Understand
I wish we'd pushed sooner, says wife of cancer patient
Overview
Craig Sullivan, a 45-year-old father from Nottinghamshire, was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer a year after experiencing initial stomach pain that was first attributed to irritable bowel syndrome. Following chemotherapy and subsequent spread of the cancer to his liver, he is now on a palliative care pathway. His family and friends are raising £50,000 for private treatment options not available on the NHS.
Key points
- Craig Sullivan was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer at age 45 after initial stomach pain was mistaken for irritable bowel syndrome.
- His wife, Natalie Sullivan, expressed regret that they did not push for medical help sooner.
- After chemotherapy successfully shrunk the tumour initially, an infection delayed treatment and the cancer subsequently spread to his liver.
- Friends and family are raising £50,000 to fund private treatment in Oxford or Germany to prolong his life, as specific treatments are unavailable on the NHS.
- Pancreatic Cancer UK notes that the disease is difficult to diagnose early due to vague symptoms and receives a small percentage of overall cancer research funding.