PORTRAIT
Pamela
Raising awareness in Ireland
diagnosis
country
Ireland
age at diagnosis
46
diagnosed in
December 2018
center
Cork Hospital
THEMES
Pamela Deasy: Turning a gut feeling into a life-long mission
Union Hall, Ireland, 2018: Pamela Deasy’s life is deeply rooted in the rugged beauty of the Irish coast. She spends her days walking along cliffs, hiking coastal trails, and enjoying the closeness of a vibrant community.
In the summer of 2018, 46 year-old Pamela begins to notice an unusual heaviness. While she is constantly exhausted, her blood tests come back clear. At one point, she is told her symptoms might be due to depression or the onset of menopause.
Pamela senses something is different. She knows her body well and trusts her instincts. A few months later, when her skin turns yellow from jaundice, she finally gets her diagnosis: pancreatic Cancer. A tumor has developed in her pancreas, too large for immediate surgery.
Facing Uncertainty
The diagnosis brought fear and many questions, especially as it echoed her family history. Pancreatic Cancer is often associated with low survival rates, and Pamela was painfully aware of this reality. Her mother passed away from lung Cancer in the same hospital ward where Pamela would soon be treated.
Pamela’s medical team focused on what could still be done. She started with chemotherapy but the 6 first round didn't show clear benefits. Given her overall health, they proposed an intensive treatment plan combining radiotherapy and chemotherapy over several weeks. It was demanding, both physically and emotionally, but it offered a real chance: shrinking the tumor enough to consider surgery.
As Pamela was young and strong, her medical team decided to do everything possible to fight the tumor. She began an aggressive regime of daily radiotherapy combined with weekly chemotherapy for five and a half weeks.
14%
of pancreatic cancer patients reach the 5-year survival milestone, in Ireland.
It was a shock when I heard it was pancreatic cancer. I didn’t know anyone who survived Pancreatic Cancer. I thought: Game over.
A Positive Turning Point
June 2019 marked an unexpected positive turning point: the tumor had shrunk enough to qualify for the Whipple Procedure. On August 15, 2019, Pamela underwent an 11.5-hour surgery, a radical procedure removing parts of her pancreas, stomach, intestine, gallbladder, spleen and surrounding lymph nodes.
The surgery saved her life, but recovery was another mountain to climb:
Weight loss: Pamela lost significant weight in a matter of weeks, her muscles wasting away
Mobility challenges: For two years, she relied on a walking stick. Even climbing stairs felt like "summiting Kilimanjaro every day"
The psychological toll: She battled survivor's guilt and the isolation that often follows a long stay at the hospital
Pamela Today: Rebuilding With Purpose
Today, Pamela is an exceptional pancreatic Cancer survivor, turning her experience into positive change:
Co-Founding Pancreatic Cancer Ireland: she co-founded this organization to ensure no patient feels the loneliness she once felt
The Academic Pivot: Pamela returned to University College Cork (UCC) to study Religions, Global Diversity and Sociology, exploring inequalities in Cancer treatment
The Camino Queen: In May 2025, she celebrated being Cancer-free by walking the 771km Camino de Santiago over 38 days, a feat that seemed impossible when she was using a stick just three years prior
Her Message to the Community
Intuition is a medical tool. As a patient, you should listen to your inner voice when something feels wrong, even if tests say otherwise.
Pamela’s story is a powerful reminder that your intuition is a vital medical tool. She proved that even when the odds are stacked against you, a new life is possible. We hope you find as much inspiration in Pamela’s story as you need to find, like her, the strength to fight.
