Survivor Stories

556 articles

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).

Survivor Stories
June 13, 2018 • 7 Min

Aiming to be More than a Statistic

Dr. Paul Silverstein knew that he needed genomic testing, immunotherapy, and a clinical trial in his battle with pancreatic cancer.

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.

Survivor Stories
September 4, 2018 • 5 Min

Picking the Right Team

Brigitte Régnier found a treatment team that was using an unusual approach of giving chemoradiation before surgery for pancreatic cancer.

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.

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.

Survivor Stories
November 27, 2017 • 2 Min

Very Fortunate to Have the Whipple

Six years after surgery to remove an IPMN neoplasm, Rosemary Buden found out she had pancreatic cancer and needed a Whipple procedure.

Survivor Stories
December 8, 2017 • 5 Min

Quality of Life and Following My Dream

Lee Wonnacott valued his quality of life when he chose treatment for IPMN. Now he rides his motorcycle around the country to honor veterans.

Survivor Stories
August 18, 2020 • 4 Min

The Value of Molecular Profiling and Genetic Testing

Gina Harrison underwent molecular profiling of her pancreatic tumor, which led her to a clinical trial. Genetic testing showed her BRCA1 mutation was random.

Survivor Stories
April 3, 2019 • 4 Min

Pancreatitis and Pancreatic Cancer Lead to Marathoning

Rob Stuardi had three bouts of pancreatitis before he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He shares his joy of recovery running marathons to raise money for research.

Survivor Stories
July 2, 2019 • 4 Min

No Warning Before My Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosis

Retired wrestling coach Cliff Ramos approached his chemotherapy and Whipple surgery for pancreatic cancer like he was still coaching.

Survivor Stories
October 14, 2019 • 5 Min

Learning to Guide My Pancreatic Cancer Treatment

The more Colin Gabriel learned about pancreatic cancer, the more he realized he needed to guide his treatment, rather than go where his HMO recommended.

Survivor Stories
November 20, 2019 • 6 Min

Tumor RNA Testing Leads to Treatment with a New Drug

When treatment stopped working for Adam Deal, genetic testing of his tumor RNA found a mutation that made him eligible to try a new drug.

Survivor Stories
January 8, 2021 • 4 Min

Tonsil Cancer Follow-up Finds Pancreatic Cancer

Gene Waters was fortunate that a follow-up for tonsil cancer found his pancreatic cancer early. He got a second opinion for his treatment.

Survivor Stories
February 17, 2021 • 3 Min

Time and Hope

Rose farmer Michael Francis wanted more time with his family, so he joined a clinical trial to treat his stage III pancreatic cancer.