My wife’s stomach started to hurt

WHEN a mother-of-two’s stomach began to hurt while on vacation, she and her husband attributed it to the indulgence during their break.

Pia and Simon Eaves thought it was probably just overeating and drinking but decided to get it checked out.

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Simon has shared how his fitness trainer wife was diagnosed pancreatic cancer at 53

He said she hadn’t shown any signs other than the abdominal pain that she was seriously ill.

She had been referred to a specialist for a scan after describing her pain to the GP before the couple broke the tragic news.

Simon said the Metro: I remember the date of that second appointment well: Monday October 26, 2020 – it turned out to be the worst day of my life.

“The doctor told us that Pia had pancreatic cancer. We were totally shocked. We never thought this would happen to us. Pia was a personal trainer and fitness teacher, so super fit. We just couldn’t understand why this had happened to us.

“We vowed to fight the disease so that we can be together for our children unfortunately it didn’t work that way.

“Pia tragically passed away on September 8th, 2021 – just over 10 months after her initial diagnosis. It is appalling that she was taken from us so early.”

The couple had been together for 27 years after meeting at school.

Now Simon wants to raise awareness about the disease, which has the lowest survival rate of any common cancer.

He and his two daughters do a Series of fundraising walks in memory of Pai, his “soul mate”.

Common symptoms include abdominal and back pain, unexplained weight loss, and jaundice.

Other symptoms can include:

• loss of appetite
• Changes in bowel habits such as diarrhea or constipation
• indigestion
• nausea and vomiting
• difficulties swallowing

Tragically, survival rates in England and Wales have improved little over the past 40 years and are among the lowest of any cancer, partly because they tend to be diagnosed late.

Main symptoms to look out for are back pain, indigestion, abdominal pain and weight loss.

If you suffer from these for more than four weeks, you need to see your GP.

Pancreatic Cancer UK, the charity, is urging anyone with jaundice, the yellowing of the skin or eyes, to go to an A&E immediately.