May – Interview 39
May was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2008. She had a Whipple’s operation. She gets very tired at times and has bowel problems and has lost a lot of weight but she is still well enough to go out. She loves walking with her dogs.
In January 2008 May felt ill. She had pain under her breast bone and in her stomach area. This was worse at night. She thought that it might be due to smoking, so she didnt go to see her GP for about three months. Her GP thought she had a hiatus hernia and gave her some medicine for that problem. May didnt feel any better.
A month later May saw another GP and said she had lost about a stone in weight. This GP was worried about the weight loss so sent May to the local hospital for tests. May was then referred to a specialist hospital. She had tests and investigations including two endoscopies, a CT scan and an MRI scan.
May was shocked to hear that she had pancreatic cancer. In June 2008 she had a Whipple’s operation, which she believes went well. She doesnt remember much about the intensive care unit except that she had some bad nightmares. The pain was well controlled. May was in hospital about six weeks.
May went home and then developed a wound infection, so had to go back into hospital for about three days while she had antibiotics. May did not have any other serious problems and she did not develop diabetes.
May soon got stronger and was able to take the dogs for short walks. When we spoke to her she was going out for about an hour each morning with the dogs, and again in the afternoon. However, she said she gets very tired and has to be careful what she eats because she has fto poo frequently, which keeps her awake at night. Her doctor has increased the Creon, which she takes at meal times, but she still has problems with her bowels.
May was still losing weight. She hadnt had any chemotherapy, because she was too ill. May has had wonderful support from family and friends. Sometimes she worries about the future.
We spoke to May in 2010.