A man from Nottinghamshire who thought he was suffering from a gallbladder attack was instead diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer at just 43 years old. Michael Armishaw initially experienced stomach pain and sickness, which his sister Claire believed might be related to gallstones or a liver issue. However, after his symptoms worsened, he attended A&E in September, where doctors also suspected gallstones but ran tests to rule out other causes.
Devastating Diagnosis
Instead of receiving a simple treatment, Michael was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer, meaning the disease had already spread to distant organs. The family was in shock, as Michael was relatively young and had no prior indication of such a serious illness. He was given a prognosis of 12 months.
Pancreatic cancer is often called the silent killer because symptoms typically appear late. Only about 12 per cent of patients survive more than five years after diagnosis. Michael's diagnosis came just a year after his father died from lung cancer, which Claire described as another blow to the family.
Treatment and Decline
Michael underwent six rounds of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but his body did not respond. The cancer spread to his liver, lymph nodes, and by November, to his brain. In April, he suffered a seizure that left him bedbound and unable to speak. He was placed in end-of-life care and died surrounded by family on April 26.
Family's Grief and Fundraising
Claire expressed devastation over losing both her brother and father in a short time. Their mother, who is housebound, is struggling to cope with the losses. Pancreatic cancer affects around 11,500 people annually in the UK, with nearly half of cases in those over 75, though rates are rising in younger people.
Claire is now fundraising for Michael's funeral costs, as the family already faced financial strain from their father's funeral and Michael's treatment. She hopes to give Michael the send-off he deserves and wants him to know how much he was loved.
