Chiswick Woman Cycles To Paris

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Suzanne Cross battling arm fracture to help cancer charity

Chiswick resident Suzanne Cross is braving the London to Paris cycle ride with a fractured arm in aid of Pancreatic Cancer Action. She will set off with her friend Annette from London’s Crystal Palace tomorrow (9th May) and arrive at the Eiffel Tower, Paris on Saturday (12 May).

The London to Paris cycle ride covers nearly 500 kilometres and Suzanne has been busy over the last few months training for the event.  In fact it was on one of her recent bike training sessions that she had a nasty fall and fractured her arm. She was initially told she couldn’t do the race but asked for a second opinion and was told if she dosed up with painkillers she was allowed to go ahead.

Suzanne Cross explains, “We have been working very hard in training and I was determined to do the actual race. Pancreatic Cancer is such a grim disease with 22 people dying a day. It affects so many people with the ripple effect out to even more family and friends. One of the key issues is that diagnosis is usually too late for a positive outcome so raising awareness of this disease and its symptoms is fundamental.”

Pancreatic cancer is the 5th deadliest cancer in the UK. It is unfortunately very difficult to diagnose and on diagnosis, most people find they have untreatable terminal cancer with an average life expectancy of three to six months. Surgery is currently the only cure but only 10% are diagnosed in time for this to be an option. Sadly survival figures have stayed the same for 40 years and shockingly pancreatic cancer receives less than 1% of the cancer research budget.

Ali Stunt heads up Pancreatic Cancer Action charity and is herself a rare survivor of pancreatic cancer. She comments, “We wish Suzanne and Annette all the best with their long cycle ride and applaud them for doing all they can to raise valuable funds.”

“As a charity we are determined to ‘change the numbers’ and create greater awareness of pancreatic cancer and its symptoms amongst the general public, medical community and government ensuring more people are diagnosed earlier in time for surgery. “

Classic symptoms for pancreatic cancer include painless jaundice, significant weight loss, new onset of diabetes and new onset of persistent or significant abdominal pain and or back pain.  

Pancreatic Cancer Action is a national charity which aims to raise awareness of the symptoms of pancreatic cancer amongst the general public and medical community leading to earlier diagnosis and curative surgery.

May 8, 2012