Marathon runner diagnosed with terminal cancer only had one symptom that was easy to overlook

A marathon runner who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer experienced just one symptom before being told he has 'months to live'.

Lee Rawlinson, 51, from Essex, is preparing for the 'last Christmas' with his family after he was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer on Halloween.

The father-of-two, who worked a medical sales representative, said doctors told him on 31 October that the cancer was inoperable and had spread to his liver.

Despite the horrible news, Lee still went trick-or-treating that evening with his children, Darcey, 10, and Marley, seven.

He waited until the next day to tell them about his diagnosis.

What is pancreatic cancer?

Pancreatic cancer is a type of cancer that develops when cells in the pancreas grow out of control, and form a tumour.

It is the deadliest out of the common cancers, with more than half of people dying within three months of a diagnosis, according to Pancreatic Cancer UK.

Pancreatic cancer symptoms

According to the NHS, these are the most common symptoms:

• The whites of your eyes or your skin turn yellow
• Itchy skin
• Darker pee
• Paler poo than usual
• Loss of appetite or losing weight without trying to
• Feeling tired or having no energy
• A high temperature, feeling hot or shivery
• Feeling or being sick
• Diarrhoea, constipation, or other changes in your poo
• Pain at the top part of your tummy and your back,
• Indigestion or a bloated tummy

Lee's single symptom

Back in January, Lee said he started experiencing a 'dull ache' in his lower abdomen and he simply passed it off as a symptom of stress.

After a GP visit, Lee was referred to a gastroenterologist and after a 21-week wait, his blood tests came back all clear.

However, his stomach pain became unbearable in September as the dad explained to PA Real Life: “I was taking painkillers every day, and co-codamol, and it wasn’t touching the sides.

“If you can imagine a scaffolding pole and someone slowly pushing it through you, right through to your back, it was like that.”

“This will be my last Christmas,” Lee, who also has Type 2 diabetes, added.

“I’m facing the jaws of death. I’m sailing towards it and I can’t do anything about it, yet I just have to face it.

“I don’t fear death, I fear leaving my children and Faye behind – not being able to be there when they’re in trouble, not being able to make it better when tears flow, watching Marley developing his football, watching Darcey developing her theatrical talents, not being able to be there for Faye.

“Survival for pancreatic cancer has barely improved since the 1970s and it’s got to change. I want to get people to sit up and listen and think, what can we do for this not to destroy another young family’s life?”

Lee says his last days are 'going to be amazing'

The family will be heading to Arsenal’s upcoming Premier League game against Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium on 18 December.

Lee has thanked the community for the way they have 'come together' to help out with the family’s next adventure to Lapland in Finland.

“The kids have never been on a plane before, so they’re going to fly for the first time and look out the window and see snow, and I’m going to see their reaction,” Lee said. “It’s going to be amazing.

“We are living the magic dream. Through such sad circumstances, we are living our best life.”

If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact Macmillan’s Cancer Support Line on 0808 808 00 00, 8am–8pm seven days a week.