A mother of two has shared the heartbreak of receiving a devastating diagnosis of inoperable, ultra-deadly pancreatic cancer, after experiencing just one early symptom.
Clair Honeywood, 45, from King’s Lynn, Norfolk, initially dismissed weeks of stomach pain as a flare-up of her long-standing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). As an NHS healthcare assistant, she never imagined it could be anything more serious.
However, when the pain persisted without relief, she decided to visit her local A&E. After running tests, doctors discovered an abnormality in her pancreas but sent her home without a clear diagnosis.
Soon after, her condition worsened, and she developed a frightening new symptom, yellowing of the skin and eyes, known as jaundice. This serious condition signals that the liver and pancreas are struggling to clear toxins from the body.
A return to the hospital and further testing revealed the devastating truth: Clair had pancreatic cancer, one of the deadliest forms of the disease. Tragically, doctors also discovered that her tumor was wrapped around a major artery, rendering it inoperable.
While chemotherapy might slow the growth and spread of her cancer, doctors have warned Clair that it’s unlikely to extend her life beyond a year and a half.
Recalling the devastating moment she received her diagnosis, Clair shared, “My poor consultant didn’t want to tell me, but I begged him to. Then they told me I had pancreatic cancer.”
Although doctors confirmed the cancer hadn’t spread, they delivered another crushing blow, it was inoperable. “I didn’t know what was going on. The doctors just told me to go home and make memories,” she said.
According to Cancer Research UK, there are around 10,800 new cases of pancreatic cancer diagnosed each year in the UK. The charity Pancreatic Cancer UK highlights that it is the deadliest common cancer, with more than half of those diagnosed dying within three months.
Common symptoms of pancreatic cancer include abdominal and back pain, unexplained weight loss, indigestion, loss of appetite, changes in bowel habits, and jaundice.
These symptoms are often mistaken for more common conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), leading to delayed diagnoses.
According to Pancreatic Cancer UK, 80% of people with pancreatic cancer aren’t diagnosed until the disease has already spread.
Clair Honeywood received her diagnosis at stage three, meaning the cancer had reached nearby lymph nodes and begun to grow outside the pancreas, affecting major blood vessels.
Despite the devastating news, Clair remains determined to stay positive for the sake of her two children. “I’m only 45, you don’t expect to go through something like this at my age,” she said.
“There’s still hope, but right now, I’m just focused on getting through the next three months of chemotherapy. Life is for living, and the body can’t survive without the mind, so I have to stay positive.”
As an NHS healthcare assistant, Clair has witnessed traumatic events firsthand. “You learn to push it aside, it might just be a coping mechanism,” she reflected.
“It’s not normal for someone my age to get this cancer, it’s known as a silent killer, and it’s incredibly tricky to detect,” Clair Honeywood shared. “When you don’t know what’s happening, your mind goes to dark places. It feels like your whole world has ended, and all you can think about is your kids.”
Now, her biggest motivation is to marry her partner of 21 years, Danny Burch, 40. Friends and family have set up a GoFundMe page to help make her dream wedding a reality.
Following her diagnosis, Clair expressed how meaningful this milestone would be. “Danny and I had been talking about getting married for a while, and my friend offered to host the wedding on a farm that reminds me of my dad’s home in the countryside, it would be a dream come true.”
Despite her prognosis, Clair is focused on cherishing the time she has left with her loved ones. “I feel like I’ve been given the gift of time. I’m spending more time with my boys and trying to focus on the positives.”
After two decades together, Clair and Danny are finally set to tie the knot at the end of July, once her chemotherapy is complete. “It’s crazy that it took us this long to get married. Danny keeps looking at me and saying, ‘I can’t wait for you to be my wife.’”
Clair envisions a relaxed, nature-filled celebration surrounded by friends and family. “It will be the perfect day to bring everyone together, something you rarely get the chance to do when life is so busy,” she said.
