only thing he learned was that no
viable options were available that
could change the course his Pancreatic
Cancer was taking.
Washington, D.C. with thousands
of others where we marched on
Congress to Demand Better in the
fight for much-needed progress to
improve patient outcomes. It was a
My father went through several rounds life-changing experience.
of chemotherapy, which allowed
him to enjoy one last, immensely Since, I’ve become the Survivor and
treasured, Christmas with his family. Caregiver Engagement Chair for the
local Central Florida affiliate of the
National PanCan Organization. In
this role, I work with physicians to
ensure their PC patents that they have
support. I also work with patients and
families directly, to share resources,
show support, and help give them the
hope they so need. I stay involved in
many other aspects of the PanCan
Sadly, this then was the case for
many Pancreatic Cancer patients.
The general lack of knowledge and
understanding about the disease,
coupled with a lack of early detection
methods gave Pancreatic Cancer one
the highest mortality rates.
However, over the last decade,
tremendous strides have been made
toward early detection, which gives
individuals a try chance to fight against
what used to be the inevitable. Today,
treatment options are dependent on
how advanced the cancer is and the
patient’s overall health. If possible,
surgeons will remove the cancer;
the most common operation is the
Whipple procedure (surgery to
remove all or part of the pancreas
and other organs). Surgery is usually
followed up with chemotherapy.
PanCan Affiliates in D.C. at Advocacy Day
For metastatic pancreatic cancer
(spread to other parts of the body)
treatment may include chemotherapy
and occasionally radiotherapy
too. A patient may also be offered
treatment to relieve symptoms and
the opportunity to join a clinical
trial, many of which have improved
the patient’s quality of life, and often
eradicated the disease through early
detection and surgical removal.
As exciting as the strides that have
been made in early detection and
treatment, I wanted – rather needed
– to become more involved. For my
dad. And for the hundreds of other
families who endure this debilitating
disease...and the hope that other
families won’t have to suffer as did we.
This past June, I attended the National
Pancreatic Cancer Advocacy Day in
NOVEMBER 2018
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