'Healthy' dad died after going to the doctor with indigestion

A fit and healthy former police officer thought he had indigestion and was treated for reflux and gallstones. But Ray Wilson's symptoms turned out to be pancreatic cancer, with the 62-year-old dying just nine weeks after being diagnosed.

Months before his diagnosis Ray, from Gateacre, had been feeling unwell with reflux and had lost a lot of weight, with doctors initially thinking he had gallstones. He had been waiting on test results, while being treated for reflux and gallstones, when he was admitted to hospital in May 2019 with severe pain.

It was then, in hospital, Ray's stage four cancer was discovered. The cancer had already spread to his liver and parts of his stomach, and the dad spent the next few weeks in Marie Curie hospice in Woolton, where he died in July 2019.

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Now Ray's daughter, Emma Mangan, is raising awareness of the illness by retelling her dad's story. She said: “Dad was a healthy, happy man, and we never suspected something as serious as pancreatic cancer. By the time the correct diagnosis was made, it was too late for treatment or surgery. He fought bravely, but we lost him so quickly. Over 200 people came to his funeral, a testament to the incredible man he was.”

Ray’s story is sadly not unique. Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers in the UK, with a five-year survival rate of less than 8%. Every day, 26 people die from pancreatic cancer, and many of these deaths could have been prevented with earlier diagnosis and treatment, according to Pancreatic Cancer Action.

For Emma, the pain of missed moments continues to impact her and her family, she added: “Looking back, we now see the signs were there, but we didn’t know what to look for at the time. If more people knew about the symptoms, perhaps more lives could be saved, and other families wouldn’t have to go through the heartbreak we’ve experienced.”

Pancreatic Cancer Action has launched its new #MISSEDmoments campaign, to create awareness of the disease for Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, this November. The campaign focuses on the devastating missed moments, like Emma's, when a loved one dies after symptoms of pancreatic cancer go unrecognised.

Joe Kirwin, Chief Executive Officer, Pancreatic Cancer Action, highlights the urgency of the campaign: “Our #MISSEDmoments campaign was created to raise awareness about the subtle, easily missed symptoms of pancreatic cancer. Families are left missing out on precious everyday moments because of late diagnoses. Early diagnosis can be the difference between life and death.”

In the UK, 29 people are newly diagnosed with pancreatic cancer each day, with more than 50% of these cases identified in emergency settings like A&E, where the disease is often too advanced to treat effectively. Despite being the 10th most common cancer, pancreatic cancer receives just 3.1% of cancer research funding, limiting progress in early diagnosis and treatment.

This November, Pancreatic Cancer Action urges everyone who has lost a loved one to join the conversation by sharing personal stories of missed moments with the hashtag #MISSEDmoments and tagging their account to help to spread awareness and drive change

Common symptoms of pancreatic cancer, which are often misdiagnosed or dismissed:

• Unexplained weight loss

• Jaundice

• Loss of appetite

• Indigestion or bloating that doesn’t go away

• Back or stomach pain

• Changes in stool (such as pale or greasy stools)

• New-onset diabetes or changes in blood sugar levels