Waterlooville mum says early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer can save lives

Danielle Corcoran Tanner has been living with an inoperable tumour for the past three years.

The 28-year-old was only diagnosed after she insisted to her GP that she needed to go to hospital following days of swelling and abdominal pain.

Initially, Danielle was told she should be watching what she ate. But after the pain continued her GP suspected gallstones.

After a CT scan and biopsy, she was found to have a cancerous tumour, which was wrapped around a major artery and could not be operated on.

Now Danielle, a mum-of-one, is keen to share how important early diagnosis is.

She said: ‘Early diagnosis can save lives.

‘The sooner the tumour is discovered, the higher the chances of survival are and, if detected early, there is a chance for surgery to remove the cancer.

‘Pancreatic Cancer Action is a brilliant charity and one thing it does is provide free training sessions for GPs on noticing the signs of pancreatic cancer in patients.’

Danielle had chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but was told in September 2013 the cancer was terminal and she only had six months to live.

But three years later, the tumour has stopped growing and she has celebrated her 28th birthday and got married.

Danielle, from Waterlooville, added: ‘I didn’t want to give up.

‘I wanted to see my daughter Izzy grow up, I wanted to marry my partner and live.

‘I had physiotherapy to learn to walk again and I celebrated turning 28 in August.

‘My daughter is now eight and in a couple of weeks we’ll celebrate our third wedding anniversary, the wedding they said I wouldn’t live to have.’

For more information on pancreatic cancer, visit pancreaticcanceraction.org.