The nausea was the first sign that something was wrong. And the pain in her upper abdomen.

It was a Friday afternoon in May, and Gisele Edwards had just received her first shingles vaccine at a local chemist. Pain and nausea, she was told, could be among the side effects.

Port Melbourne resident Gisele Edwards was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer earlier this year. Credit: Simon Schluter

The symptoms subsided a little during the week – enough to go to work. However, by the next weekend, Edwards was doubled over in pain.

“I couldn’t hold anything down. I was dry retching. I thought, this is just not right.”

The Port Melbourne resident rushed to the emergency department. A subsequent gastroscopy discovered a blocked bile duct. The nausea disappeared as soon as a stent was inserted.

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