Bachelorette Georgia Love revealed in the very first episode that her mum had just been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Now Network Ten has confirmed that her mum Belinda has been admitted to palliative care.
This is tragic news for anyone, and it happens just a few days before we learn who Georgia will choose from the remaining three bachelors on the show Jake Ellis, Matty Johnson and Lee Elliott
Here is the official statement from the TV channel released to The Daily Telegraph: “Georgia and her family are going through a very difficult time dealing with serious family health issues,” a Network Ten spokesperson said.
“They are focusing on supporting each other during this hard time and we kindly ask you to respect their privacy.”
There is now speculation that Georgia may not do the rounds of publicity traditional in the lead up- to Thursday night’s finale.
Georgia told viewers at the start – and several of her dates – that her mother had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer after a doctor found a massive tumour when she was treated for abdominal pain. Love’s father Christopher is a Melbourne urologic surgeon.
“It really scares me that my mum has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. This came out of nowhere, not only for her but for all of us. Overnight finding out that my mum was sick totally changed my perspective on life,” she said on that first episode.
Georgia also talked about her mum’s diagnosis with bachelor Jake whose mum has also had her own extended battles with cancer.
About 2500 Australians are diagnosed with exocrine pancreatic cancer each year. The average age of people diagnosed with this cancer is 71. It is the twelfth most common cancer in men and ninth most common cancer in women.
According to the Cancer Council, Research has shown that people with certain risk factors are more likely than others to develop pancreatic cancer. These risk factors include:
age – it is most common in people aged over 65
smoking – cigarette smokers are 2–3 times more likely to develop pancreatic cancer
new onset diabetes – about 15–20% of people with pancreatic cancer have newly diagnosed diabetes
chronic inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
a family history of inherited cancer syndromes.
It can be hard to diagnose in the early stages as symptoms may go unnoticed untul the cancer is large enough to affect nearby organs. Symptoms of pancreatic cancer can include:
indigestion (heartburn)
appetite loss
nausea
vomiting
weight loss
pain in the upper abdomen, side or back, which may cause you to wake up at night
changed bowel motions – either diarrhoea, severe constipation, or stools that are pale and hard to flush away
jaundice, which causes yellowish skin and eyes, dark urine, pale bowel motions and itchiness
onset of diabetes within the last two years, or worsening of existing diabetes.
If you have any concerns, always talk to your health professional.
VIDEO: Georgia Love and Jake share a bond over the mums’ battles with cancer
