November is Pancreatic Cancer Month
News
There are voices in the healthcare system we rarely hear from, those working behind the scenes, shoulder to shoulder with people impacted by some of the most challenging diseases of our time. This November, for World Pancreatic Cancer Month, we’re sharing those perspectives as a way to show real insight, grit and care. This is Brandon’s story.
In a busy surgical unit, where recovery and resilience go hand in hand, Brandon shows up each day in scrubs. This November, those scrubs are purple.
Not just to honour a loved one but to spark the conversation that still isn’t loud enough.
Brandon is an Enrolled Nurse. On his ward, he sees a range of post-operative recoveries, from appendectomies to bowel resections, and plays a vital role in helping patients get back on their feet. It’s a demanding job, but one he felt naturally drawn to. “There wasn’t a defining moment where I said, ‘I want to be a nurse,’” he explains. “I feel I was just drawn to the career.”
But nothing in his training prepared him for the experience of watching someone he loved go through pancreatic cancer.
Brandon with his nan
A personal loss, a professional shift
Brandon’s Nan passed away in 2021, just under two years after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Like many others, her symptoms, epigastric pain and persistent heartburn, were initially inconclusive. They thought it might be her gallbladder. But abnormal blood results and a CT scan showing a “cyst” led to further testing. And then, a terminal diagnosis.
“She was told she had three months if she didn’t do treatment, and maybe two or three years if she did,” Brandon recalls. “She chose to do treatment and passed away 22 months later.”
Those 22 months revealed the painful truth: pancreatic cancer remains one of the deadliest, least understood diseases in Australia.
“Even while Nan was going through treatment, it wasn’t something that people really talked about. I didn’t see it in the news, media outlets or general discussion. That silence is part of the problem.”
- Brandon
Brandon with his nan and siblings
A call to pay closer attention
Brandon’s experience, both personal and professional, has shifted how he views pancreatic cancer. Not just as a condition on a chart, but as a reality that devastates families and often comes with very little warning.
“As a nurse, I’ve learned how subtle the signs can be. And how late the diagnosis often comes. The first bit of change is the discussion, and understanding that any abnormal symptoms should be looked at immediately.”
That’s why he’s speaking up now and why this World Pancreatic Cancer Month matters so much.
“Raising awareness isn’t just symbolic, it’s critical. Because if we can start recognising symptoms sooner, if we can have more open conversations, we can begin to change outcomes.”
- Brandon
Brandon's nan
The purpose behind the purple scrubs
This November, Brandon joins a group of passionate healthcare professionals wearing Pankind’s purple scrubs as a visible reminder of the need for earlier diagnosis, greater understanding, and national attention.
“I’m wearing them for Nan. But also for the people going through this disease right now, the ones affected today, and the ones who don’t even know they’re at risk yet.”
Purple invites questions. And when those questions come, Brandon is ready with answers, about the symptoms, the realities, and how people can get involved.
Brandon and his colleagues for Wear It Purple Day 2024
Action creates hope
Brandon has been an avid supporter of Pankind since first discovering the organisation on social media. A passionate advocate for change, he’s used his own platforms to share his story, raise awareness, and spotlight the realities of pancreatic cancer.
Through honest conversations and ongoing advocacy, Brandon brings his audience along the journey, helping more Australians recognise the signs, understand the impact, and support the push for earlier detection and better outcomes.
“I honestly think awareness is the start of everything. You can’t take action on something you’ve never heard about. But if we keep talking, keep sharing, we build momentum.”
His message this World Pancreatic Cancer Month is direct but inclusive:
“Tell someone. Anyone. Your family, your friends, your colleagues. Post about it. Wear purple. Donate to Pankind and join us this November. Because it’s not just about raising money, it’s about making this disease impossible to ignore.”
Join the Movement
This November, Brandon’s story is one of many, stories of remembrance, of courage, of action. But together, they form something bigger: a movement. One that says we’ve had enough of pancreatic cancer being overlooked. One that believes in progress without pause.
So wear purple, start a conversation and help create the awareness that leads to action, and the action that leads to change.
