Pancreatic Cancer Campaigner Kerry Harvey Dies, Aged 24

Kerry Harvey passed away on Sunday morning, aged just 24, after battling pancreatic cancer. The young woman had previously appeared in a controversial advert, where she said she wished she had breast cancer instead. Pancreatic cancer has a five-year survival rate of just three per cent, compared to 85 per cent for breast cancer patients. Ms Harvey, from Chicester, West Sussex, passed away less than a year after being diagnosed with the disease. A statement on the Pancreatic Cancer Charity website said: "She was a brave and courageous young woman who touched so many hearts with her determination to raise awareness of pancreatic cancer despite being very ill herself. "We will never forget Kerry who will be dearly missed, and remain in the hearts and thoughts of all of us at Pancreatic Cancer Action." Kerry contributed to the campaign in the months before her death Miss Harvey, who worked as a hospital administrator, was adamant she had no regrets about appearing in the shock campaign. She said: "I know I upset a lot of people by saying what I did, but it’s true. If I had breast cancer rather than pancreatic cancer, it is almost certain I wouldn’t now be dying. Instead I’ve been told I’ve only got four to five months to live." Kerry had appeared on the television show This Morning two weeks ago to discuss why she chose to share her story through this campaign. “When I first got diagnosed, we were given the prognosis from my doctor and told that only three per cent of people make it past five years", she said. "I know through friends and family who have had breast cancer that the survival rate from that, as long as it’s not inflammatory breast cancer or secondary, which is a lot worse, is 85 per cent, so if I was going to have cancer of course I wish I had one with a better survival rate." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lomNCfQ27mY Video via YouTube/Pancreatic Cancer Action