Alan Rickman's Diaries
- The late actor Alan Rickman, who died of pancreatic cancer in 2016 at 69, kept diaries for over 25 years and they are becoming a book.
- Rickman was diagnosed in August 2015, and died in January 2016; pancreatic cancer is often an aggressive disease.
- A cancer diagnosis often leads many to think about the legacy they want to leave behind.
Rickman’s Pancreatic Cancer
In August 2015, following a stroke, Rickman was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. A short time later, on January 14, 2016, we lost the treasured actor at the too-young age of 69. Pancreatic cancer tends to be an aggressive disease, so early detection is crucial.
In a previous interview, Dr. Anirban Maitra, Co-Leader of the Pancreatic Cancer Moon Shot at MD Anderson Cancer Center, told SurivorNet, “Because the pancreas is inside the abdomen, it often doesn’t have symptoms that would tell you that something is wrong with your pancreas. By the time individuals walk into the clinic with symptoms like jaundice, weight loss, back pain, or diabetes, it’s often very late in the stage of the disease.”
Dr. Maitra told SurvivorNet how early detection is critical, so as to have broader treatment options, like surgery. “Each year in the United States, about 53,000 patients get pancreatic cancer,” said Dr. Maitra. “And unfortunately, most will die from this disease within a few months to a year or so from the diagnosis. And the reason for that is that most individuals, about 80%, will actually present with what we called advanced disease, which means that the cancer has either spread beyond the pancreas or into other organs like the liver, and so you cannot take it out with surgeries.”
Detecting Pancreatic Cancer Early Is Crucial
A Powerful Legacy
Rickman was beloved for his acting talents, as well as his smart, funny persona. He was admired for his acerbic sense of humor and wit. Experts have told SurvivorNet in previous interviews how having a positive attitude when undergoing cancer treatment can be beneficial.
Related: Stay Positive, It Matters
When faced with a cancer diagnosis, many people tend to think of their legacy. Stan Adler, who was diagnosed with melanoma at 48, told SurvivorNet in an early interview how his cancer made him think of the big picture. Adler said, “I had to determine what kind of legacy I wanted to leave … I wanted [my family] to see that you could even go through this kind of ultimate challenge with humor, and dignity, and love, and that we can do it together."
Although Rickman has passed, he’s created a powerful legacy in the form of these diaries, and we can’t wait to read them.
You Can Go Through This Ultimate Challenge With Humor, Dignity, and Love
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