A devoted father who ignored his back pain as a normal part of aging passed away just three weeks later. Geoff Follin, a former teacher turned music tutor, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in May of last year. Despite experiencing back pain and indigestion since February 2024, the 58-year-old attributed these symptoms to age. His untimely death shocked his family, occurring less than a month after the diagnosis.
His wife, Nicola Follin, from Upholland village in Skelmersdale, recounted the heart-wrenching moment they received the devastating news. Nicola, aged 49, recalled, “As soon as they mentioned pancreas, we both just shared a glance and realized the severity of the situation. It was a moment of disbelief. Palliative care was immediately introduced, and the team was incredibly supportive.”
Geoff spent a few more days in the hospital before being discharged home with hospice-led care. Initially, they anticipated having months left, a sentiment shared by the medical team. The couple’s three children, Sam (21), Isobel (19), and Daisy (17), who was undertaking her GCSE exams, were caught in the midst of the tragedy. Unfortunately, Geoff’s health rapidly deteriorated, leading to his passing shortly after their 21st wedding anniversary.
Pancreatic Cancer UK reports that the elusive nature of pancreatic cancer symptoms often results in late-stage detection, with up to 80% of cases being identified after metastasis. Regrettably, it is one of the most lethal common cancers, with over half of patients succumbing within three months of diagnosis.
Nicola has shared her husband’s story to advocate for a national clinical trial on a breath test, freshly unveiled. Developed by Imperial College London, the breath test underwent an initial two-year trial analyzing over 700 breath samples from individuals with and without pancreatic cancer, as well as those with other pancreatic-related conditions.
Pancreatic Cancer UK is further investing in advancing the breath test to a multi-center validation study with an infusion of over £1.1 million. This study, a critical step preceding regulatory approval and NHS adoption, will recruit patients through the NHS Urgent Suspected Cancer Pathway, ensuring swift appointments post-GP referrals.
The trial will encompass over 6,000 patients with uncertain diagnoses, establishing roughly 40 trial sites across hospitals in England, Scotland, and Wales. Presently, no screening or early detection methods exist for pancreatic cancer, posing a challenge for physicians.
Although Geoff underwent ultrasound and CT scans, his terminal cancer diagnosis was unexpectedly revealed during a visit to A&E while awaiting results. Nicola expressed, “Before Geoff’s diagnosis, we were unaware of pancreatic cancer, only cognizant of its grim prognosis due to late detection. The breath test could have potentially saved his life or granted us more time together. We cherished our close-knit family moments.”
Pancreatic Cancer UK believes that the breath test, requiring a one-off breath sample, could revolutionize early pancreatic cancer detection, potentially saving numerous lives annually. With around 10,800 new diagnoses annually in the UK, the test offers hope for more individuals to undergo potentially curative surgery, the only current treatment option.
In the future, a simple breath test during a GP visit could pave the way for early intervention and increased survival rates for pancreatic cancer patients. The test identifies volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath, offering a non-invasive method for detecting the disease.
