Ann Lally was given just months to live after being diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer, the same disease that had taken the life of her husband Mike
A woman who received the same cancer diagnosis as her late husband, and was given just six months to live, has defied her “expiry date” to welcome her first grandchild. Ann Lally, a former childminder, was diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer in June 2024, merely three months after her husband Mike, who had received an identical diagnosis, died of a heart attack aged 75.
Ann, 70, who resides near Stockport, Greater Manchester, said both she and her husband experienced minimal symptoms, but her cancer had already spread to her liver and lungs when doctors discovered it. According to Cancer Research UK, only around 10% of people with a diagnosis similar to Ann’s, where the disease has spread to other parts of the body, survive for one year or more following diagnosis.
Following six months of fortnightly chemotherapy at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Ann said doctors informed her in February that her tumours had reduced by 42%, and she is now receiving regular monitoring without medication or additional treatment. Having celebrated the arrival of her first grandchild, Arthur, in June, Ann said she feels thankful for being granted “extra time” and is “treasuring every single second of it”.
Discussing her diagnosis, Ann said: “I just couldn’t believe it. I said to the doctor, ‘My husband had pancreatic cancer. How could a couple be given the same diagnosis? Were we doing something wrong?’ I know that’s silly now, but it was just unbelievable.”
She continued: “The staff at The Christie are just wonderful and they didn’t give up on me, even though I was told I had six to 12 months to live. They took a chance on me and the treatments worked, I’m not poorly, and I’m determined to carry on what I’m doing.”
Pancreatic cancer typically doesn’t trigger symptoms during its early phases and is frequently identified at a late stage.
Dr Richard Hubner, Ann’s consultant at The Christie, explained: “As with all cancers, being diagnosed as early as possible is always best. Symptoms of pancreatic cancer include jaundice, indigestion, unexplained weight loss and a change to your bowel habits.”
Ann revealed that her husband Mike, an avid golfer who was “cheeky, playful and loyal”, was taken to hospital on August 16, 2023, suffering from jaundice, and she playfully nicknamed him Homer Simpson because of his yellow skin tone at the time. However, on September 7, she said Mike received a devastating diagnosis of advanced pancreatic cancer and was given just three to six months to live.
Due to his chronic obstructive pulmonary disease – a collection of lung conditions that make breathing difficult – Ann said Mike was unable to receive any treatment.
“He couldn’t have treatment because they needed to put the camera down his throat to see how far the cancer had spread, but, because of his breathing, they couldn’t do that,” Ann said. “So I think the pancreatic cancer was just put to one side because there was nothing they could do.”
Following home modifications, including the installation of a stairlift and hospital bed downstairs, Ann revealed her husband passed away on March 8, 2024. Ann had been wed to Mike for almost 50 years and they share two children – Becky, 40, and Michael, 39 – describing him as a “wonderful man”.
While processing her bereavement, Ann embarked on a solo journey to Italy, where she experienced stomach troubles. Ann initially thought it might simply be due to dietary changes whilst on holiday, but after noticing she was bruising with ease, she arranged a GP appointment upon returning home on May 27, 2024.
Merely days afterwards, on June 2, following blood tests and additional examinations, she received the devastating news that she had advanced pancreatic cancer which had metastasised to her liver and lungs, with six to 12 months to live.
“I didn’t have any symptoms other than a tummy ache, so to be told that I not only had cancer, but the same type as my husband, was both shocking and devastating,” she said.
“My kids came with me to my first appointment, where they heard that I might only have six months to live. They’d just lost their dad and now they were faced with losing me as well, it was almost unbearable.”
On August 5 Ann began six months of fortnightly chemotherapy at The Christie in Manchester, Europe’s largest single-site cancer centre. She suffered side effects including nausea and exhaustion, but thanks to a port fitted in her chest, she could take home a “bottle of chemo” and continue her treatment at home and other locations.
“It’s amazing because I could still carry on at home and go shopping and for walks,” she said.
During this period, Ann learned that her son and his wife Lauryn were expecting their first baby, which she said made her even more “determined” to remain strong.
She said: “I was over the moon. To get the diagnosis, and then to be told I was going to be a grandmother, or nana, that just made me more determined to fight it.”
Following the completion of her chemotherapy on February 3 this year, Ann said doctors informed her that her tumours had shrunk by 42% and she would be placed under surveillance. She said she is currently not taking any medication and her most recent scans have revealed the cancer remains stable with no tumour growth.
She now attends three-monthly appointments at The Christie and described her progress as “remarkable”, adding: “I’ve gone past the expiry date.”
Since completing her treatment, Ann has thrown parties, jetted off on numerous holidays overseas and welcomed her “gorgeous” grandson, Arthur, who arrived in June. She revealed that having cancer has “not stopped (her) doing anything” and it has helped her discover just how “strong” she truly is.
She’s determined to boost awareness of pancreatic cancer and the “amazing” care at The Christie, whilst encouraging others not to fear seeking support.
“The prognosis you are given doesn’t mean it’s the end,” Ann said. “I just live life to the full, I accept every invitation and I have so much to look forward to. I feel very lucky.”