Keith Millington faces final stages of pancreatic cancer battle
Highton man Keith Millington was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in January, and now doubts he will live to see Christmas. He has shared his journey facing his mortality.
Geelong
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Keith Millington likely only has months, if not weeks, left to live.
But the Highton 68-year-old has made sure to make the most of life after a stage four cancer diagnosis.
In November last year he started to experience some bloating in the evenings and reflux.
He underwent extensive testing and the otherwise fit and healthy man was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, that had spread within his body, in January.
“This has been very fast … it’s awful,” he said.
He described cancer as a “full-time” job.
“Your life completely changes,” he said.
“It’s not really something you think about it until it happens to you.”
Dr Millington could not see the point of chemotherapy.
He underwent a short course of radiotherapy before embarking on a four-month trip to UK and Europe at the end of March, visiting places including London, Barcelona and Paris.
He described the trip as amazingly fun.
He went travelling with his wife, with whom he shares two adult sons.
Dr Millington was able to catch up with family from the UK, where he is originally from.
He moved to Geelong more than three decades ago to work at CSIRO in wool technology.
Dr Millington, who was later an Honorary Professor at Deakin University’s Institute of Frontier Materials, said his condition declined rapidly when he returned home after the trip.
Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers in Australia.
Dr Millington said there needed to be more awareness of the disease, which he described as a big threat.
He lost his appetite and is unable to lay down comfortably, meaning he sleeps in a chair.
Back in January, a surgeon gave him about 12 months left to live.
But Dr Millington suspects he might not quite make it to Christmas.
He feels weak and fatigued and hopes to depart peacefully without pain.
While facing his mortality was “not much fun”, he said there was not much you could do.
“I’ve had a really good life,” he said.
Every Monday a palliative care nurse comes to see him, and he said every week he was a little weaker and more exhausted.
His advice to others was simple: “Don’t take things for granted.”
Originally published as Keith Millington faces final stages of pancreatic cancer battle
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