Derbyshire man didn't realise he had cancer - until it was too late

A man from Derbyshire experienced unexplainable changes, but, due to having diabetes, he thought nothing of it - until it was too late.

Sharon Parkes-Rolfe from Derbyshire shared the story of her late husband in the hopes that she could raise awareness and encourage others to get those symptoms checked out.

Nigel, her husband, was only 67 when he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in May 2021. He experienced changes in his blood sugar levels but, as he had type 2 diabetes, Nigel and his family carried on as normal.

However this led to Nigel's condition becoming worse with time, as further tests showed that his health problems were more serious than the family intially thought. He was given his diagnosis of pancreatic cancer in May and just six weeks later he passed away on July 24 2021.

Sharon talked about how Nigel's death has impacted her life, she said: “He didn’t have many symptoms – just some indigestion and weight loss. But by the time we knew it was pancreatic cancer, it was too late. We had so many plans, and now we’ll never get to make those memories. It’s heartbreaking.

“Nigel was such a vibrant part of our family. His quick wit, his love of gardening, and his smile that could brighten up even the cloudiest day – these are the things we miss the most. The little moments, birthdays, and holidays – they were stolen from us, all because we didn’t know what to look for.”

As a result of Nigel's sudden diagnosis, Sharon has urged everyone that "if something feels off, see your doctor. It could save your life."

Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers, as symptoms often go unnoticed until it's too late. Data from Pancreatic Cancer Action, shows that 29 people are newly diagnosed with cancer daily, with 26 people dying from the disease each day.

Joe Kirwin, CEO of Pancreatic Cancer Action, stated: "Our #MISSEDmoments campaign was created to highlight the many pancreatic cancer symptoms that go unnoticed. As a result, countless families are robbed of everyday moments that we often take for granted. Early diagnosis could have saved many lives, but it all begins with awareness and education."