Marathon runner diagnosed with terminal cancer urges people not to dismiss small symptom he experienced
A marathon runner with incurable pancreatic cancer, who has been given 'months to live', hopes to make 'magical memories' with his loved ones ahead of his 'last Christmas'.
Lee Rawlinson, 51, who lives in Essex, UK, with his wife, Faye, 48, and their children - Darcey, 10, and Marley, seven - was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer on Halloween.
On the day of the diagnosis on October 31, Lee, a medical sales representative, said medics told him the cancer was inoperable as it had spread to his liver, leaving him with just 'months to live'.
The dad-of-two still went trick-or-treating with his kids that night and sat down with them the next day to tell them the news.
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Although Lee admitted their 'worlds have been blown apart', he is now focusing on making memories with his family, including surprising his children with a trip to Lapland.
He also wants to raise awareness of this 'horrible disease' to help ensure it does not 'destroy another young family’s life'.
Lee, who also has Type 2 diabetes, told PA Real Life: "This will be my last Christmas. I’m facing the jaws of death. I’m sailing towards it and I can’t do anything about it, yet I just have to face it.
"I don’t fear death, I fear leaving my children and Faye behind - not being able to be there when they’re in trouble, not being able to make it better when tears flow, watching Marley developing his football, watching Darcey developing her theatrical talents, not being able to be there for Faye."
He went on: "Survival for pancreatic cancer has barely improved since the 1970s and it’s got to change. I want to get people to sit up and listen and think, what can we do for this not to destroy another young family’s life?"
Lee said he started experiencing a 'dull ache' in his lower abdomen in January, but initially brushed it off as a symptom of stress.
After a visit to his GP, he said he was referred to a gastroenterologist but there was a 21-week wait. His blood and urine tests came back clear, and no further action was taken until September when the pain became unbearable.
"I was taking painkillers every day, and co-codamol, and it wasn’t touching the sides," Lee said.
"If you can imagine a scaffolding pole and someone slowly pushing it through you, right through to your back, it was like that."
One week later, Lee says he was bending over in severe pain at his son’s football training, so he went to the emergency room at Southend University Hospital and four days later, had a CT scan.
Shortly after he received the devastating news that he had terminal pancreatic cancer.
Lee said a consultant told him that he'd done nothing to cause cancer and that developing such an illness is sometimes just someone's 'destiny'.
He learned that grandfather had pancreatic cancer and he therefore has a 'dodgy gene'.
The dad has urged anyone with any unusual symptoms or pains to 'get checked out'.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact the American Cancer Society on 1-800-227-2345 or via their live chat feature, available 24/7 every day of the year.
Niamh Shackleton