A devoted father who disregarded his back pain as a mere effect of aging tragically passed away just three weeks later. Geoff Follin, a former educator turned music instructor, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in May last year. Despite experiencing back discomfort and indigestion since February 2024, the 58-year-old attributed these issues to his advancing age. His abrupt demise shocked his family, occurring less than a month after his diagnosis.
Following the devastating news, Geoff’s wife, Nicola Follin from Upholland village in Skelmersdale, recounted the heart-wrenching moment they received the diagnosis. Nicola, aged 49, expressed, “As soon as they mentioned pancreas, we both knew it was almost game over. It was a state of shock. Palliative care was introduced immediately, and the support from the team was exceptional.”
Initially, they anticipated several months left together after Geoff was discharged to receive home care from the hospice. However, his health rapidly deteriorated, leading to his passing only days after their 21st wedding anniversary. Pancreatic Cancer UK reports that the elusive symptoms of pancreatic cancer often result in late-stage detection, with up to 80% of cases identified after the disease has metastasized.
Nicola shared Geoff’s story to endorse the launch of a national clinical trial for a breath test aimed at early detection. Developed by Imperial College London, the test underwent an initial study analyzing over 700 breath samples from individuals with and without pancreatic cancer, as well as those with pancreas-related conditions. Pancreatic Cancer UK is investing over £1 million to advance the test to a multi-center validation study, a crucial step before regulatory approval and potential adoption by the NHS.
The clinical trial, involving more than 6,000 patients with undetermined diagnoses, will establish approximately 40 trial sites in hospitals across England, Scotland, and Wales. Currently, there are no routine screening methods for early pancreatic cancer detection, emphasizing the importance of this innovative breath test.
Geoff underwent ultrasound and CT scans, but received the terminal cancer diagnosis during a visit to A&E while awaiting results. Reflecting on Geoff’s experience, Nicola highlighted the potential impact of the breath test in saving lives and extending quality time with loved ones. Pancreatic Cancer UK envisions the test as a groundbreaking tool capable of revolutionizing pancreatic cancer detection, potentially saving thousands of lives annually among the 10,800 individuals diagnosed with the disease in the UK.
In the future, a simple breath sample collected at a GP appointment could pave the way for early surgical interventions, the sole potentially curative treatment for pancreatic cancer. By detecting specific volatile organic compounds in exhaled breath, this non-invasive test holds promise in significantly improving early diagnosis rates and treatment outcomes.
