From Dismissal to Diagnosis

Elizabeth Rountree

• Speaking up to more doctors led to diagnosis
• Early symptoms included itchiness and discolored bowels
• Chemo, Whipple procedure, more chemo
• Be aware of bodily changes

I was diagnosed with stage I pancreatic adenocarcinoma in September 2021.

There were a few signs that brought me to the doctor in the first place – severe body itchiness, discolored bowels and urine, and general discomfort in my mid-section.  The first doctor I saw dismissed my concerns even after I mentioned that I had read online that itchiness could be a sign of liver disease.  I was prescribed a steroid for the itching and nothing more.

A Second Opinion Worth Getting

I was fortunate to then go to my gastroenterologist for an unrelated procedure. I explained my concerns to her, and she ordered bloodwork, which showed my liver function test results to be abnormally high.  She ordered my hospitalization and tests, which led to my stage I pancreatic cancer diagnosis.

I began seeing oncologist Dr. Nelson Yee at PennState Health, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, in Hershey, Pennsylvania. My treatment plan would include eight rounds of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with FOLFIRINOX, followed by Whipple surgery, followed by four more rounds of chemotherapy.

My surgeon was Matthew Dixon, M.D., F.A.C.S., who has since moved to Rush University in Chicago, Illinois.  I did very well with the Whipple surgery! I was up and walking the hospital halls numerous times each day during my stay and even went home four days earlier than the normal stay for that surgery. The only thing that would have helped in my continued recovery is to have been prescribed Creon immediately, to help with the “stomach dumping” and absorption of fatty foods.

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I had some side effects from the chemo – fatigue, loss of appetite, a metal taste in my mouth, thinning hair, a raspy voice, and foggy brain.  But overall I tolerated it very well. 

I am also participating in the PSCI 18-131 clinical study at PennState Cancer Institute. The study’s purpose is to find an effective non-invasive liquid biopsy for pancreatic cancer diagnosis.

Life Beyond Treatment

My life beyond the treatment is going well.  After the Whipple surgery, I was deemed cancer free. I will be finished with my surveillance visits in July and if all is positive with them, after five years of being cancer free I will be considered cured!

My advice for others is to be your own best advocate. Be aware of any bodily changes and always question them. I was extremely fortunate to have my cancer caught early.

Also, don’t feel you have to tell everyone when you are diagnosed. Create your own support group/village! I told only a select group of immediate siblings, nephews, nieces, and friends. I did not want anyone to feel sorry for me. I only wanted positive energy, which was essential to my well-being and healing.