My Story is about Me: Eric Borden

 

This event took place from 06/15/2017 to 08/14/2017

 

The Discovery

My story begins with bloodwork testing every three months for liver functions due to statin use. My liver enzymes were elevated for a few prior tests and my PCP tried to determine why. Off statins? Didn’t help. Hep C test? Didn’t show anything….He was confused. Throwing up his hands, he said, “Go for a CT scan. You never know what you may find.”

After the CT, I received a call one week later from someone in my PCP’s office. “Mr. Borden, The scan shows a lesion on your pancreas and it’s suggested you come back in one year to check it.” I phoned my GI who immediately schedules an EUS ultimately confirming an adenocarcinoma. Successful Whipple surgery was performed at Johns Hopkins by Dr. Christopher Wolfgang and Dr. Jin Hei on August 14, 2017. I’m a six year survivor!

My story is this: Be your own advocate! My PCP never reviewed my scan. That’s another story! But if I didn’t advocate for myself I wouldn’t be here writing this summary.

This is My Story

“Yes, I’m calling with your CAT scan results. You have a cystic lesion on your
pancreas of 1.7cm and we recommend follow up in one year.”

After receiving that phone call I immediately said “no way.” With results forwarded to my GI, he suggested an endoscopy with ultrasound to take a closer look. During that procedure and biopsy, it was discovered that I had a 95% chance of having a malignant tumor on my pancreas. I researched the best possible scenario and medical/surgical team ultimately deciding to go to Johns Hopkins in Baltimore for my surgery. Successful Whipple surgery was conducted on August 14 and I’m on the road to recovery with a six month chemo stint on the horizon.

Here’s the kicker: Because I was my own advocate my disease was caught very early. Imagine if I had listened to my internist and waited the year. You wouldn’t be reading about this topic nor would you possibly be reading about this next year! I took it upon myself to control my own health direction. Becoming your own advocate and knowing what would be best for you helps you direct your life in your own best interests. Becoming either complacent or relying on others’ opinions and directions may not be the best course of action for your life. Do what your instincts tell you. Don’t be shy about speaking up and taking control of
your particular situation.

You’re the most important person to you. Do your due diligence. You know yourself best. Trust your instincts and go with them and when it doesn’t feel right.

The Impact of Time

“Time is of the essence” seems so simple and obvious now. As I mentioned, if I did not immediately become my own advocate, I most likely would not be writing this summary. Time and my own self advocacy has given me time to continue to do the things I love, both personally and with my family. Time has also allowed me to add more time helping others.

For years I have been involved with many Pancreatic Cancer organizations and events…..PanCAN, Lustgarten, AFFPC, Project Purple, appearing on various news outlets to name a few, and volunteering at cancer centers to engage and help patients and their families go through the tough fight of a pancreatic cancer diagnosis. My message is this: “In business, hope is not a strategy. When dealing with a pancreatic cancer diagnosis, hope is the most important strategy to have!” None of this would have happened if my time was cut short.

My Story is about Bernadette Lowe, my brother Mark Bishop, cousin Peter, friends Annie,Virginia and others

 

This event took place from 03/01/2016 to 11/23/2022

 

The Discovery

It was too late for my brother. In 2016 he went in for surgery but it was too advanced and he died 16 weeks later. They hadn’t given him a definitive diagnosis up to that point. He was 48.
I was diagnosed eventually after having a sense something wasn’t right in my body. This was 2019, it recurred this year in my lung.
Ultrasound, CT scan, eventually found lesion with MRCP after much pushing and a surgeon who listened. Diagnosed with Endoscopic Ultrasound biopsy of the tumour. Unfortunately not a cyst.
My cancer this year was found on routine surveillance ct scan however in hindsight was overlooked for 12 months.

 

This is My Story

I’m 57 and in Jan 2022 moved to the Adelaide Hills for a fresh start. I have a loving husband and 2 amazing children who are actually young adults.
I am 1 of 6 siblings. My brother Mark died of pancreas cancer in 2016, he was 48, adored father of 4, 16 weeks from diagnosis to when he died.
It shattered our world.

My 1st cousin Peter also died of pancreatic cancer while he was young also. In 2019 his ex girlfriend died of same disease.

I had this sense of dread after she died that didn’t go away so I told my doctor something was wrong in my body. Ultrasound and CT showed slightly dilated pancreatic duct. MRCP found a “lesion” ? Cyst ? Tumour but only tiny. Endoscopic Ultrasound and biopsy confirmed it to be cancer. Our world was shocked that this could happen to our family again. Chemo, Whipples and more chemo and I was given the all clear. I thought it was too good to be true that I could be so lucky and I felt guilt. Surveillance CTs every 3 months, 6 months until in June 2022 a tumour was found in my lung. Biopsy confirmed it to be metastatic pancreatic cancer.

Our world had already been shattered and shocked, this time we had no words. I’m still well with no symptoms but the chemo is knocking my bone marrow around because of the amount I’ve had in the past.
I’m on a clinical trial which has shown some success so it would be devastating if I can’t continue because the drugs have accumulated and become toxic. I’ve attributed my healing and positive outlook to the love and support of family and friends. And meditation, appreciation, mindfulness, prayers, healings, visualisation, kiniseology, yoga, walking, NLP etc etc.
My parents have already lost 2 sons and one sister had breast cancer, it’s cruel for them at 87 & 89 to have to go through such heartbreak when they are already do unwell themselves.

I never lost my hair in 2019 but it was disastrous this year resulting in a wig named Raquel. Then the eyebrows and eye lashes! In this time a dear friend was also diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer but unfortunately it was very complex and she passed away after 8 weeks. I have another dear friend battling this disease at the same time, and another and I’ve known several others who have also died of this insidious disease.
There’s just too much of it around. I’ve had genetic testing to no avail. And I guess my frustration is that why is there no research on why this is happening, researching environment, diet, etc etc
You’ve all heard the story of Erin Brokovich well imagine if something could be identified and managed the other end instead of waiting for it to happen and then all we have is chemotherapy which had its limitations.

