Government must do more on pancreatic cancer - widow

Sandra Francis had been campaigning for more awareness and a diagnosis system for pancreatic cancer

A grandmother whose husband died from pancreatic cancer is campaigning for more government funding to tackle the disease.

Sandra Francis, from Evesham, lost her husband Pete 12 years ago.

Mrs Francis said pancreatic cancer was "so hard to diagnose and there's not yet been a massive breakthrough in the diagnostic system, as in a blood test or urine test".

The Department for Health and Social Care said it had "inherited a broken NHS" with "too many cancer patients waiting too long for treatment" but that it was "determined to change that".

Mrs Francis joined Pancreatic Cancer Action in Parliament Square on Friday, calling for more awareness and an improvement to early diagnosis.

According to Cancer Research, there are about 10,800 new pancreatic cancer cases in the UK every year.

The couple enjoyed nearly 40 years together and shared children and grandchildren.

In 2011, three months after being diagnosed with diabetes, Mr Francis' health deteriorated and he lost weight.

Sandra and Pete were married for nearly 40 years

Mrs Francis recalled her husband being bedridden and in pain.

"He never had fast food, he grew his own vegetables and he ate well," she said.

"He didn't heavily drink and never had a cigarette in his life - yet he still got caught up with pancreatic cancer."

Described as a "really good dad and a fantastic husband", his diagnosis came too late for treatment and he died the following year.

Mrs Francis said she had channelled her grief into campaigning for more awareness.

"I met a woman who started a petition to get 100,000 signatures which meant we could get a parliamentary debate to discuss the lack of funding for this type of cancer.

"It hits everybody - every class, every gender - it is just horrendous," Mrs Francis said.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “We will improve cancer survival rates by hitting all cancer waiting time targets within five years and double the number of MRI and CT scanners so no patient waits longer than they should.”

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this story you can visit BBC Action Line.