then," Claire remembers. "I was rapidly losing weight. I was doing Slimming World but at the time even if I ate junk for a whole week, I would still lose a lot of weight every week.
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She was finally diagnosed with the illness in September 2022, six months after she first visited her GP with symptoms (Claire Blair/Cover Images)"(I had) constipation as well as pains in my tummy. That started that March and the doctor referred me straight away to a bowel specialist."
The specialist initially suspected bowel cancer, but it wasn't until this was ruled out that a CT scan was ordered which revealed an abnormality on the pancreas. A subsequent biopsy confirmed tumours were growing on the organ.
Reflecting back, Claire recalls persistent stomach pain being her very first symptom and has urged anyone else experiencing something similar to see their doctor. She remembers, "It was like a throbbing pain. It was there constantly."
The specialist initially suspected bowel cancer but it wasn't until this was ruled out that a CT scan was ordered which showed an abnormality on the pancreas. A subsequent biopsy confirmed tumours were growing on the organ.
Thinking back, Claire remembers persistent stomach pain being her very first symptom and has urged anyone else feeling something similar to see their doctor. She recalls, "It didn't go away no matter how many paracetamols or co-codamol or anything," she said. "It just wouldn't go away.
"With pancreatic cancer, a lot of GPs don't know the symptoms. So they are trying to get GPs to understand what the early symptoms are, because for most people, by the time they get these symptoms it's too late."
The mum is sharing her early symptoms in the hope that others can receive an early diagnosis (Claire Blair/Cover Images)Pancreatic cancer affects around 10,500 people in the UK each year, and while it can be successfully treated through surgery, early diagnosis is essential to ensure the cancer doesn't spread to other vital organs. However, there are unfortunately no screening or early detection tests that currently exist to help doctors make a diagnosis.
Located just behind the stomach, the pancreas produces enzymes to help digest food as well as insulin to control blood sugar levels. Symptoms of the disease can be confused for less serious health conditions and pancreatic cancer is frequently diagnosed so late that an alarming 50% of patients die within three months of the cancer being discovered.
For Claire, a delay in test results robbed her of the chance of surgery. "They had originally told me that I would get the results within two weeks, but it actually turned into seven weeks," she explains.
"By that point it had spread to my liver. I had originally been told that I could get surgery to remove it from the pancreas. But it was too late."
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Claire endured a gruelling chemotherapy regimen every two weeks for four months to fight the disease, which left her feeling incredibly ill. Initially, the treatment seemed successful, and by May of the previous year, her cancerous tumours had vanished. However, a routine check-up in February revealed the devastating news that her cancer had returned.
"They had arranged for me to get the same chemotherapy as I had done before, but I took a really bad reaction to it and ended up in the high dependency ward for a couple of days," Claire recounts. Currently, she's relying on chemotherapy tablets to slow down the tumour growth, yet there's uncertainty about how long they will be effective."
Now, Claire is sharing her story to spread awareness and has teamed up with Pancreatic Cancer UK as the face of their 2024 Double Donation Appeal. Donations made through Pancreatic Cancer UK until 2 July will be doubled by philanthropists, up to £170,000. This initiative aims to fund new treatments for a condition that only receives a mere 3% of the annual cancer research budget.
Claire can be seen in a new YouTube video by the organisation, also featuring the likes of Gavin & Stacey actress Alison Steadman, as they hope to raise money for the condition.
"It's one of the deadliest cancers and one of the most underfunded as well which is why we are trying to get it more recognised," Claire states. "If I can help even one person to get in there and get diagnosed as early as possible (it will help). I'm really, really honoured to be asked and to take part in the Double Donation Appeal. If you have any of the symptoms, go and get it checked as soon as possible."
In addition to her campaigning efforts, Claire is making the most of her time with her children, creating lasting memories filled with love. "My daughter is great. She's like me and gets on with it," shares Claire. "My son, though, he took it really bad. He's been struggling.
"When you Google it, it's not good reading. So we're trying to encourage him not to read things on the internet. He's getting there. He still comes home every lunchtime to check on me."
Looking to the future, the devoted mum reveals: "We are looking at going to Greece at the end of September, me and the kids. To go to Rhodes. We've never been there. The forecast says it will still be in the late 20s in September. So I will take them there."
Pancreatic Cancer UK operates a dedicated Support Line for patients and their loved ones, manned by specialist nurses. They offer expert, confidential support and information.
Call free on 0808 801 0707 or for more details visit the Pancreatic UK website for support.
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