Tragic Loss: Father Dies Six Weeks After Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosis
The family of Andrzej Bielecki has shared their devastating story after the 58-year-old father passed away merely six weeks following a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. His daughters, Scarlett and Emilia, have spoken out to raise awareness about this aggressive disease, hoping their father's experience might help others recognize symptoms earlier.
A Prolonged Medical Journey
Andrzej Bielecki, who lived in Derbyshire, initially experienced acid reflux and indigestion symptoms three to four years before his eventual diagnosis. Medical professionals advised him to treat these issues with standard indigestion tablets. By August 2022, he developed a persistent, dull stomach ache that prompted numerous visits to doctors over subsequent months.
Despite being prescribed additional indigestion medication in September 2022, his condition showed no improvement. Blood tests conducted during a follow-up appointment returned normal results, leading to an endoscopy that revealed a hiatus hernia. Doctors considered this a plausible explanation for his ongoing discomfort.
Rapid Deterioration and Diagnosis
By mid-December 2022, Andrzej's health had significantly worsened. After being sent home from hospital without answers, his condition deteriorated further. Step-daughter Emilia Rocky recalled that by Christmas Eve, he was experiencing severe pain, significant weight loss, and jaundice.
"He actually felt like he was having a heart attack, so he went back to A&E and they said that it was probably gallstones," Emilia explained. Following his request for further investigation, a scan revealed a blocked bile duct and elevated bilirubin levels in his blood.
After being referred for an MRI in early January 2023, Andrzej received a phone call on January 9 confirming his diagnosis of advanced pancreatic cancer. A subsequent consultation a week later confirmed the cancer had spread, leaving no treatment or surgical options available. He was given just six months to live and recommended for end-of-life care.
Family's Heartbreaking Response
Daughter Scarlett Bielecka, who works in customer relations and lives in Manchester, described receiving this news as the worst phone call of her life. Emilia added that while Andrzej accepted his prognosis completely, the rest of the family was in shock and disbelief.
"It was the worst nightmare in the world and I couldn't believe that it was real," Emilia said. "Andrzej just wanted to live the last few months that he had as much as possible. He'd accepted what was going to happen and he wanted to spend time with family and friends."
Final Memories and Farewell
In his remaining weeks, Andrzej's daughters organized several trips to create lasting memories, including a campervan holiday around Scotland and a stay at an Airbnb in Chippenham. During these outings, the family engaged in activities like archery, board games, and bonfires, though Scarlett admitted she became "quite upset at points."
By mid-February 2023, Andrzej's condition had deteriorated dramatically. He became more withdrawn and experienced significant pain. District nurses encouraged Scarlett to urgently visit to say her final goodbyes.
"When I went up to see my dad, he was so ill and almost completely unrecognisable," Scarlett recalled. "He was in quite a delirious state as well, so I'm not too sure what exactly he was aware of at that time. But I remember him just saying that we had another episode of Early Doors to watch together and that we'd watch it the next day."
Scarlett shared that Andrzej managed to express his love for her, and she reciprocated, marking their final interaction before his passing in February 2023. Emilia noted that when she saw him after his death, he had "a smile on his face" and appeared completely different from the night before, which she found comforting.
Honoring Andrzej's Legacy
In May, the family organized a celebration of life instead of a traditional funeral, honoring Andrzej's wish that people not cry for him. Emilia described her step-father as a warm, caring person with a zest for life who became "instantly quite a father figure" to her after her mother Suzanne connected with him online in 2018.
Scarlett remembered her father as an incredibly positive man who remained actively involved in her life even after her parents separated before she turned three. She cherished memories of wild camping trips and his patient teaching when she learned to drive as a teenager.
To honor Andrzej's memory and his wish to have his ashes scattered on the beach at the end of the Camino de Santiago in Spain, Emilia, Scarlett, Suzanne, and Emilia's boyfriend Jamie completed a 100km charity walk along the same route. Emilia described this experience as "one of the best things" she's ever done.
Raising Awareness About Pancreatic Cancer
Emilia approached the charity Pancreatic Cancer UK to share her step-father's story, emphasizing the need for greater awareness about this particular form of cancer. "This cancer isn't anywhere near talked about enough," she stated. "If Andrzej's story could at least help someone to know the symptoms of pancreatic cancer, it would make something positive come from the situation."
According to Pancreatic Cancer UK, this disease represents the deadliest common cancer, with more than half of patients dying within three months of diagnosis. Approximately 80 percent of individuals are not diagnosed until the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, often making treatment impossible.
"It's not a cancer that people really talk about," Scarlett noted. Emilia added: "If Andrzej had got diagnosed any sooner, I don't know if it would have really changed how long he had left, but it would have given him so much more time to do more that he loved. He just didn't have the time."
