Phil – Interview 32

In March 2010 Phil was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. After a liver biopsy, doctors found that the cancer had spread to his liver. Phil is having chemotherapy and was due to start vaccine injections as part of a clinical trial called the TeloVac trial. He feels well but tired.

At the end of 2009 Phil had stomach pains. At first he thought he had an ulcer. He also started to lose weight. In January 2010 the pain became more severe, so he went to his GP, who referred him to a specialist. The gastroenterologist ( a doctor specialising in the digestive system) ordered an ultrasound and a CT scan, and performed an endoscopy and sigmoidoscopy. In March 2010 he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Then Phil had two liver biopsies, and the doctors found that the cancer had spread to his liver.

Phil was told that he could take part in a clinical trial called the TeloVac trial, which he decided to do. As part of the trial he was given chemotherapy and vaccine injections. When we spoke to Phil hed had two cycles of chemotherapy and was about to start the injections, which would be put into his stomach. These injections will continue unless they are found to be ineffective.

The first intravenous infusion of chemotherapy gave Phil a high temperature. When the consultant found out about this she was very concerned and angry with the trial nurse because she should have been informed immediately. Phil was given intravenous hydrocortisone and Piriton before the next session of chemotherapy, which stopped this unpleasant side effect.

Phil told us he felt good at the time we met him, though very tired at times. He was optimistic about the outcome of his treatment. The local Macmillan nurses had been very helpful. They had helped him claim Disability benefit and Carers; Allowance. Phil had been very well supported by his family and friends.

We spoke to Phil in 2010

Phil had severe abdominal pains about half an hour after eating. At first he and his GP thought…

Age at interview 50

Gender Male

Age at diagnosis 50

I was suffering from some stomach pains, some severe abdominal pains at the beginning of 2010 and I went to see my local GP and to all intents and purposes we were convinced it was a duodenal ulcer from the symptoms.

Did you have any other symptoms apart from the pain?

I had some stomach pains, when I ate, I used to get a reaction about half an hour after I ate, which again everyone thought was the food going down irritating the ulcer. And that went on for a little while before I got these severe pains which resulted in me going to the doctor. So there probably was time, about a couple of months where kind of, if I’d been more aware I could have gone to the doctor earlier.

Did you notice any change in your bowels, your stools?

No, nothing at all.

Nothing.

And I used to like a drink quite a lot, and the only thing I found was that giving up alcohol kind of eased the symptoms. Which is what I did. So I just thought it was alcohol irritating an ulcer.

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Phil was terrified by the thought of having an endoscopy but the sedative made him sleepy and the…

Age at interview 50

Gender Male

Age at diagnosis 50

Can you say a bit more about the endoscopy? For people that don’t know
what an endoscopy is.

Yes, an endoscopy is a camera down the throat into the stomach to view the stomach lining. And the thought of it terrified me to be quite honest. But when I was given the sedative, it was a case of have you done it yet? And they’re already completed it. So
Yes, so they put you to sleep almost.

Yes. It was, it was not unpleasant at all. But it was the thought of, its not nice, sort of having a tube down your throat,

Yes.

but the actual reality was okay.

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Phil contacted a Macmillan nurse who visited him at home to discuss his needs and applied for…

Age at interview 50

Gender Male

Age at diagnosis 50

And where have you looked for support? Apart from your family I guess?

Yes I’ve, I’m very lucky sort of with family and friends, sort of very supportive and involved, but the best thing I did was contact the Macmillan nurses, and they’ve been very helpful. Kind of, my company aren’t very considerate and I only get statutory sick pay, which obviously is quite a financial strain.

Gosh.

R’ But the Macmillan nurses sort of went through all the benefits I could be receiving, and sort of claimed them on my behalf, so they’ve been very good. I recommend people
Can you remember what, can you remember what those benefits are called? Because other people might not know about those.

There’s my, I get a disability benefit of £70 a week. And a carers benefit of £50 a week. And that, this was actually back dated from when, and she put in the claim for me. So that makes quite a lot of difference.

Mm. And that’s not means tested is it?

No, not at all.

And how did you find the Macmillan nurses? Did somebody put you in touch with them?

I was told kind of to get in contact with them sort of, that they were the best people to kind of go through. And we just picked up the forms and there’s a local one, fairly close to where I live, where they’re based, and we contact them and they came out to the house and interviewed me and my wife and kind of discussed our needs and what they could do for us. And they’ve kept in contact with us, they sort of, even though they’ve got the benefit’s sorted out, they’ve phoned up. They get reports on how my progress is going.

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