Retford: Family pledges to honour Ray Seymour who died of cancer

Ray Seymour, 73, from Retford, died on 19th August, just two months after going to his doctor complaining of pain.

His daughter, Lucy Anthony, said: “Unfortunately because of my dad’s late diagnosis, which is usually the case with pancreatic cancer, it was too late for any surgery to be performed, and, as it turned out, his decline was so rapid, that he was too weak to have any chemotherapy treatment.”

“Pancreatic cancer was not something that we had heard of before dad’s diagnosis.”

In November, it is pancreatic cancer awareness month, and Ray’s family will be heavily involved in getting the message of pancreatic cancer, across Bassetlaw.

The family are approaching shops asking if they will put up pancreatic posters for November and asking landlords if they can dress empty shop windows purple,

To continue with dressing the town purple, the family have asked if the town hall can be lit up purple on the 1st November to mark the start of the awareness month under the ‘Purple Lights for Hope’ campaign.

Lucy added: “ Having spoken with friends, neighbours and strangers in the street it is shocking to discover just how many Retford residents have lost loved ones to this disease.”

“Pancreatic cancer was something I had never heard of before my father was diagnosed, I knew nothing of the warning signs to look for and I would like to do my bit to ensure that this little known cancer gets more attention in order to improve the statistics for those that receive diagnosis in the future.”

Nearly 9,000 people each year are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the UK.

Often those diagnosed have only a few weeks or months left to live.

One of the main problems is that pancreatic cancer is not diagnosed early enough for surgery to be performed.

Only 10-20 per cent of people diagnosed can have surgery. Even with surgery the five year survival statistic is still only 20 per cent.

Funding for research will improve survival rates and the time it takes people to be diagnosed.