A Scots dad was given a devastating cancer diagnosis after suffering persistent pain in the left side of his body.
Peter McGovern, 58, started experiencing the symptoms in 2023, which medics were unable to pinpoint despite countless appointments, tests, and ultrasounds. The dad-of-two was eventually rushed to hospital in May last year.
Doctors suspected he had gallstones but decided to send him for further tests after noticing signs of jaundice. Three months of long medical investigations revealed that the father, from Glasgow, who was a taxi driver, had a tumour on his bile duct and pancreas.
He underwent a Whipple procedure – a complex surgical operation that removes part of the pancreas and other nearby organs to treat pancreatic cancer – two months later. For months, the dad endured a gruelling recovery process, supported by the pancreatic team and his consultant, Miss Coats.
Following his surgery, Peter spent six months receiving gruelling rounds of chemotherapy. Now, 14 months on, he continues to have regular scans and blood tests – all of which have been positive.
Daughter Danielle McGovern, 34, told our sister title, Glasgow Live: “His journey with cancer has transformed him in more ways than one. He knows all too well that if his diagnosis had come just six months later, he might not be here to tell his tale. Pancreatic cancer has taken so much from dad, but it has also given him a renewed sense of purpose.
“He has had to give up many things he once loved, like chocolate, fizzy drinks and alcohol, as his body adapted after surgery. This campaign resonates deeply with us because it’s about turning sacrifice into strength.”
The dad now hopes his story will raise awareness about pancreatic cancer and is supporting Pancreatic Cancer Action in its ‘Give It Up for PanCan’ campaign to encourage everyone to give up something they love for the month of January. Peter, like many other pancreatic cancer sufferers, has had to give up a lot of the things he loved before his cancer diagnosis.
After undergoing the Whipple procedure, which involves removing parts of the pancreas, small intestine, and other nearby structures, Peter has had to adapt his diet. The surgery significantly alters the body’s ability to produce enzymes and hormones essential for digestion, such as insulin and pancreatic enzymes.
As a result, certain foods and drinks can lead to discomfort. Peter has cut out chocolate, alcohol and fizzy drinks as they just do not agree with him. For more details on the campaign and how you can support the charity, visit here.
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