Celtic legend's daughter takes pancreatic cancer...

Celtic legend’s daughter takes pancreatic cancer… Full Story 👇

Jenny McGarvey, the daughter of Celtic football legend Frank McGarvey, is passionately campaigning to raise awareness about pancreatic cancer in Glasgow’s East End, a region where survival rates for the disease are alarmingly low. Jenny, who lost her father to the disease, has taken to the streets near Parkhead, the heart of Celtic’s footballing community, to educate people about the symptoms and the importance of early diagnosis.

Frank McGarvey, who passed away at 66 on New Year’s Day last year, was a celebrated figure in Scottish football. He played 245 times for Celtic, scoring 109 goals, and is one of just 30 players in the club’s history to have scored more than 100 goals. His final game for Celtic was marked by a memorable moment when he scored the winning goal just six minutes before the end of the 1985 Scottish Cup Final. Frank also had a successful career with St Mirren and Liverpool and managed Queen of the South. His battle with pancreatic cancer became public in October 2022, when he made an emotional appearance at Parkhead before a match against Hibernian to thank fans for their support.

Jenny, now 37, recalls the devastating moment her father was diagnosed. She admits that before her father’s illness, she had little knowledge of pancreatic cancer. The diagnosis came as a shock, as Frank had been healthy and full of life. “He was only 66, so full of life, just like a big kid,” she said. The family was stunned when doctors revealed Frank had only weeks or months to live. Jenny, a mother of three young daughters, named the youngest Francesca after her father, reflects on the pain of losing her dad at a time when he should have been enjoying retirement and spending time with his grandchildren. “I still get angry about it now because I’m a young mum. I need my dad,” she said. Jenny hopes that by sharing her father’s story, she can help others recognize the symptoms of pancreatic cancer and seek early diagnosis, potentially saving lives.

Pancreatic cancer is Scotland’s deadliest cancer, with more than 900 people diagnosed each year and around 26 people dying from it daily. The survival rates are dismal, with fewer than six percent of patients in Scotland surviving five years after diagnosis. The only current treatment for the disease is surgery, but only one in ten patients are eligible for it, as most are diagnosed after the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

To address this critical issue, Pancreatic Cancer Action has launched an East End of Glasgow Awareness Week. The campaign includes a series of awareness events in the area, aiming to improve early diagnosis and treatment outcomes in a region where awareness and survival rates are particularly low. Events are planned for Glasgow Fort and at The Emirates Arena and Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome. The campaign is supported by individuals like Anne-Marie Higgins, who lost her mother, Mary, to pancreatic cancer. Mary was diagnosed too late to undergo life-saving surgery and passed away just seven weeks after her diagnosis. Anne-Marie, a former nurse from Airdrie, is backing the awareness campaign in memory of her mother, highlighting the importance of recognizing the symptoms and the necessity of early diagnosis.

Pancreatic cancer symptoms can include jaundice, upper abdominal pain, mid-back pain or discomfort, loss of appetite, nausea, fatigue, and unexplained weight loss. Jenny McGarvey’s efforts in Glasgow’s East End, alongside Pancreatic Cancer Action’s campaign, aim to educate the community about these signs and encourage individuals to trust their instincts and seek medical advice if they experience any of these symptoms. Jenny’s mission is clear: “Early diagnosis could save your life.” Through her work, she hopes to prevent other families from experiencing the same heartbreak she has endured.