Newcastle councillor diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer

Councillor Jason Smith was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in March

A councillor is "fighting for every day" after being diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Jason Smith told colleagues at Newcastle City Council he was suffering from stage-four pancreatic cancer.

After feeling unwell for 10 days in March he went to hospital and was given four to six months to live.

The 50-year-old said: "I can't even describe what a gut punch that news was, almost literally."

Mr Smith, who represents Lemington and founded Newcastle Independents, said his health deteriorated over a single afternoon.

"I bought new trainers at lunchtime," he said. "And by teatime I couldn't go out for that pastime we all enjoy - delivering pre-election newsletters to the ward."

He is undergoing palliative chemotherapy to extend his life.

'Nothing short of tragic'

Mr Smith said he had been "blessed" to spend more time with his family - wife Sindi, his children Harry and Emily, and stepchildren Sophia and Damian.

Pancreatic cancer has the lowest survival rate of common cancers and half of patients die within three months.

The one-year survival rate in the North East is 25%.

Mr Smith said: "Living with pancreatic cancer is a challenge but dying from it suddenly - as half of the people diagnosed do - is nothing short of tragic.

"I have been blessed with time to be able to sort out financial issues, spend quality time with family and give my wife and children time to get used to the idea that I won't be around for much longer, if that is ever possible.

"Most important of all, I have given time to finding ways to insert myself into the important occasions in my family's lives that I won't be there for."

Following Mr Smith's speech, a motion was passed to raise awareness of pancreatic cancer and light up the civic centre in purple on 16 November to mark World Pancreatic Cancer Day.