Kamal Ghorui
It started small. It was the kind of discomfort that most people dismiss or mistake for the consequences of a demanding lifestyle. Jessica Giddens, an Austrian mum, pushed through the discomfort in the beginning. She was 38 at the time. The heartburn after meals, the indigestion that was a frequent visitor. In August 2020, she was working long days on a dairy farm in regional Western Australia. She was raising her two children. And so, she told herself these symptoms were nothing more than the physical toll of her demanding job, household, and everyday stress. Of course, her stomach was acting up, and her back ached from the long days on her feet. However, she hardly knew the price she had to pay was huge. At 44, she was diagnosed with an incurable ‘silent killer’ cancer.
The discomfort that was overlooked
The heartburn, indigestion, and back pain – Giddens thought it was all a result of her demanding job and household chores. But years later, those mysterious symptoms turned out to be the warning signs of stage 4 cancer.“I just thought it was from working all the time,” the woman told the Daily Mail. However, the symptoms didn’t vanish. In fact, they worsened over time. It became impossible to ignore. She found herself struggling to eat. The bloating became an everyday thing. She made frequent trips to the bathroom. Eventually, she noticed a hard lump in her stomach. That’s when she realised something was off. The lump was subtle at first, but then it began to hurt, especially after meals.
Misdiagnosis and struggle
When she went to the hospital, the doctors told her it was a gallbladder issue. At one point, they thought she had passed a gallstone and placed her on a waiting list to have her gallbladder removed. But her condition deteriorated, and the pain became unbearable. Her appetite declined, and the weight loss was alarming. She had to travel more than three hours to reach the hospital each way. She found it hard to drive by herself, so her partner assisted her.“It took three to four months to figure out what was wrong. I was in and out of the hospital the whole time,” Giddens said.By December 2020, she experienced drastic weight loss. Her weight had dropped from 90 kg to 75 kg. This was accompanied by jaundice, which caused a yellowing of her skin and eyes – a sign that her liver and bile ducts were being affected. The indigestion intensified. Eating became painful and difficult. Doctors ran further tests and scans, only to identify that she had a tumour in the head of her pancreas.
Complex surgery and diagnosis
Then came the surgery. On 31 December 2020, she underwent a Whipple procedure, which is one of the most complex abdominal surgeries, to remove tumours from the pancreas and surrounding organs. The operation took around 10 hours. Machines, lines, and monitors supported her body. She stayed in hospital, and days later, the diagnosis came: she had pancreatic cancer.It was rare at her age. “I didn’t think at 38 you could get pancreatic cancer. But I had to keep fighting. I wanted to live,” she said.
What is pancreatic cancer?
Pancreatic cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the pancreas. According to the American Cancer Society, pancreatic adenocarcinoma is the most common type of pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) are a less common type and are discussed in Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumours. The average lifetime risk of pancreatic cancer is about 1 in 56 in men and about 1 in 60 in women. A person’s chance of getting this cancer varies depending on certain risk factors. Age is one risk factor, and it is more commonly diagnosed in older individuals. This cancer is known for its poor prognosis, largely due to how difficult it is to detect early.After a short recovery period, she underwent intensive chemotherapy. She attended sessions every fortnight that lasted several hours at a time. She also had several symptoms that she struggled to manage. These included persistent nausea, frequent vomiting, extreme fatigue, and rapid weight loss. She lost her hair early on. Eating became one of the biggest challenges. Her digestive system changed following the Whipple procedure. Her stomach capacity was reduced. She had to take enzyme supplements to help break down food. And despite all of this, maintaining weight was tough. “You try your best to eat, but nothing tastes right. I just couldn’t keep it down.”After eight months of chemotherapy, no detectable cancer was found in the scan, which gave her relief. For a brief period, life became normal. She resumed working on the farm. However, it was short-lived. Months later, after contracting a COVID-19 infection, her blood tests revealed tumour markers. The doctors ordered further imaging, and they found small nodules in her lungs. The cancer returned, and it was classified as terminal this time.Giddens, who is 44 now, is undergoing chemotherapy. She has to make this a lifelong commitment to slow down the progression of the disease. “I’m okay with it. It is what it is,” she said. She quit work and is completely focusing on her health and family. The Nannup community, along with her family and friends, provides her with practical and emotional support. “I feel really lucky to still be here, surrounded by so much love and support. But the reality of my situation means my family and I haven’t been able to make any plans for the future. I don’t have a bucket list or anything. I don’t think going overseas will be in the cards for me. We just take it one day at a time,” she said.Giddens is now raising cancer awareness. She is speaking about the importance of not overlooking the symptoms. “Pancreatic cancer is such a silent killer. You don’t always realise the symptoms,” she said.Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. It should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis, treatment, or guidance from a qualified healthcare provider. If you have any concerns about your health or experience similar symptoms, seek medical attention promptly.
