Chemotherapy and Radiation

Most pancreatic cancer patients undergo chemotherapy and radiation. Learn from pancreatic cancer survivors in their own words what it's like to experience these types of treatments.

66 Articles

long-term pancreatic cancer survivor Steven Yedwabnick
Survivor Stories
March 21, 2019 • 5 Min

Long-Term Survival After Grueling Radiation Treatment

Long-term pancreatic cancer survivor Steven Yedwabnick endured a long protocol of radiation and chemotherapy after a Whipple surgery.

pancreatic cancer patient Miriam Hermosa
Survivor Stories
January 30, 2019 • 6 Min

Choosing the Strongest Chemotherapy for Pancreatic Cancer

Miriam Hermosa decided to take advantage of her relatively good health and try pancreatic cancer treatment with FOLFIRINOX to get more time with her family.

Long-term pancreatic cancer survivor Roberta Luna, with her husband and sons
Survivor Stories
November 29, 2018 • 4 Min

Living with Pancreatic Cancer as a Long-Term Survivor

Roberta Luna has been fighting pancreatic cancer since 2002, but the disease has been part of her life for much longer. Read about her battle.

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.

Kayi Lewis, her husband Ron Lewis, and granddaughter at the beach
Survivor Stories
July 26, 2018 • 3 Min

Tougher Than Cancer

Not even Hurricane Harvey could stop Kayi Lewis from getting the radiation treatment she needed as she battled pancreatic cancer.

Susan Riddle on a swing, with her husband behind her
Survivor Stories
July 13, 2018 • 6 Min

A Longer Plan with Treatment Options

Susan Riddle had chemotherapy and radiation before she qualified for NanoKnife treatment, all to control her pancreatic cancer.

Marisa Harris
Survivor Stories
April 13, 2018 • 8 Min

Reimagining the Possible to Survive Stage IV Pancreatic Cancer

Marisa Harris was given a devastating diagnosis of stage IV pancreatic cancer. She tapped the power within herself, as well as chemotherapy, to become a long-term survivor.

Pancreatic cancer patient Mike Levine is on his bicycle during a training session for the Ironman Triathlon.
Survivor Stories
February 6, 2018 • 3 Min

Chemotherapy to Survive; Fitness to Thrive

Mike Levine switched oncologists to find chemotherapy that works on his pancreatic cancer. After that he was able to compete in the Ironman Triathlon.

Camille Moses, pancreatic cancer survivor, prepares to ride her bike as part of the Miami Dolphins Cancer Challenge
Survivor Stories
January 8, 2018 • 4 Min

Changing Doctors Changed My Prognosis

When Camille Moses was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, she realized she needed a doctor with an attitude that she could beat the disease.

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.

Linda Milazzo and her daughter
Survivor Stories
September 21, 2017 • 3 Min

Always Looking for a Cure

Linda Milazzo had a couple of bouts of pancreatitis before being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Read about her treatment path.

pancreatic cancer patient Leslie Wineberg
Survivor Stories
June 20, 2017 • 4 Min

The Relatively New Procedure of Irreversible Electroporation Has Given Me Time

When chemotherapy and radiation stopped working, Leslie Wineberg was glad to qualify for irreversible electroporation (IRE).

pancreatic cancer survivor Ken Parme
Survivor Stories
March 15, 2017 • 3 Min

I Am Alive and Grateful

Ken Parme had chemotherapy and CyberKnife radiation treatment for pancreatic cancer. The treatments have stabilized his tumor.

Pancreatic cancer survivor Bill Shrieves
Survivor Stories
January 19, 2017 • 3 Min

I Have Pancreatic Cancer; It Does Not Have Me

Bill Shrieves was ready to start a clinical trial for pancreatic cancer when it was found to have spread. He was successfully treated with FOLFIRINOX.

Dr. Igor Astsatsurov and pancreatic cancer patient Melissa Kartasevich at the Capitol in Washington, DC
Survivor Stories
January 6, 2017 • 3 Min

Fighting to Win

Melissa Kartasevich’s fiance and daughter motivate her pancreatic cancer battle, as she fights it to reach her goal of surgery to remove the tumor.