A CHARITY has praised a Hampshire family who are raising awareness of a "silent killer" following the death of a loved one.
Retired Chandler's Ford hairdresser Debbie Raffo, who worked at the same salon for 44 years, died of pancreatic cancer earlier this month after battling the disease for four months.
Following her diagnosis Debbie, 66, embarked on a quest to highlight signs of the disease, which strikes around 10,000 people in the UK every year.
As reported in the Daily Echo, other members of her family have now taken up the baton.
Ali Stunt, founder and chief executive of Pancreatic Cancer Action (PCA) said: "It is so important for people to know the signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer so they can get the treatment they need at an early stage.
"We are so sorry to hear of Debbie Raffo's death.
"It is the dedication of people like Debbie and her family that can really make a difference and help others be diagnosed early and in time for surgery.”
Pancreatic cancer is hard to treat because sufferers rarely feel ill until the disease has progressed to an advanced stage.
Last year a survey by PCA revealed that 75% of people in the south east were unable to name any of the symptoms.
A PCA spokesperson said: "The south east had more cases of pancreatic cancer - 1,471 - than any other region in England in 2016.
"Shockingly, with the current five-year survival rate sitting at an abysmal 6.4%, it is likely that only 100 patients will survive beyond 2021.
"Pancreatic cancer is the UK’s fifth biggest cancer killer - you are five times more likely to die of the disease than a car accident."
Symptoms can include indigestion, depression, jaundice, unexplained weight loss, upper abdominal pain and pain when eating. It has also been linked to pale stools.
The PCA spokesperson said: "Despite having a shockingly low survival rate, it is possible to survive pancreatic cancer.
"If a patient is diagnosed early and able to have surgery, five-year survival increases from less than 7% to around 30%."
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