Hayley, the sister of Emma King, is now raising her voice to prevent others from receiving late diagnoses, hoping that, unlike her sister who succumbed to pancreatic cancer, they will have a better opportunity for survival.
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A woman who was repeatedly told by doctors that her stomach issues were caused by irritable bowel syndrome or food intolerances died of cancer.
Hayley Penfold, the sister of Emma King, is now raising her voice to prevent others from receiving late diagnoses, hoping that they can have a fighting chance for survival, unlike her sister. Emma tragically passed away at the age of 43 due to pancreatic cancer.
Prior to her diagnosis, Emma from Maidstone was an active participant in running clubs and various sports classes, leading a healthy lifestyle. However, as her symptoms worsened, they became too significant to overlook, prompting a referral for a CT scan. Hayley Penfold, 51, recounted, "Emma visited the doctors multiple times, who advised her to maintain a food diary and attributed her issues to several food intolerances, IBS symptoms, and sensitivity to wheat. Despite her dramatic weight loss, which was alarming given her already slender frame, no scan was recommended."
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In August 2019, two years later, Emma, a mother of three, could no longer overlook her worsening symptoms and received the heartbreaking diagnosis of a mass on her pancreas. Hayley shared, "Our tight-knit family, friends, and the community came together to form Emma’s Army, uniting in support and raising an incredible amount exceeding £40,000 for alternative therapies."
Emma's health declined further, with lumps appearing in her back during October and November the same year, the chemotherapy had stopped working. Hayley told the Sun: "Emma was determined to be alive for Christmas and put all her energy into being able to see her children open their presents on Christmas morning. Later in the day, having fought hard for that precious last Christmas moment, Emma hit rock bottom."
On January 11, 2021, she passed away. Although Covid restrictions limited her funeral to just 30 attendees, friends and family gathered outside to pay their respects. The money collected for Emma's alternative therapies was instead allocated to support her children's college education.
Hayley wishes to share her sister's experience in the hope that it will raise awareness about the early signs of pancreatic cancer, potentially saving lives. She remarked: “Emma was an extraordinary individual whose fight against pancreatic cancer impacted many. Prior to her diagnosis, Emma embraced life wholeheartedly. She was celebrated for her compassion and commitment to supporting those around her."
