Pankind Cancer Foundation will host its Remember September initiative next month to raise money for research into pancreatic cancer. Jena Carr speaks with Geelong participant Tracey Pye, who will walk 300km in honour of her mother and friend.
Tracey Pye, 60, will walk in solidarity with those living with pancreatic cancer next month to remember and honour two loved ones.
The Geelong woman’s mother died on September 3, 2019, at age 77, just seven months after she was diagnosed with the serious disease.
“Mum was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer that February and she was given six months to live and she lasted seven months,” Tracey said.
“It was such a surprise because I’ve never heard of pancreatic cancer before that, and mum just woke up one day and she was yellow.
“The tumour had strangled part of her pancreas, which stopped functions going through to her liver, and as it was too big, there was nothing doctors could do about it.
“She did get on a trial, but maybe it was her age or something like that, as she just couldn’t cope with the strength of the medication.”
Now six years later, Tracey is once again watching another loved one go through a similar experience, with her friend Leanne also diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at 59 years old.
“June last year, Leanne thought she was gaining a lot of weight, and that her bra was too tight as she would get pain on the sides of her body,” she said.
“She had CT scans, but they didn’t pick it up, and it wasn’t until she had a PET scan that they picked it up, and she’s now finished 12 months of chemo and radiation and been on really severe treatment.
“She had a test after six weeks of finishing all her treatment, but unfortunately, she’s now got tumours in her liver as well, and doctors have given her nine months.
“She’s just started a medical trial, so hopefully she gets some positive results from that, but that’s making her really ill as well, so I just try to support her every day.”
Pankind Cancer Foundation’s Remember September campaign will encourage people to either walk 75km across the month to recognise the 75 Australians who die from pancreatic cancer each week, or to give up a vice like caffeine, sugar or alcohol in support of those impacted by the disease.
In honour of her mum and friend, Tracey will be giving up alcohol and walking 300km (four times more than the campaign) next month to help raise funds for research through the initiative.
“When people are going through treatment, they’re getting up every single day, and Leanne had to go in from Gisborne to Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre every day for six weeks,” she said.
“Patients are getting up and doing that and struggling every day, so I wanted to push myself a bit further because I could do 75km in a month easily enough, but this (75km a week) will be a challenge.
“I will also be giving up alcohol for the month, so that will be a big challenge as well and… and by raising awareness of this cancer, it will help to try and find the symptoms out earlier and save more lives.
“Just being there and letting people know you care is important, as a lot of people hear the word cancer and might stay away from those people, as they might think they’re going to be bothering them.
“Whether it’s a message, helping out or dropping off food, it’s just about being there and being supportive while also maintaining a level of normality.”
This will be the sixth year that Tracey will be involved in Remember September, and she has already surpassed her $1200 fundraising goal, having raised $1533 as of 2pm on August 27.
Tracey said she was thankful to everyone who had already donated and encouraged people to continue helping work towards more research and better survival rates for people living with pancreatic cancer.
“Had Leanne maybe gotten diagnosed sooner, doctors might have been able to help her out a bit more,” she said.
“It’s hard to see her go through this, but she really appreciates the support and wants people to be aware of this campaign and get on board.
“Leanne said she wanted people to know how much she appreciates what people are doing and the donations, and that raising awareness of this disease is important, as it’s so hard to detect.
“Pancreatic cancer is the third largest (fatal) cancer in Australia, with 75 people dying each week from it, and 12 people are diagnosed daily, so the campaign is helping encourage people to listen to their bodies.
“With pancreatic cancer, it’s not until you’ve got a severe symptom that you know that something may be wrong… and usually by the time you’ve got the symptoms, you’re too far gone.”
Early-stage pancreatic cancer rarely causes obvious symptoms, and signs may not appear until the cancer is large enough to affect nearby organs, with jaundice (yellowish skin and eyes) one of the first symptoms, according to Cancer Council Victoria.
Pankind chief executive Michelle Stewart said people like Tracey were helping support those impacted by Australia’s eighth most common cancer and improve their quality of life.
“Every step walked, and every habit given up this September is a powerful act of solidarity for the 75 Australians who lose their lives to pancreatic cancer each week,” she said.
“Last year we united to contribute over $1.9 million, and this year we are determined to go even further to fuel the research that could shift these devastating statistics and bring hope to future generations.”
Visit rememberseptember.org.au/fundraisers/traceypye for more information and to donate.
