A Scottish mother who believed her bronzed skin was the result of fake tanning for social events received the devastating news that it was, in fact, a symptom of pancreatic cancer.
From Itchy Skin to a Life-Changing Diagnosis
Debra MacCuaig, a 38-year-old teacher from Glasgow, first noticed an unusual and persistent itch in October 2018. Initially, she thought it might be a reaction to a new washing detergent or moisturiser. Around the same time, she observed she was looking particularly tanned, but with a busy social calendar, she attributed this to using more fake tan than usual.
The situation took a serious turn when Debra's eyes began to turn yellow, a classic sign of jaundice. "I said to my husband 'do my eyes look a bit yellow?' and he said 'yeah they do'," she recalled. Even then, colleagues joked she resembled a character from The Simpsons, leaving her "blissfully unaware" of the grave reality.
A Major Operation and a Family Tragedy
Medical tests revealed abnormally high bilirubin levels, indicating a problem with her liver or bile ducts. After scans identified a blockage, she underwent a major surgical procedure known as a Whipple's procedure on December 11, 2018. This operation removes the head of the pancreas, the duodenum, the gallbladder, and part of the bile duct.
Surgeons discovered and removed a tumour at the head of her pancreas. Following the surgery on December 21 and six months of chemotherapy, Debra was told there was no further evidence of the disease and made a full recovery.
Tragically, the cancer struck her family again. Nearly five years after Debra's diagnosis, her mother, Pam Grindall, 65, developed similar symptoms. Despite treatment, the cancer returned and she passed away in May 2023.
A Vital Message to Others
Debra now speaks out to encourage others to listen to their bodies. She describes feeling a sense of "survivors' guilt" and anger that the same disease affected her mother, despite their family's awareness of the symptoms.
Her powerful advice to the public is clear: "Always trust your gut, if you don't feel right then get it checked out." She highlights how easy it is to dismiss subtle changes, like itching or a slight change in skin tone, urging people to seek medical advice for new and concerning symptoms.
