Ian Loxton Pancreatic Cancer Research

Ian Loxton Pancreatic Cancer Research

Jane Loxton, a member of the E Club, has written a book following the sudden death of her husband Ian in September 2011 from Pancreatic Cancer. Ian passed away only 20 weeks after diagnosis, this cancer is an aggressive deadly cancer with no early detection indicators and consequently very limited treatment is available.

Jane is a registered nurse still practising and she did not know Ian's symptoms were pancreatic cancer and several doctors he visited also had no knowledge.

Jane signed a Partnership Agreement with Australia Rotary Health to fund a Ph D Scholarship in Ian's name in April 2012 for much needed research into Pancreatic Cancer. Jane is hoping this research will result in early detection and pain management relief for patients with this deadly cancer.

Australian Rotary Health Club donations by District Jan 2014 shows $5,880 to January 2014 and is ongoing at a steady achievable pace.

Jane is committed to raising $33000 over 3 years, to date she has raised $ 26,385, she is on target for raising $11000 per year for three years, she has only $7000 to raise to finish in April 2015.  Jane commenced fund raising raffling Limited Edition Prints, a Fashion Parade, Quiz nights, Fun Runs, she received a generous donation.      Jane then wrote a book on her Sailing Experiences with Ian and the proceeds go totally to the Australian Rotary Health.

Jane has spoken at 21 Rotary and Probus Clubs on Pancreatic Cancer, book sales come from these activities, and Jane travels to any Rotary District to speak.  She has manned AHR Booths at District Conferences, and will be on the AHR stand at the Sydney International Convention. Janes nursing skills allow her to spread the word about Pancreatic Cancer as it is one of the forgotten Cancers, it is on the increase, it is affecting younger people, and it is very quick to claim lives.

Pictured: Jane and Daniel

Daniel Yeo is the PHD student awarded the scholarship and this commenced in January. Daniel studies at the Melbourne University and the Austin hospital, and his supervisor is Mr Mehrdad Nikfarrjam who is a Liver, Pancreas and Biliary Surgeon.

Report from Jane Loxton

In September 2011 when my husband Ian died of Pancreatic Cancer I was devastated that nothing had changed for this deadly Cancer in the 42 years since I had started Nursing.

Ian was larger than life and wanted to live life to the full like he always had done. The short time following his diagnosis he tried to find answers to questions of why me and what options do I have, spending hours with Doctor Google.

After Ian died I too was asking questions, why had Pancreatic cancer been put in the too hard basket and swept under the carpet, not getting the attention and high profile like other cancers, forgotten about with many questions left unanswered.

Australia Rotary Health came to my rescue and enabled me to sponsor a PhD Scholarship in Ian's name to research methods of early detection and adequate pain relief for Pancreatic cancer. Like all cancers early detection is the key to a better prognosis. Pancreatic cancer was once thought of as effecting men and women over 60 years and rarely under 40 years, but this has changed with numbers on the increase and effecting younger people.

Along with some generous donations and my own fundraising I have reached the $33,000 target for a 3 year PhD Scholarship. I also give talks on Pancreatic Cancer Awareness based around Ian's journey. So far I have given over 40 talks to mainly Probus and Rotary Clubs.

I would like to thank all the staff at ARH for their help and support to myself and Dannel Yeo the PhD recipient.

Jane Loxton. PP, PHF

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