Alan Rickman's widow has spoken out about the actor's final months before he died from pancreatic cancer. She told presenters that the average life expectancy for pancreatic cancer patients is around three months after diagnosis. She is now fundraising for Pancreatic Cancer UK, in the hope that a breathalyser-style test can be developed. Pancreatic cancer can inhibit the gland from making enough of these hormones—which can lead to unstable blood sugar levels. The pancreatic cancer disrupts the normal digestive process and limits the amounts of pancreatic enzymes released in the intestines.