Treatment Stories

There are many pancreatic cancer survivors who are eager to talk about their symptoms, diagnoses, treatments, and success. Learn from the stories of other patients who have faced this disease.

238 Articles

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.

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 Sandra Wilke and her Purple Stride team
Survivor Stories
August 14, 2017 • 3 Min

Pancreatic Cancer Caught Early by Chance

Sandra Wilke chose her pancreatic cancer treatment of chemotherapy and pancreatectomy with an eye to her quality of life. She joined the tumor registry to learn more and help others.

pancreatic cancer patient Susan Zbacnik and her husband
Survivor Stories
August 1, 2017 • 6 Min

Taking Nothing For Granted

After Whipple surgery and chemoradiation, Susan Zbacnik had molecular profiling, genetic testing, and joined an Immunotherapy clinical trial.

Pancreatic cancer patient Irwin Greenblatt and his wife Audrey
Survivor Stories
July 19, 2017 • 5 Min

Hope and a Chance to Fight

Irwin Greenblatt just wanted a chance, so after Whipple surgery he agreed to join a chemotherapy clinical trial. His wife Audrey tells their story.

pancreatic cancer patient Barry Reiter
Survivor Stories
July 6, 2017 • 3 Min

Pancreatic Cancer Found By Chance

Barry Reiter’s pancreatic cancer was found during a presurgical MRI for prostate cancer. Now he had a bigger battle on his hands.

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).

Jill Pechacek
Survivor Stories
June 12, 2017 • 6 Min

Fighting On To See Her Children Grow Up

Despite aggressive pancreatic cancer, with a BRCA-like genetic mutation, Dr. Jill Pechacek is determined to stay alive to see her children grow up.

pancreatic cancer survivor Sheila Sky Kasselman
Survivor Stories
May 30, 2017 • 3 Min

Pancreatic Cancer Leads to a New Direction

After Sheila Sky Kasselman recovered from pancreatic cancer treatment, she became a pancreatic cancer activist, determined to help find more treatments.

pancreatic cancer patient Bob Tirk
Survivor Stories
May 17, 2017 • 3 Min

A Big Teaching Hospital Can Make All the Difference

When Bob Tirk’s local doctor couldn’t figure out the source of his pain, he went to a large teaching hospital, where he was treated for pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer survivor Steve Merlin
Survivor Stories
May 4, 2017 • 5 Min

A Clinical Trial Matches My Genetics

Steven Merlin learned that he carried the BRCA2 mutation after he developed pancreatic cancer. He researched and found a clinical trial for BRCA carriers.

pancreatic cancer patient Guy Davidson
Survivor Stories
April 20, 2017 • 5 Min

A New Treatment Leads to a Whipple Procedure

After his pancreatic cancer diagnosis, Guy Davidson looked for the most advanced treatment that would allow him to qualify for a Whipple procedure.

pancreatic cancer survivor Shannon Magee
Survivor Stories
April 10, 2017 • 5 Min

A New Clinical Trial Leads to No Evidence of Disease

After pancreatic cancer diagnosis, Shannon Magee became patient 1 in a new clinical trial that combined chemotherapy and a Whipple procedure.

pancreatic cancer survivor Sharon Simone
Survivor Stories
March 28, 2017 • 4 Min

Tailoring My Treatment to My Tumor Genetics

After diagnosis with pancreatic cancer, Sharon Simone had her tumor analyzed. The report on her tumor genetics determined her treatment.

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.