- The story of Jim
Undiagnosed prostate cancer masked by diabetes?
Transcript
This is Jim's story, as told to me by his wife, Norma. Sharing with Norma's permission. Jim died, aged 81, of pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer doesn't have screening, there is no screening for pancreatic cancer, there is no cure for pancreatic cancer.
For over 2 years, Jim went backwards and forwards to his doctors, eventually being told he had diabetes. But Jim and Norma felt there was more. He was in so much pain.
He had a lot of weight loss and other symptoms. After 2 years. They decided to pay privately and see a consultant.
He had tests the next day, and 2 weeks later, a follow-up appointment. To be told, Jim's pancreas was damaged. In fact, that damage was a large growth which was inoperable, and Jim had pancreatic cancer.
His prognosis was months. This was in May, and Jim died on the 20th of June. Norma feels angry.
She feels Jim was let down. Jim and Norma had little faith in the local hospital. They'd heard other people's experiences and did not want Jim to go into hospital.
Their son and Norma. Wanted to care for Jim at home, to do the very best they could for him. They felt throughout Jim's journey, over the two year period, there was a lack of communication.
And when it came to getting support for Jim towards the end of his life. Again, it took their son to intervene. Before the district nurses were eventually asked to come and support Jim.
Which they did, and Norma describes them as wonderful. They couldn't have done any more for him, in Norma's words. They were able to administer medication to him.
In the form of diamorphine. And also. Towards the end of his life, a syringe drive, but this wasn't until 2 days before he died.
For 3 weeks, Jim was in horrendous pain, in Norma's words. Up to 3 times a night, he had to get to that point in his pain before Norma could ring the district nurses and ask them to come out, which they did, and administer pain relief. The systems were not in place, protocols were restrictive, and this led to Jim being in pain.
Norma's advice to anyone. That thinks they could have pancreatic cancer, that is worried that the things that are happening to them are more than diabetes, to get a second opinion, to ask the questions. And ask, who will help us? What can we expect? No one should have to suffer the pain that Jim suffered.
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