Blog

31 Articles

Christine Shaffer pancreatic cancer patient, outside in the sunlight
Survivor Stories
September 17, 2018 • 4 Min

Failure is Not an Option

Christine Shaffer underwent chemotherapy and stereotactic body radiation therapy to shrink her tumor for surgery. She says failure is not an option.

Randall Swan
Survivor Stories
August 8, 2018 • 6 Min

Before And After: My Pancreatic Cancer

Randall Swan did his homework on the best treatments and clinical trial options in order to do battle with pancreatic cancer.

water running into beaker
Research
June 21, 2018 • 3 Min

Multicenter Trial Focuses on Neoadjuvant Treatment for Borderline Resectable and Locally Advanced Disease

Dr. David Ryan outlines a new trial for pre-surgical pancreatic cancer treatment combining a blood pressure drug, immunotherapy, standard care and SBRT.

Tiny beams of X-ray radiation are generated using an array of carbon nanotube X-ray sources to deliver tumor-killing radiation, while preserving normal tissue; this micrograph shows a 250 micron wide section of tissue damage.
Research
May 31, 2018 • 2 Min

Finding the Best Dose of Radiation and an Experimental Drug

A clinical trial looks for the best dose of an experimental drug to combat the mouth sores that are a side effect of stereotactic body radiation therapy.

Abstract image of vertical ridged lines of reds and oranges
Research
January 24, 2018 • 2 Min

Chemoradiation Before Tumor Removal to Lessen Possible Post-Surgical Disease

A clinical trial examines the effectiveness of presurgical chemotherapy and radiation in making cancer-free margins after tumor removal.

Chemistry test tubes that are capped and filled with yellow and pink liquids, laying flat on a dark blue table
Research
October 20, 2017 • 2 Min

Novel Drug Combination Plus Radiation for Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

A clinical trial combines immunotherapy, common treatments, an antiretroviral drug, and SBRT for locally advanced pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer survivor Joel Weiss and his wife Debrah
Survivor Stories
October 4, 2017 • 5 Min

Luck, Grit, and Support

Joel Weiss had to travel from his home in Toronto to New York City to get the NanoKnife treatment he wanted for his pancreatic cancer.

Abstract image of roundish shapes packed together, in shades of yellow to black colorsv
Research
September 26, 2017 • 2 Min

Chemotherapy, Immunotherapy, and Radiation for Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

A clinical trial combines chemotherapy, immunotherapy, including a pancreas vaccine, and SBRT to stop locally advanced pancreatic cancer.

pancreatic cancer patient Scott Hirshey on his sailboat
Survivor Stories
September 8, 2017 • 4 Min

Celebrating My 5th Anniversary As a Survivor

Scott Hirshey traveled from Detroit to Houston for a Whipple procedure to work with doctors who have expertise in treating pancreatic cancer.

Microscope slide of the pancreas, with the some structures in purple and some in pink
Research
August 30, 2017 • 2 Min

More Effective Focused Radiation Therapy and Chemotherapy for Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

A clinical trial tests whether adding Zometa makes chemotherapy and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) more effective against pancreatic cancer.

pancreatic cancer patient Robert Glazier
Survivor Stories
August 25, 2017 • 4 Min

Far More Time than I Originally Expected

After a Whipple procedure, SBRT, and chemotherapy, Robert Glazier is staying informed about treatment options for pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer survivor Lora Kelly and her husband
Survivor Stories
December 1, 2016 • 4 Min

An Unexpected Diagnosis After Surgery

Lora Kelly had surgery to remove a cyst that turned out to be pancreatic cancer. Treatment including clinical trials keeps the cancer from returning.

Image of DNA on a blue background showing blue columns of different lengths broken up by bands of red, green, aqua, and lighter blue.
Research
November 28, 2016 • 2 Min

Testing the Effectiveness of Radiation and Standard Treatment

A clinical trial compares FOLFIRINOX plus stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) with just FOLFIRINOX for pancreatic cancer that has spread locally.

A confocal microscopy image of a fibroblast showing the football-shaped nucleus (blue), dots of mitochondria (red), and wispy strands of the actin cytoskeleton (green), all against a black background
Research
September 27, 2016 • 2 Min

High-Dose Focused Radiation after Surgical Removal of Pancreatic Tumors

A clinical trial looks at the effectiveness of stereotactic body radiation therapy in killing cancer cells in the margins after pancreatic tumor removal.

Pancreatic cancer patient David Shell and his family
Chemotherapy and Radiation
September 22, 2016 • 5 Min

Going Place-to-Place to Find the Treatments I Wanted

David Shell traveled around to a number of doctors and hospitals at different stages of his treatment to be able to get surgery to remove his tumor.