A 51-year-old marathon runner named Lee Rawlinson was told that he has pancreatic cancer that will not get better. Lee is determined to spread information about the disease and tell others not to ignore even small signs of it, even though the outlook is not good. His story is a heartbreaking lesson of how important it is to pay attention to our bodies and see a doctor when something doesn’t feel right.
From January on, Lee’s trip began when he felt a dull ache in his lower belly. He thought it was just stress-related pain, but it didn’t go away. Lee had to wait 21 weeks for more tests after seeing his doctor and being sent to a gastroenterologist. His first blood and pee tests came back clear, so there was no need to follow up right away.
But by September, the pain was too much to bear. Lee said it felt like someone was inserting a scaffolding pole slowly into his body. A CT scan in the emergency room showed the terrible truth: the person has pancreatic cancer that will not get better. Lee’s discovery woke him up, and now he tells other people to pay attention to even small signs.
Lee found out that his grandfather had pancreatic cancer, which shows that he is more likely to get it himself. He hopes that telling his story will inspire other people to put their health first and see a doctor when they have strange symptoms. “If you experience persistent pain or unusual symptoms, don’t brush them off,” Lee told us. “Get checked out, even if it doesn’t seem important.” It could save your life.”
Lee is motivated to enjoy the time he has left with his family, even though things don’t look good. He planned a surprise trip to Lapland for his kids and wants to make experiences that will last a lifetime. Lee also wants more study and help for pancreatic cancer, focussing on the need for higher life rates.
Lee still tries to make the most of every day and is a strong supporter of early diagnosis and understanding. His story is a strong lesson to put our health first and see a doctor when something doesn’t feel right.
