According to a story from the Andover Advertiser, mother June Beere has kicked off a campaign to open a cancer support center after her 42 year old daughter Gemma Kent was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. This support center is intended to include cancer therapies that are not necessarily available on the UK’s NHS. The center will also provide counseling and other services for cancer patients.
About Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most dangerous forms of cancer. The disease affects the pancreas, which is a glandular organ that is situated behind the stomach. Part of the reason that pancreatic cancer is so dangerous is that it rarely produces noticeable symptoms until it has reached an advanced stage and begun to spread. However, even when detected earlier, it is difficult to treat effectively. Risk factors for pancreatic cancer include being male, old age, African-American ancestry, family history, smoking, obesity, diabetes, chronic pancreatitis, and a diet heavy in red meat, processed meat, or meat cooked at very high temperatures. Symptoms include depression, upper abdominal pain, jaundice, diabetes, constipation, weight loss, and appetite loss. Treatment approaches for this cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Even with heavy treatment, pancreatic cancer almost always returns. The five year survival rate is just five percent. To learn more about pancreatic cancer, click here.
Gemma and June’s Story
The devastating diagnosis happened in May of 2018. Gemma had complained of pain for months but doctors had not considered the possibility that cancer could have been the cause. As a result, she was diagnosed when her cancer had already reached an advanced stage and had begun spreading to her liver. Even with chemotherapy, she only was given nine months to live.
In a bid to save her life, the family sought alternative therapies such as oxygen therapy, heat therapy, and dietary changes, which have caused the tumor to shrink greatly in size. The idea for the center was partially inspired by the fact that Gemma had found success with other treatments beyond just the recommended chemotherapy, which is notorious for its severe side effects.
If you would like to help with the campaign, send an email to [email protected].
