A terrible blow has been given to 51-year-old marathon runner and medical sales rep Lee Rawlinson. After having some small health problems, he was told he had pancreatic cancer, which was terminal. The father of two has been told he only has a few months to live. This news has turned his world upside down.
Lee is determined to make the most of the time he has left by warning others about the risks of ignoring signs that don’t seem important. By telling his story, he wants to keep others from going through the same thing.
The first sign that Lee was on the right path was a dull pain in his lower belly in January. He told himself it was just stress, but the pain wouldn’t go away. He had to wait 21 weeks for a report after going to the doctor and getting tests. Sadly, the wait killed him; by the time the cancer was found, it had spread to his stomach.
Lee has learnt that it’s important to pay attention to his body and do something when something doesn’t feel right. “When the dull ache first started, I didn’t think much of it,” he says. “But I feel bad that I didn’t ask for more tests sooner.” If you catch it early, it can make all the difference.
Pancreatic cancer runs in Lee’s family, and he hopes that his story will encourage other people to pay attention to their health. “Don’t ignore your symptoms, no matter how trivial they may seem,” he says. “Get checked out, it could save your life.”
Lee is determined to make the most of the time he has left, even though the outlook is not good. He planned a surprise trip to Lapland for his kids and wants to make experiences that will last a lifetime. “I want to be there for my children, even if it’s just in their memories,” he adds.
Lee also really wants to bring attention to pancreatic cancer studies and raise money for it. He thinks that more needs to be done to help people who are sick and to raise the rate of life.
Even though Lee knows how bad his situation is, he is still determined to enjoy every day to the fullest. His story is a powerful lesson of how important it is to put our health first and do something when something doesn’t feel right.
