I Feel Very Lucky!

Ann Jaffe

• Diagnosed by my GI doctor
• Chemotherapy with FOLFIRINOX
• PASS-01 clinical trial
• Biomarker testing found somatic BRCA mutation
• Maintenance treatment with olaparib

I was experiencing vague heartburn, bloating, a bit of weight loss, and a squeezing feeling in my esophagus in 2021.

I went to my GI doctor, who ordered a CT of my chest, abdomen, and pelvis. It turned out to be stage IV pancreatic adenocarcinoma. On the same day as my diagnosis, my GI doctor scheduled an appointment with Dr. Craig Devoe at the Center for Advanced Medicine, R.J. Zuckerberg Cancer Center at Northwell Health (Lake Success, New York).

I considered getting other opinions from specialists in New York City but ultimately decided against it because I believed I was already getting the standard of care at Northwell. Believe it or not, at the time of my diagnosis I was a registered nurse at Northwell (I am now retired after 25 years there) and my insurance strongly preferred that I see Northwell providers. Besides that, Northwell was convenient, comfortable, efficient, and familiar.

Starting Treatment

Things moved very quickly. We started immediately with a port insertion, biopsy, and consent for a clinical trial.Dr. Devoe prescribed FOLFIRINOX. The side effects were manageable, and I tolerated them well.

Earlier in my career I worked at Mount Sinai Hospital as an oncology nurse on a research unit. I witnessed how new protocols were developed as a result of clinical trials. I was agreeable to anything I could do to further research and I ended up participating in the PASS-01 clinical trial.

I have also benefited from biomarker testing, which found a somatic (noninherited) BRCA mutation. This led to maintenance therapy with olaparib, which has kept me stable.

Looking Forward

It has been three years since my initial diagnosis. I am grateful to have welcomed two new grandchildren last summer and they, along with my five-year-old granddaughter, give me great pleasure. I enjoy spending time with family and friends and making happy memories. I look forward to traveling later this year.

While I was initially sad to retire after my medical leave of absence, I am thoroughly enjoying retirement now. I am tolerating my maintenance therapy well. I receive scans every four months, which gives me a lot of anxiety! Regardless, I keep moving forward. The GI doctor who initially diagnosed my cancer even invited me to tell my story at a fundraiser for pancreatic cancer. Overall, I feel very lucky!

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