Reg’s story told by Sandie Nunn, Reg’s wife

Reg Nunn was a fit and healthy 56-year-old in 2017 with an active job and lifestyle when prolonged back pain saw him take 6 months off work.

Reg and his wife Sandie had moved to Pauanui with their property maintenance business, so they put Reg feeling ‘a bit off’ down to working hard and being busy with their work. He looked well enough from the outside but didn’t seem himself. Family and friends said he wasn’t his ‘normal, chirpy self.’ A trip to the doctor and a CT scan didn’t show anything so he took pain relief to keep on top of the back pain.

Changes in bowel habits and increasing severity in abdominal pain around March 2019 took them back to the hospital. A CT scan found an inflamed pancreas, elevated CA 19 readings via a blood test and a diagnosis of pancreatitis. Although Reg had a diagnosis and treatment plan, there was no relief in pain or symptoms and was steadily losing weight, eating was causing pain.

It was advised that Reg should have monthly blood tests to keep an eye on his CA 19 readings, however this was missed and it wasn’t until Sandie and Reg insisted on further tests in November 2019 that new blood tests and a CT scan were ordered, when it was confirmed that Reg had pancreatic cancer.

Sandie is sharing Reg’s story to encourage people to take charge with their health. “Don’t settle with what one doctor says just because they are your GP, get a second opinion, third if you need to.  If you’re not sure about what you are being told, ask again until you’re clear.”

Sandie says if you’re facing lots of hospital admissions like Reg, it’s important to keep copies of your notes, test results, and discharge notes from hospitals “It helps if you’re going between hospitals, specialists, different doctors.”

Reg passed away aged 60 on 3 February 2020 and is remembered as a loving, caring husband and father, friend to many and “all round good kiwi bloke.”

We are so grateful to Sandie for sharing her story with us this Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month.