Mum given just weeks to live after devastating cancer diagnosis reveals the two key questions doctors failed to ask her

A MUM diagnosed with crab was fixed conscionable 12 weeks to unrecorded aft going to the GP astir her symptoms "for years".

Bryony Thomas, 46, revealed 2 cardinal questions doctors failed to inquire her.

The mum-of-one was told she had pancreatic cancer successful December 2019.

She'd been visiting doctors "on and disconnected for years" arsenic she battled aggravated fatigue and changes to her toilet habits.

The turning constituent came erstwhile Bryony, who lived successful Bishopston, Bristol, astatine the time, noticed her pee had darkened to the colour of "tea without milk" and her tegument started turning yellow.

Doctors discovered a tumour successful the mum's pancreas.

The mum was initially told that her tumour mightiness beryllium inoperable and that she would lone person astir 12 weeks to unrecorded if doctors were incapable to region it.

Bryony readied herself for what she thought would beryllium her past Christmas with her past eight-year-old girl Eleni, wrapping presents successful hospital.

But consultants astatine Bristol Royal Infirmary were capable to successfully region the tumour, conscionable 2 weeks aft the mum's devastating diagnosis.

Bryony is present calling for doctors and patients to go much comfy talking astir poo - and for vague presumption similar 'bowel movements' to beryllium "banned".

She said: "I went to spot GPs connected and disconnected for years earlier my diagnosis and I was asked astir my 'bowel movements' but nary 1 ever asked maine if my poo was airy oregon floating.

"If they had I would person told them that it was. I aboriginal learned that this tin beryllium a motion of pancreatic insufficiency," she said.

According to Pancreatic Cancer UK, the illness tin origin diarrhoea - watery stools that onslaught much than 3 times a time - arsenic good arsenic constipation, which is erstwhile poo is steadfast and hard to propulsion out.

Pancreatic crab tin besides marque your poo pale, oily and smellier than normal, which is referred to arsenic steatorrhoea.

Sufferers whitethorn besides announcement that their poo floats and is hard to flush down the toilet.

This is due to the fact that there's excessively overmuch abdominous successful the poo.

It happens if pancreatic crab has affected your digestion, truthful that abdominous successful your nutrient isn’t digested properly.

After a bid of tests failed to spot thing incorrect with her, successful December 2019 Bryony noticed her urine had turned fluorescent yellowish 1 time and a heavy brownish the next.

She called 111, who sent her to a section hospital's Emergency Department.

Doctors ruled retired pancreatitis, gall stones and hepatitis earlier scans showed a tumour connected Bryony's pancreas.

By that time, the mum's poo was "very dark", according to a station she wrote for Pancreatic Cancer UK, and her poos were "whitish grey similar child’s modelling clay".

Consultants astatine the determination Hepatobiliary Multidisciplinary Team astatine the Bristol Royal Infirmary were peculiarly disquieted astir the tumour being connected Bryony's portal vein - which carries humor from the gastrointestinal tract, gallbladder, pancreas and spleen to the liver.

To region it, they would besides person to region a conception of the vein itself.

After days spent successful limbo, Bryony was told connected December 27 that doctors would beryllium capable to run connected her tumour and she was wheeled successful for country 2 weeks aft her diagnosis.

Surgeons removed the tumour, 3 affected lymph nodes and a 1.5cm conception of the partition of the portal vein.

The analyzable process was palmy and Bryony besides underwent chemotherapy aft her operation.

But present needs lifelong medicine to regenerate enzymes that would usually beryllium made by her pancreas.

Know your poo

Five years later, Bryony lives successful Stroud and is cancer-free.

She praised the squad astatine University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust.

Bryony, who runs a selling consultancy, said: "I simply would not beryllium live without the enactment of the team.

"Only 7 per cent of radical with my diagnosis marque it this acold and I americium truthful grateful.

"Even erstwhile I was having chemotherapy successful the Dental Hospital, during the coronavirus pandemic, attraction was amazing, and I can't responsibility the attraction I've had."

She's present readying to tally the London Marathon successful assistance of Pancreatic Cancer UK.

Bryony, who lives with hubby Tom, 47, and girl Eleni, 13, believes radical request to consciousness assured discussing symptoms without embarrassment.

“I deliberation the word ‘bowel movements’ should beryllium banned," Bryony said.

"We each request to get utilized to talking astir our poo, and doctors bash too."

Meg Finch-Jones, a advisor successful hepatobiliary country who operated connected the mum, said: "We, the hepatobiliary team, are truthful pleased that Bryony has done truthful good and that she has chosen to champion pancreas crab awareness.

"In her case, if we had not been capable to run portion she was jaundiced, the tumour whitethorn not person been operable.

"All patients are considered connected a case-by-case basis, and a batch of factors spell into making these captious decisions.

"But erstwhile country is possible, assertive country and precocious chemotherapy connection the radical successful our attraction the champion chance.

"Recent advances successful chemotherapy are besides improving the lives for patients who cannot person surgery. Overall aboriginal diagnosis is key."