Looking Back and Looking Forward

Roberta Luna

Let’s Win reached its 10th anniversary this spring.

We asked the members of our Patient Advisory Board to look back at the changes they have seen in the last 10 years, and what they wish to see in the future. No two responses were the same, and we will be sharing those in the coming weeks.

We are launching this series with a personal reflection from Roberta Luna, a 24-year survivor. Roberta not only sums up her personal journey but provides a look at what was, what is now, and what could be for pancreatic cancer patients.

What Has Changed?

What do you see that has changed in pancreatic cancer over the last 10 years?

As I reflect on the last 10 years, I see something that many of us in the pancreatic cancer community have fought hard for—hope.

When I was diagnosed in 2002, there were very few treatment options, little public awareness, and not many long-term survivors to look to for encouragement. Today, while pancreatic cancer remains one of the most challenging cancers we face, I believe we have made meaningful progress.

There is greater awareness. More people understand the urgency of finding a cure for this disease. Research is expanding our understanding of genetics, biomarkers, early detection, and precision medicine. Clinical trials are providing opportunities that didn’t exist years ago, and patients have more information and resources available to help them navigate their journey.

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What inspires me most is the strength of our community. Survivors, caregivers, advocates, researchers, physicians, and organizations like Let’s Win Pancreatic Cancer have come together with a shared purpose—ensuring that patients and families have access to trusted information, inspiring stories, emerging research, and, most importantly, hope.

A decade ago, the five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer remained stubbornly in the single digits. Today, because of relentless advocacy, research, clinical advances, and the determination of countless patients and families, that number has risen to 13 percent. While 13 percent is still far too low, those numbers represent real people—mothers, fathers, spouses, children, friends, and loved ones. Every percentage point means more precious moments, more milestones celebrated, and more time together that might not have been possible just ten years ago.

As someone who has lived with pancreatic cancer for more than 24 years, I have personally witnessed the difference that progress can make. I’ve seen more people living longer, more families finding support, and more reasons to believe that tomorrow can be better than today.

The Next 10 Years

And when I think about the next 10 years, my hope is simple, unwavering, and powerful.

Of course, my greatest hope is that one day no one will have to hear the words, “You have pancreatic cancer.” But until we reach that day, I want every patient who receives that diagnosis to know they are not without hope. I want them to know there are effective treatments, real options, and every reason to believe in their future.

I hope we see reliable methods for early detection, more personalized and less toxic treatments, broader access to clinical trials, and significantly improved survival rates. I want survivorship to become the expectation rather than the exception.

Most of all, I hope future generations will talk about pancreatic cancer not as one of the deadliest cancers, but as a disease that can be detected early, treated effectively, and ultimately cured. I want “pancreatic cancer survivor” to be a common phrase, not a rare exception. I want to see a reality where no family is told there are no options left. Ten years from now, I hope a diagnosis no longer brings a sense of fear and finality, but instead a clear, manageable path forward filled with genuine confidence, a high quality of life, and a definitive expectation of a cure.

Help me find a pancreatic cancer expert near me.

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I want to see a future where no patient or family is ever told there are no options left. A future where every diagnosis is met with a clear path forward, access to effective treatments, and a team committed to helping patients live longer and better lives.

Ten years from now, I hope a pancreatic cancer diagnosis no longer brings fear and uncertainty, but instead confidence, support, and genuine hope. I envision a world where patients not only survive but thrive—living meaningful lives with the expectation that pancreatic cancer can be successfully treated and, one day, cured.

We’ve come a long way in the last decade. The progress may not always be as fast as we would like, but it is real. And if there is one thing this community has taught me, it is that hope is powerful.

Together, we are helping write a new chapter in the pancreatic cancer story—one filled with more options, more survivors, and more tomorrows.