Cork woman 'hugely grateful' to have survived pancreatic cancer as she prepares to graduate from UCC

Pamela Deasy, 53, from Union Hall in West Cork, wants people to know pancreatic cancer is not the death sentence it once was

Pancreatic cancer survivor Pamela Deasy was three years into her cancer journey when she started a BA at University College Cork. Pictures: Chani Anderson

Pamela Deasy will likely be one of the happiest students graduating in Cork on Monday when the pancreatic cancer survivor collects her degree.

However, as one of just 14% of patients with that cancer who live longer than five years after treatment, the 53-year-old is calling for more supports for survivors.

“We definitely need to talk more about these issues we are having as survivors,” she said. “We need to talk more about it and not hide away or stigmatise people.” 

She is “so hugely grateful” for having survived, but still faces struggles with extreme tiredness and other changes.

“I look fine but I think definitely we need to take into account people’s hidden disabilities,” she said.

Ms Deasy, from Union Hall, was three years into her cancer journey when she started a BA at University College Cork.

“When I started, I nearly dropped out that November, I just couldn’t cope with the commute, with the pressures,” she said.

The college’s disability adviser and ARC House helped her see how different life could be.

“I had fierce survivor guilt, which I didn’t even know was a thing then, no one really talks about it,” she said.

“I was thinking ‘why am I still here’ — it was so hard for me to deal with.” 

Pamela Deasy with Pancreatic Cancer Ireland co-founder Niall Rochford as he begins his 250km walk from Cork to Cong in memory of his wife Stella. 

She took the HSE’s Cancer Thriving and Surviving programme at ARC House, and would like to see information on this shared more widely.

Her son became her carer during the first two years of treatment, and she would also like to see more supports for family members.

In February, she co-founded Pancreatic Cancer Ireland and is a member of other patient groups, including Ucan Ireland.

“I’m so fortunate, and just to highlight that when I got the diagnosis I never in my life expected to be at UCC at this age of life,” she said.

As much as cancer has taken away from me, it has also opened doors I would never have thought about.

She urged patients to recognise pancreatic cancer is not the death sentence it once was. About 600 people are diagnosed with it annually in Ireland.

“I did say when I got my diagnosis ‘it was game-over’ because I knew nobody who had survived pancreatic cancer,” she said. “Whereas now I’m all about trying to instil hope in others.” 

Her treatment, which included Whipple surgery, was shared across Cork University Hospital, the Mercy Hospital and the Bon Secours.

“It’s not successful for everybody but it is the only curative treatment,” she said. “I was so lucky.” 

Pancreatic Cancer Ireland co-founder Niall Rochford is walking from Cork to Cong (in Mayo) this week to fundraise for the organisation.