Roselyn was recovering well from breast cancer in November 2022 when she started noticing some symptoms that she felt were odd. A sudden drop in weight, eating issues and extreme tiredness that could have been put down to the recovery felt strange and unrelated. Along with a concern about radiating pain from the front of her abdomen to the back and her father's pancreatitis, Roselyn was concerned. 

"My father died of pancreatitis, which I explained to my doctor. They couldn't find anything wrong, but as I had medical insurance, asked if I wanted a scan - so I said yes! The scan discovered pancreatic cancer in October 2023 and I had the Whipple surgery in December". 

Roselyn went through chemotherapy and surgery - an experience she describes as “not fun, but a life saver.” Two years on, she’s still fighting each day and determined to make a difference for others walking the same path.

"Things for me were complicated with having had breast cancer. It was a matter of trying to unpick what was the result of my breast cancer (although I didn't have chemotherapy or radiotherapy as a part of that treatment) and what was unrelated. If I had not been so insistent I would not be here today. But I did know that something wasn't right."

The symptoms that Roselyn experienced were:

• Sudden loss of weight without dieting – You may be thrilled to start with but if not dieting something is wrong, this one is easy for you to recognize.

• Desperately hungry even shortly after eating. For some it may be more of a loss of appetite.

• Extreme fatigue.

• Shortness of breath.

• Mood change:  more difficult for me diagnose at that time, I had put that down to the frustration in not getting a diagnosis, and certain other things like life in general one goes through.

• Change in digestive system and bowel movements.

• Burning pain in upper abdomen, and back, travelling from right side to left.

Roselyn's symptoms were layered. She says "do not wait to experience the pain in abdomen and back, this was the last symptom I experienced and for some people is sadly too late".

Roselyn knows how isolating and grueling a pancreatic cancer diagnosis can be. “When I was first diagnosed, I didn’t know where to turn or what to expect. Having more support and guidance through the whole process would have made such a difference,” she says. “No one should have to face this journey alone.”

Roselyn says having experienced breast cancer and then pancreatic cancer, the difference between support, community and resources is pretty stark. "I wanted to talk to someone who had been through the Whipple surgery but it was really hard to connect with anyone. I don't want others to feel the isolation that I did."