 

The Impact of Time

Every day is a gift and I don’t know how many lessons i need in life to be reminded of this because we just get on that cycle of life, of being, doing, business even with cancer treatments.
So daily meditation and gratitude’s and appreciation help ground me. Trust your instinct and make sure you keep telling the Dr something isn’t right until they listen or seek another opinion. It’s so often overlooked and not the first thing they look for when it should be. Back pain and just a nightly tummy every now and then are common symptoms of pancreas cancer and overlooked again and again,

 

My Story is about Walter Kerby my Husband of 50yrs

 

This event took place from 09/15/2016 to 11/05/2019

 

The Discovery

Walter’s color was bad I made him go to the VA ER in Portland Oregon they found a tumor at the head of his pancreas but it wasn’t cancerous yet after 3 biopsies it became cancer in the beginning one doctor said they could do a Whipple but the other doctor said no they wouldn’t do it even though my husband wanted the surgery they wouldn’t do it they said there was a possibility that he could die on the table they said I know or die in 2 years he still wanted the surgery but instead they gave him a death sentence. The chemo made him really sick he would break out in a rash run a fever the whole side of his stomach turn red and hard, every 2nd doses. he never got the third dose he’d always end up in the hospital. this went on for 18 months.

 

This is My Story

Walter was a Vietnam vet exposed to Agent Orange. I have no more story.

 

The Impact of Time

We went on as many trips as his strength would allow he was so sick then he slept most of the time. We visited our Children Grandkids, Great Grandkids,Brothers, Sisters and Cousins then we went to long Beach Wa. In September that was our last trip out. the last of October 2 of his Sisters and our 3 Sons came he past 11/05/2019

 

My Story is about my cancer discovered in April 2021 my name is Franà§oise Pacini, I’m French, I live in south of France

 

This event took place from 04/13/2021 to

 

The Discovery

My cancer was discovered after a simple consultation with my doctor, I wasted no time after 3 days I was able to do a scanner which detected the tumor. Unfortunately I was not operable, I did several chemotherapy protocols, and radiosurgery with the cyber knife in France. for almost 19 months I have been fighting my roommate! I lost my hair, and I lost a lot of weight 25 kgs, but now I stabilized and my hair grew back.

The tumor is stable and I have learned to live with it.

I do a lot of walking, and my morale is good. I’m crossing my fingers my next scan is Nov 24th so I’m waiting for the next diagnosis to know where I am.

I believe in progress and in god, maybe on a misunderstanding I could survive this disease !!!

Life is beautiful and I enjoy every moment

 

My Story is about my Dad, Geric

 

The Discovery

My dad’s pancreatic cancer story began around October 2021 when he started having constant stomach aches that would make him go to the toilet every time he eats. He also started being jaundiced and the color of his urine started turning darker until it was tea-like in color. He started losing weight fast. His GI requested an MRI and a tumor was found in his pancreatic head. Biopsy around Dec 2022 returned no dysplasia in duodenum and mucin-secreting epithelial neoplasm in his pancreatic head mass. He underwent MRCP with stenting by January 2022 but experienced lots of complications (pancreatitis, cholangitis) that had him sent to the hospital on & off. He underwent PTBD procedure by early Feb and Whipple by mid-Feb 2022.

 

This is My Story

Last February, my dad was diagnosed with Stage 1b pancreatic cancer. This was made official after he went through Whipple surgery that lasted 10 hours. Months before, my dad had sudden weight loss, jaundice, and bouts of pancreatitis which meant lots of laboratory procedures, doctor consults, & hospitalizations.

As if all those were not enough, while we were preparing my dad for chemo last March, his PET scan showed abnormal growth in both thyroid glands. A biopsy confirmed it is also cancer of the thyroid, so my dad is a double primary cancer patient. He underwent total thyroidectomy last May.

At his weakest, my dad could not even lift himself up to adjust his position in bed. From his lowest weight of 53kg in Feb, my dad is now 70kg. His thin clothes don’t fit him anymore. His cheeks are sometimes rosy. He can eat and tolerate pretty much everything (in controlled portions). He is back to his old routine of exercising every morning. He laughs more. He is happy. He is thriving.

When I look back at how this year started and where we are now, I am in absolute awe with how the Lord has provided and sustained us. Because of complications, my Dad underwent Whipple a month earlier than planned. We weren’t financially ready (we are from the Philippines and we don’t have a good health insurance system here), but the Lord continued to provide, the money kept coming from all over. Two days before my dad’s Whipple, on Valentine’s Day, we had more than what we need for the surgery. By the time we were discharged, we even had money left and that’s the same funds that’s been sustaining us through the post-surgery needs of my dad, his thyroidectomy, and more.

Though the battle against cancer continues, I am comforted knowing I have a dad who is a fighter, and he inspires me to keep fighting too. I also keep my faith in miracles big and small that will continue happening in our lives.

 

The Impact of Time

“Cancer” is such a scary word for anyone, but when it’s “pancreatic cancer” it’s even scarier, knowing how poor its prognosis is. In the case of my dad, what really helped was him raising his hands & waving his arms to let us know something is wrong with him — that his stomach is always upset, that his bowel movement has gotten too many for a normal person, and that his urine color is getting darker and darker. The fact that my dad listened to his body is probably what saved him the most because we caught the cancer early enough while it’s still Stage 1b. Because my dad listened to his body, we have been given the gift of time to fight this disease with everything that we have and can do for my dad to be cured.