At 54, Pam went for a health checkup. If she had waited another 5 months, she would have died.

In 2017, Pam Macquart decided to go for a general health check-up. She was about to embark on a year-long travel expedition across Australia with her husband of many years. It was something the pair had wanted to do for decades – so when they reached their 50s, they decided to jump on the opportunity to caravan around the country.

Before going for the check-up, Pam's health was in a relatively normal place. She'd been diagnosed with type-2 diabetes three years earlier, which she was managing with medication. Other than that, her energy levels weren't great, and she was often feeling tired. But as Pam explained, "What woman in her 50s isn't tired from all the work they do?

She never could've imagined she would be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. 

Watch: The moment hundreds of Aussies walk to remember those who have died from pancreatic cancer. Post continues below.

"When I went for that check-up, I went in all happy and fine. But when the doctor came back with the tests saying my calcium levels were extremely high, the stress started to set in," Pam told Mamamia.

Because this was unusual and potentially an indication that something was very wrong, Pam was admitted to hospital while doctors carried out tests.

"I was in hospital trying to get the calcium levels down. Before letting me leave after the week spent there, the endocrinologist said she wanted to do a CT scan just to rule everything out. And that scan showed multiple growths on my pancreas and liver."

After that scan, Pam was told she had 'lesions' on her liver and pancreas. 

At first, it didn't register with Pam that 'lesions' might mean cancer. It wasn't until a specialist appointment that she got her diagnosis: stage three pancreatic cancer.

Feeling numb to it all, Pam and her husband were in disbelief, and assumed the cancer was 'fixable'. It wasn't until Pam saw her surgeon that he explained exactly what was happening - and the severity of what she was up against.

"Speaking with the first oncologist, he was suggesting some minor treatments but didn't recommend surgery, saying it wasn't an option. Then when he said I was basically being offered palliative care – it hit me like a tonne of bricks," Pam said.

"I almost threw up in his office. I hadn't even yet Googled the high death rate associated with pancreatic cancer. It was so overwhelming for me, and for Pete too."

It was a sobering realisation for Pam. But she was determined to try everything she could to beat the cancer – so she found a surgeon who was willing to try his hand at removing the tumours.

"He was upfront and honest with me that it may not be successful, and that undergoing the surgeries would be tough. But I knew I wasn't ready to die."

Pam felt like she had to try everything she could to stay around for her family – her husband and their four boys, Jared, 28, Kieran, 25, Ryan, 22 and Evan, 19.

"I didn't say anything to the boys straight away when we received the news. It was only once the treatment options were confirmed that we told them. They took it relatively well, and one of my sons said, 'We know you're going to be alright because you always fix the problem.'

"So in the space of seven months, I underwent three surgeries – a pancreatectomy/splenectomy and then two liver resections. There was a lot of healing and post-surgery pain, along with stays in and out of hospital during those seven months."

Fortunately, the pancreatectomy was successful, meaning the cancer in Pam's pancreas was cut out and removed. As for the tumours around her liver, the surgeries did mostly work, but doctors were unable to remove the cancer completely. This means Pam and her specialists continue to monitor the small tumours on her liver today.

Pam and her loved ones raising awareness and funds for PanKind. Image: Supplied.

For almost five years, though, these tumours have been stable – and Pam, who still gets regular checkups, hopes they stay that way.

"My surgeon always told me he wasn't a miracle worker and that he couldn't guarantee anything but he honestly saved my life. Other specialists hadn't been willing to operate, so I'm so grateful he took that chance. My health now is better than it's ever been. I'm still on meds for the type-2 diabetes, but my doctor recently said he expects me to live until at least 84 – and I'll make that happen," Pam said.

During this whole ordeal, Pam has been able to lean on those around her for support. She feels emotional looking back on it all. 

"During those seven months, I was so desperate to get home and be with my family. My husband Pete, my four sons, my sister and my niece – they were my rocks. My sister would turn up at the hospital every day at the exact same time – as soon as visiting hours were open – and bring me a cup of coffee. It's a small thing, but it made a world of difference. I cry every time I think about it," Pam said.

What's most sobering about Pam's experience with cancer is how close she was to losing her life. If she had not gone for that general health checkup before travelling across Australia, she wouldn't be here today. 

"They said that early detection is so important for a better outcome. If I left it another five or six months to have a health checkup, I would not be here now and I am so fortunate I had the scan when I did."

Interestingly, type-2 diabetes, lethargy and a sudden drop in weight can be indicators of pancreatic cancer. But they are signs not many people know about. And according to PanKind, only three in 10 people will survive one year after diagnosis with pancreatic cancer. So Pam is one very lucky woman.

"Most cases of pancreatic are inoperable and terminal. If I had waited just five extra months to get my health checked, I would have been dead. That fact is always in my mind – you can't escape it. The fact that one of my sons is getting married in a couple of weeks – I wouldn't have been there to celebrate that had I not gone to the GP. It's a lot to grasp."

Now Pam can look towards the future and feel hope and excitement. And that's something she wants for everyone who has been dealt the terrible card of being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. 

"I want to raise awareness, and I want to raise money for research. My family and my life brings me so much joy," Pam said to Mamamia.

And Pam has been doing exactly that, getting involved with PanKind – the Australian Pancreatic Cancer Foundation.

November is recognised globally as Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month and is an important time of year for communities to raise awareness of the disease, celebrate survivors and honour loved ones. It's also an opportunity to bring greater attention to the disease to ultimately improve outcomes for patients and their families – for which Pam is now an advocate.

Soon after she got the all-clear, Pam and her husband got a schnoodle (a schnauzer-cross-poodle) puppy called Mack. And he has also brought a lot of happiness back into Pam's world.

"That dog is my little best friend. Lots of friends say about me 'the ice queen has melted'. I used to be so serious before 2017. Now I'm quite an emotional person, someone who looks at things differently – I used to worry about so much and take it all too seriously. Now I just want joy."

In case you're wondering, Pam and her husband did eventually end up going on that caravan trip around the country in 2018. But quite ironically, they hated it, and realised caravanning wasn't for them. So they decided to cut the trip short, sell the caravan and fly overseas for a lush holiday throughout Europe.

But Pam will forever be grateful for that plan to travel across Australia. Because ultimately, it saved her life.

To hear more about pancreatic cancer, or to throw your support behind PanKind and donate, you can do so here.

Feature Image: From Pam Macquart's art site and Instagram. 

This article was originally published in November 2022. It has since been updated.

Is comfort important to you when it comes to clothing? Complete this survey now to go in the running to win a $50 gift voucher!