By Dominic McColgan
David Fitzpatrick from Glasgow has spent over 10 years raising awareness about pancreatic cancer after losing his mother- Patricia and sadly 15 months later his brother Paul to Pancreatic Cancer.
Pancreatic Cancer is the 5th biggest cancer killer in the UK with 9000 deaths every year. The symptoms for the decease can be vague and hard to detect as David’s mother and brother were both misdiagnosed.
He said:
”I got involved in working with Pancreatic Cancer Action and Pancreatic Cancer Scotland and amalgamated with them. I got involved because I lost my mother and brother to Pancreatic Cancer and both were misdiagnosed, had that not been the case then they could have still been with us today. Early detection is a big key to survival from pancreatic cancer”.
David started a group on Facebook called ‘Action 4 Patricia and Paul’ that promotes to raise more awareness and inform people about pancreatic cancer.
He said:
” The whole point of getting people aware of pancreatic cancer and its symptoms is because it is misdiagnosed and a lot of GP’s treat it for simple stomach problems and give out simple indegestion stablets, problems with the gall bladder ect. When it is really the pancreas and it has big connection now through raising awareness with diabetes. Dramatic weight loss,yellow colouring of the eyes, itchy skin and mid back pain about the height of a women’s bra strap is very key symptoms of the cancer”
” Its just letting people know that if they have any of these symptoms then get to a GP quick and ask to be sent for a scan.”
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100072737970032
Through the ‘Action 4 Patricia and Paul’ group, David has helped organise various charity events while working with Pancreatic Cancer Action in order to raise money and awareness.
He said:
” We have raised over 45 thousand pounds over a number of years and it started by a collection at the church. We then moved on from there and started doing things like a family fun day. We have continuous golf events every year. We had a football match, Paul’s daughter had done a sky jump. We used to have a bowling day at Paul’s former bowling club and his mates would get together.”
According to Cancer Research UK, 10,000 people each year are diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer in the UK.
Recently graduated Nurse Megan Wright talks more about the decease.
She said:
” I do know that it is the 5th biggest cancer killer in the UK and even though most cancers people can get surgery or chemotherapy treatment. Most people with pancreatic cancer don’t because by the time it’s found it is already at stage 4 or 5. That’s because the symptoms are quite vague and its not getting identified til later”.
In Scotland, there were 811 deaths from pancreatic cancer in 2018. 3 in 5 people in Scotland are diagnosed at a late stage when it is not possible to do surgery at this stage. For more information about pancreatic cancer, please visit Pancreatic Cancer UK. ( click link below)
Categories: Glasgow, health, Scotland, Uncategorized
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