Dad prepares to make memories of 'last Christmas'

A father-of-two with incurable cancer is preparing to make memories with his family ahead of his "last Christmas".

Lee Rawlinson, 51, from Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer on 31 October, after experiencing a dull pain in his lower abdomen.

The family's "worlds have been blown apart", he said, but he was now focusing on a surprise Christmas trip and a bid to raise awareness of this "horrible disease".

Mr Rawlinson said: "This will be my last Christmas. I'm facing the jaws of death. I'm sailing towards it, and I can't do anything about it, yet I just have to face it."

According to the charity Pancreatic Cancer UK, it is the deadliest common cancer and, currently, more than half of people die within three months of diagnosis.

The charity says survival for pancreatic cancer has barely improved in the last  50 years.

On the day of the "brutal" diagnosis, Mr Rawlinson, a medical sales representative, said doctors told him the cancer was inoperable as it had spread to his liver.

He was told he had "months to live".

He then had to break the news to his wife Faye, a speech and language therapist, and children Darcey, 10, and Marley, seven.

"I don't fear death, I fear leaving my children and Faye behind," he said.

"Not being able to be there when they're in trouble, not being able to make it better when tears flow, watching Marley developing his football, watching Darcey developing her theatrical talents."

Common symptoms of pancreatic cancer include abdominal and back pain, jaundice, unexplained weight loss and changes to bowel habits, according to the NHS website.

Pancreatic Cancer UK said 80% of people with pancreatic cancer are not diagnosed until after the disease has spread.

It says survival rates have not changed in 50 years, which Mr Rawlinson believes must change.

"I want to get people to sit up and listen and think, what can we do for this not to destroy another young family's life?" he added.

"I was told I've got just months to live and, ever since that day, I've just wanted to raise awareness for this horrible disease and for Pancreatic Cancer UK."

He wants to spend more time with his family and has told his children: "We're going to make some magical memories and we're going to do things that ordinarily we would never do."

He has planned to surprise his family with a trip to Lapland.

They were also invited to Wembley as VIPs - and are due to head to the Emirates Stadium on 18 December for Arsenal's game against Crystal Palace.

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