Be Aware of the Symptoms

Catalina Fandino

• Multiple symptoms
• Bile duct drainage stent
• Chemo with FOLFOX
• Whipple surgery

In late December 2023, I was diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

I wasn’t feeling well. I had stomach inflammation, lack of appetite, yellow skin color, weight loss, dark urine, and light stools. What I didn’t know back then was that these were typical red flags for pancreatic cancer. My doctor ran every test and did every procedure imaginable—ultrasound, CT scan, paracentesis, and once a tumor was found, checking its size. I was shocked to find out that at 45, I had pancreatic cancer.

First Chemo, Then Surgery

Once we had a diagnosis, I began treatment at Jackson Memorial Hospital (part of the University of Miami Health System) in Miami, Florida, where I live. My doctor recommended FOLFOX chemotherapy and a Whipple procedure. With chemo I lost weight. I vomited a lot and felt weak, but I tolerated it. The treatment reduced my tumor from approximately five to two centimeters. I also had a stent inserted to drain the bile duct. 

On August 15, 2024, I had the Whipple procedure with Dr. Danny Sleeman. I ended up losing 50 pounds throughout the entire process. I have slowly been recovering. In early 2025 I was able to start my regular routine, taking special care with my diet. I am getting better and stronger every day.

Getting Stronger

Since the surgery, the pathology reports show that my body contains 0 percent cancer. I have been in remission since December 2024, when I rang the bell. As of April 2025, I am still recovering from the surgery but the latest scan and the lab results indicate that there is no cancer, there is no metastasis.

My doctors have been great. I started treatment at Jackson with Dr. Samuel Kareff (now at Baptist Health), and now see Dr. Raleigh Ayo Fatoki. My case is supervised by Dr. Peter Hosein, who has been very attentive.

It’s been a long, hard journey and my quality of life has changed.

I want to share my story with the world so others can be aware of the symptoms. Listen to your body when it is trying to tell you something.

What are the symptoms of pancreatic cancer?

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