Family 'blindsided' by grandad's cancer death

Emmie Kay said she had just six days with her grandad after his diagnosis

A woman says she was left "blindsided" when her grandad died from cancer just six days after his diagnosis.

Emmie Kay, from Bridgwater in Somerset, has shared her story ahead of taking on a 100km (62-mile) challenge to raise funds for Pancreatic Cancer UK.

Ms Kay said her grandad Jim seemed to be in good health before his diagnosis, but he died just days later at the age of 76.

She said: "We had no history of cancer in our family, and we had no idea what the symptoms were."

Joining Ms Kay on the challenge is her friend Tash Selway, 45, whose dad Paul also died in 2024 from the same illness.

Much like Jim, Paul was an active and healthy man. But when he started to lose weight unexpectedly, his GP sent him for tests and soon after he was diagnosed with neuroendocrine pancreatic cancer.

Ms Selway said: "By the time he was diagnosed, it was already stage 4 with metastatic spread to his liver and there was nothing they could do to cure it.

"Not letting anything stop him, dad continued to volunteer as a driver for others as his treatment commenced."

Ms Kay said her family was "blindsided" when Jim died so suddenly. He had always been in good health up until a year before his death when he fell ill with a twisted bowel.

After receiving treatment for the condition, he felt unwell again - and that was when doctors discovered the cancer.

"We had just six days with him [after his diagnosis], which is simply not enough time," she added.

Ms Kay (R) says her grandad Jim (L) frequently volunteered before he became unwell

Ms Kay and Ms Selway will be running 10km (6.2 miles), swimming 10km, walking 30km (18 miles) and cycling 40km (24 miles) across Somerset this Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month.

The money raised will go towards Pancreatic Cancer UK and Love Musgrove, the Musgrove Park Hospital charity.

Ms Kay said: "The swimming is still very daunting, I've never swum that far, but I know I can do it for grandad, Paul and everyone else affected by this devastating disease."

Ms Selway added: "I hope the money Emmie and I raise bring us closer to research breakthroughs and provide support to those who need it most."

According to the NHS, common symptoms of pancreatic cancer include indigestion, back or tummy pain, changes to your poo, unexpected loss of appetite, and jaundice.

In the UK, about 10,800 people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer annually - and about half of those patients die within the first three months of the diagnosis.