I even had a pancreatic function blood test which again was normal. The surgeon asked if I was a glass-half-full or a glass-half-empty person; I’m an optimist by nature and chose to focus positive energy on having the surgery completed this time. I found myself yearning for more time with Steve, aching at what would happen to him without me. Then, I survived a brain tumor. Until Alex Trebek’s recent disclosures, I thought pancreatic cancer was somewhat of a rarity. I was shocked and shattered when I learned I had a six-centimeter tumor in the distal part of my pancreas and cancerous lesions in my liver. You have a voice as to your medical team’s path to your success. About a month after my diagnosis, while I was preparing for my first surgery, the fighter and survival instinct kicked in. There was something about Dr. Kluger I liked from the onset. My most recent scans show no evidence of disease. We developed a new level of intimacy. He refused to read anything about pancreatic cancer, too afraid. Then, after a night of debilitating pain, I went to the emergency room. I began to feel as if pancreatic cancer patients were among the forgotten because almost everyone died. Riley was 16, with prom coming up and high school graduation not all that far off. I know there are too many tragic endings for pancreatic cancer patients and families. I am extremely blessed to be here and am grateful to have had a wonderful caregiver in my wife who fought just as hard for my survival as I did. There, I learned that there was a tumor blocking my liver duct—the cause of the stomach distress—and that I had Stage III pancreatic cancer. Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com. I refuse to live my life in fear and I am committed to sharing my story so others know there is hope and life beyond cancer. It was, indeed, a tumor, but the consensus was that it probably was benign. Never ignore your symptoms if they don’t disappear in the first couple of weeks. When I woke up, I couldn't move. Today, the only thing I take is an enzyme with my meals to help with digestion. I lifted weights and went to yoga classes. One of the nurses remarked on the unusual patterns of stitches on my abdomen. In our country, pancreatic cancer may be thought of as the “stepchild” of other cancers. I’d been treated for breast cancer years earlier, but did not know at the time that I had the genetic abnormality known as BRCA 2. I had already been diagnosed as a pancreatic cancer patient, having just undergone an extensive series of diagnostic tests. I asked. 5. Unfortunately, most participants walked in memory of someone who died from this disease, and I met only one other survivor. Getting sick confirmed my belief that the people I loved were what mattered the most. After seeking a second opinion, I decided to be treated at Massachusetts General Hospital, near my home in Boston. A port was placed in my chest to pump the chemotherapy around the clock for several days at a time. Fortunately, I was one of a very lucky few who qualified to return to surgery, which can provide the best chance for long-term survival. The surgeon cut from my chest to my navel, removing half my pancreas, my spleen and numerous lymph nodes. Now, I try to do as many things as I can on my “bucket list,” such as taking a hot air balloon ride, kayaking, and traveling. When he returned to my room he indicated that there were spots on my pancreas, liver and lungs. In that surreal moment, my entire life permanently changed. It was even lower - 5 percent - when I … I was determined, however, to move forward and regain the lost weight and strength. I knew my condition was serious when I was quickly scheduled for a second endoscopy the next day to provide more detail and clarity with a second doctor on the scene. In 2004, I went to a local hospital in Hagerstown, Maryland with stomach issues. I decided to be treated at a high-volume cancer center in New York City due to their impressive reputation and my belief that I would be in the best hands possible by doing so. It turns out my patient’s visit literally saved my life. You know your body better than you think. Would it work? "I have never seen an abdomen stitched up that way," she said, reluctant to remove the bandages before the surgeon arrived. From the beginning, I was proactive and determined to control the direction of my own health. Having cancer has made me stronger, produced a deeper appreciation for all of life’s blessings, and strengthened my ties to family and friends. I am still here. I shook uncontrollably and cried every day and tried to cope by praying for mercy. I’m well aware that many patients’ pancreatic cancer journeys don’t evolve as mine has. A biopsy was performed during the surgery and the doctor determined what stage cancer I had. I recently turned 80, and as a birthday present, my port was finally removed! Bill’s Advice for Navigating a Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosis: My troubles began in December 2019 quite innocuously—a mild pain in my midsection which could easily have been ignored for a few weeks or maybe a month. My doctor was confident that it would likely be benign, and I tried to put the findings out of my mind. 2. How could someone like me, who exercised consistently, spent a lot of time hiking and doing other outdoor activities, followed a healthy diet, got plenty of rest and had no family history of pancreatic cancer, be diagnosed with this disease, which has the lowest five-year survival rate of any major cancer? This is a complicated, lengthy surgery offering pancreatic cancer patients like me the best chance for long-term survival. I’m convinced the Foundation’s steadfast dedication to research will result in earlier detection and important new treatment options. Pancreatic cancer may go undetected until it's advanced. I ran marathons and ultramarathons, some as long as 100 miles. I’ve modified my diet to maintain my weight and typically eat 6 meals a day, which includes a lot of buffets! Recovering from the Whipple surgery was challenging as I lost a lot of weight and muscle mass. That spring should’ve been the happiest time of my life, since I was about to become a first-time grandmother. June marked my 9-year anniversary as a survivor. After delivering this crushing news, he told me I should find a surgeon, but I was paralyzed by fear that everything I took for granted, including my family and friends, would disappear. If you are having surgery, identify a transplant surgeon who has specific expertise in pancreatic cancer or a surgeon who is very experienced with performing Whipple procedures. After a routine colonoscopy and an endoscopy, which I was sure would reveal another ulcer, I learned the devastating, unthinkable cause of my symptoms: Stage IV pancreatic cancer. You have none of this. Hello to everyone on this pancreatic cancer board. I know exactly what you are going through as I thought I had pancreatic cancer 2/3 years ago. Pancreatic cancer also brought me my biggest blessing, which has been all of the people who came into my life as a result of my diagnosis. Did I ask, “Why me?” No, I actually asked myself the opposite question: “Why not me?” My mother, at the age of 88, died of ovarian cancer. It was hell waiting six weeks for the biopsy results. Four years after the ordeal, my most recent scan continued to show no evidence of disease and my CA 19-9 levels are currently at 14. I am grateful that my gastroenterologist was thorough and was able to diagnosis the disease when it was in an early stage and operable. My last scan was on October 12, 2020, and was clean. Good luck! I don't think you should worry about pancreatic cancer for the time being. Given the statistics, I was not optimistic, but my family tried to remain positive and encouraged me to undergo the Whipple procedure. I made a conscious decision to block out the terrifying survival statistics and focus on my individual treatment and healing. Chronic pancreatitis spurs growth of abnormal cells in the pancreas, which can become cancer. I’ve been to 2 affairs and just to hear other people talk about living with cancer … How could I, someone with no history of cancer and no known risk factors, who had never even been admitted to a hospital, receive such a crushing, life-altering diagnosis? Depression 4. I was incredibly fortunate that my surgeon didn’t have to remove any part of my stomach. Today, I once again lead an active lifestyle and enjoy bike riding, fundraising for the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and I am a member of the Patient and Family Advisory Council. I was petrified. For the better part of the past year, I had been misdiagnosed, even undergoing two ultrasounds and two scans that failed to detect the tumor. The surgeon told me what I’d heard before: he would attempt to operate but couldn’t promise the procedure would be successful. These survivors are just a few of the many that inspire us every day. I knew that I would need further treatment. Cancer tried to take my life, but instead it gave me a new purpose. He informed my family my condition was inoperable. I underwent five cycles of oral chemotherapy which did not shrink the tumor but did show a positive biochemical response. Be reassured upon seeing me, and enlarged bladder more than 40 years, I was to. To become my own mortality that many patients ’ pancreatic cancer s,... 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