Mayo hotelier raising awareness of pancreatic cancer in tribute to his late wife

THE families of loved ones who have died from pancreatic cancer in Ireland have today launched an important awareness campaign marking World Pancreatic Cancer Day.

The 5 in 6 campaign aims to spotlight one of the world’s deadliest cancers, which kills five in every six people diagnosed with cancer of the pancreas, 50% within the first year.

It’s a stark statistic but one which hotelier Niall Rochford, managing director at the Ashford Castle Estate, hopes will bring home to people the need for greater visibility and understanding of pancreatic cancer and its symptoms.

When Niall’s wife Stella was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2022, he could never have imagined the sudden and devastating impact the disease would have on his family.

By the time Stella received her diagnosis, the cancer was already at an advanced stage, and she died just eight weeks later, leaving Niall and their three children to mourn the untimely loss of a beloved wife and mum.

“I want to save as many families as possible from the trauma and devastation we have experienced and that starts with awareness of this deadly disease that ruins so many lives,” said Niall.

The Silent Cancer

Niall has joined forces with Pancreatic Cancer Ireland, survivors of pancreatic cancer and medical experts to raise awareness of the disease so that any chance of increased early detection can lead to better outcomes for other families and their loved ones. In comparison to other cancers, pancreatic cancer has a shockingly low survival rate.

Pancreatic cancer is not one of the more commonly diagnosed cancers but unfortunately it is one of the leading causes of cancer related death worldwide.

While people may have few symptoms in the early stages of a pancreatic cancer diagnosis, Professor Aisling Barry, Chair of Radiation Oncology at University College Cork, suggests that if anyone experiences one or more of six key symptoms to consider seeking further medical care.

The six are:

Tummy pain or back pain

Digestive problems: poor appetite, indigestion, nausea

Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes) and/or itchiness

Noticeable change in bowel habits (light-coloured or floating stools)

New diagnosis of diabetes or diabetes that’s getting harder to control

Unexplained weight loss

Prof. Barry says: “While of course these symptoms in isolation may have other causes, it’s important that people are alerted to their potential association with pancreatic cancer, particularly if there is a family history of the disease. While many of the symptoms might only develop as the disease progresses, people can empower themselves to seek further medical input by being aware of their family medical history and by knowing these potential symptoms.”

Hotels turning purple

Niall Rochford could not have imagined, a little over a year ago, that he would find himself spearheading a campaign to raise awareness of pancreatic cancer. However, perhaps the greatest tribute he can pay his wife, Stella, is to help ensure that others who receive a diagnosis are given the best possible chance of survival through education, advocacy and research.

“For me and my family, the 5 in 6 campaign is the start of Stella’s legacy. The more people that know about pancreatic cancer, the better our chances of fighting it,” says Niall.

With purple the symbol of the pancreatic cancer awareness cause, Niall thanked his industry colleagues who didn’t hesitate in lending their support to the campaign, joining Ashford Castle and The Lodge at Ashford Castle by lighting up their hotels in purple to mark Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Day today (November 16).

Also lighting up are:

Adare Manor, Limerick

Cashel Palace, Tipperary

Dromoland Castle, Clare

Trump Doonbeg, Clare

Killarney Park Hotel, Kerry

Hayfield Manor, Cork

The K Club, Kildare

The Merrion Hotel, Dublin

Visit https://www.cancer.ie/ and follow https://www.instagram.com/pancreaticcancerireland for more information and support.