Brandie

My Story is about Larry and Debbie Colburn (my dad and mom)

This event took place from to

The Discovery

For my mom who passed away in Jan 2020 she had stomach pains and bloating for several months. In Sept 2019 an MRI found her PC at stage 2 but within 6 weeks it had spread to her liver and she passed after 3½ months.
My dad was originally diagnosed in June 2024. His blood sugar was elevated and he was losing weight but just thought he had a sudden onset of diabetes. 2 years before he had colon cancer and was still having 6 month scans at this point. He went in for his quarterly scan and they found the PC. At the time and had not spread so they were able to start chemo and after several treatments they were able to perform surgery and remove the cancer which had spread to one lymph node. They continued with chemo and in March 2025 he was told There was no evidence of the disease detected. He went in for his next 3-month scan in June 2025 to find out the cancer was back and had spread to his stomach in 3 spots. It has since spread to additional spots throughout his stomach as well as his colon, one adrenal gland and encasement of blood vessels and artery at the head of the pancreas. He has since gone downhill very rapidly and now is no longer able to eat Hardly any food at all and has gone from his original weight of 220 down to 130 lbs.

This is My Story

Mom was a retired RN and dad a retired police officer. They both spent their lives giving to and taking care of others. They have always been the most selfless people I’ve ever known and I can say there would be dozens of people that would agree. Not only was I blessed with the most amazing and wonderful parents but I was raised by two true heros! It’s so hard to believe that this cancer has already taken my mom but now it’s trying to take my dad as well. Unfortunately dad carries 2 rare genes that he inherited from both of his parents that cause his body To not properly metabolize the chemotherapy drugs. We just found that out this past fall and then in November we found out that he also carries A rare protein that causes the cancer to grow more rapidly. Pancreatic cancer doesn’t discriminate against gender, race, it doesn’t care who you are or what life you have lived. My parents are proof of that, while my mom had other medical issues such as lupus and a rare muscle disease, dad has always been extremely healthy, worked out and lifted weights daily has never drank, smoked or done drugs, he has always eaten well and has never even been a caffeine drinker. He did everything right on paper to be as healthy as possible but this disease still found its way into our lives. I made a promise to my mom before she passed away that I would fight in her honor and memory to bring awareness to Pancreatic Cancer and now as my dad is fighting for his life I am making that same promise to him. This cancer may have taken my mom and will take my dad as some point, probably sooner than later but it can’t and won’t take away our faith, it can’t touch the love we share, it can never erase the memories we’ve made as a family that we will carry in our hearts forever. Pancreatic Cancer may think it’s beat the Colburn Family, and while it may physically take my parents from me, it will never take away the amazing fight they both have faught and the strength they have both had.
Most people have never met their heros, but I have been blessed to have been raised by the most wonderful, loving parents that are both my Heros!

The Impact of Time

Unfortunately, there was no early detection for either of my parents. Both were stage 2 when the cancer was found but in both situations it grew rapidly. Had it been found earlier if we had early screening it could have saved my mom.
Time is definitely of the essence with this disease. I find myself as a daughter of both parents having PanCan being absolutely terrified with every stomach pain I feel. My dad and I have both had the genetic cancer screening done and we were both negative. However, we have been reading more recently that there could be a connection between cistern and well water and pancreatic cancer. My childhood home had a cistern With a natural spring my parents come up myself, my brother, as well as my son have all been exposed to. It’s so scary to have to wait and see If this could affect us as time goes forward.
However, we are living life to the very fullest because of Mom and Dad’s cancer diagnosis. We were able to have a great summer with Dad at his lake house and spending time on his boat. Unfortunately the last couple of months he has been rapidly declining and can’t enjoy life as he once was. But through every treatment, every day full of pain and nausea Dad never complains and has kept a positive attitude. It seems he finds ways to give me strength when it should be me giving him strength instead. Mom was the same way, she never complained about feeling bad, she just dealt with the side effects of chemo and the cancer and tried to live each day to its fullest.
I often wonder where mom and now dad both find their strength during their most difficult days. Dad is so weak he can’t manage to get out of bed many days but yet he still worries about my brother and I and our kids and makes sure to see how we are doing. He always says I have lived a great life and if it’s God’s will to take me now then I’m at peace with that but I just hate the pain and grief it will cause my kids and grandkids. During his physical pain he shows no fear of what lies ahead and only cares about us and how we are feeling and the pain we will endure when he’s no longer with us.