Daughters Share Tragic Story After Both Parents Die of Pancreatic Cancer
Rebekah Stubbs, 44, a former primary school teacher, and Laura Smith, 36, a nurse, are sharing their heartbreaking story after losing both parents to pancreatic cancer, a disease they describe as the deadliest common cancer. Their mother, Susan Smith, passed away in February 2012, and their father, Richard Smith, died in October 2023, both from the same illness.
The Devastating Impact of Pancreatic Cancer
According to Pancreatic Cancer UK, roughly 50% of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer die within three months. Rebekah and Laura witnessed this firsthand, with their mother dying within six months of diagnosis and their father within just three months. "Not only did mum die of it, but then dad did too. You couldn’t write it," Rebekah told PA Real Life.
Laura added that their parents were health-conscious individuals who did not smoke or drink heavily, making their diagnoses even more shocking. "They didn’t have risk factors that you’d think ‘that could be why’. They were both health-conscious people, but yet both then developed pancreatic cancer," she said.
Symptoms and Misdiagnoses
The sisters recall their mother's symptoms beginning in the summer of 2011. Susan experienced:
- Difficulty swallowing
- Constant thirst
- Acid reflux
- General malaise
Initially prescribed antacids, her condition worsened rapidly, with symptoms including frequent bowel movements, abdominal issues, difficulty eating, yellowing of the skin, and nausea. She was formally diagnosed in October 2011 after an ultrasound revealed a tumour on her pancreas that had spread to the bile ducts.
Susan underwent surgery and chemotherapy but passed away in February 2012 at age 55. Laura described her death as sudden, following a seizure. "Dad had actually gone to have a look around a hospice for mum. Then he returned and mum was no longer here," she recalled.
Father's Rapid Decline
After caring for their grandmother with dementia, who died in 2022, the sisters noticed their father, Richard, developing back pain in 2023. Despite seeking medical help, his pain worsened, leading to a visit to A&E in July 2023. Scans and a biopsy confirmed pancreatic cancer, which had spread to his liver.
Richard's decline was swift after the cancer metastasised to his brain, causing personality changes, mobility loss, and aggression. He died in October 2023 at age 70, just three months post-diagnosis. "His personality wasn’t even the same. He seemed to lose his mobility. He was really weak too," Rebekah said.
Raising Awareness and Hope for the Future
In the aftermath, Rebekah contacted Pancreatic Cancer UK to share her family's story, emphasising the need for quicker pathways to diagnosis and better symptom awareness. Key symptoms per the NHS include:
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes
- Itchy skin
- Changes in toilet habits
- Unexplained weight loss
- Fatigue and nausea
The sisters are encouraged by Pancreatic Cancer UK's funding of a clinical study for a breath test to detect the disease early. "Hopefully, that’ll be successful. It’s a quicker route than surgery and that’s got to be positive," Laura said.
Rebekah and Laura hope their story will help others recognise symptoms sooner, potentially saving lives. "In terms of our circumstances, I think it’s certainly unusual to have both parents diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. They’re not related. They’ve got different genetics. It’s hard and really tough that neither one of them survived," Laura concluded.
