Having Faith

Cherree Weeks

• Phantom pain led to diagnosis
• Chemotherapy was difficult
• Attempted Whipple procedure

My pancreatic cancer diagnosis came in a roundabout way.

I was experiencing phantom pain from my amputated leg in the fall of 2024.  My doctor ordered a comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), chest x-ray, and a complete blood count (CBC). The doctors found I had sepsis in my liver, bile duct, and gall bladder. They suspected that I also had cancer, but they were not 100 percent sure.

A Long Road to Diagnosis

They removed my gall bladder, but that didn’t fix the problems. They put a stent in my bile duct. It was not strong enough, so they did another ERCP and inserted a stronger stent.   They did more tests. Finally, on November 16, 2024, I got an official diagnosis of stage IIb pancreatic adenocarcinoma. 

A Difficult Time with Chemo

I met with my doctors, Dr. Kevin Yee at OHSU Knight Cancer Institute and Dr. Michele Babicky at Compass Oncology (both in the greater Portland area). My treatment is a mixture of chemotherapy and surgery.  First, I had a port placed in my body. Then I began six months of chemo treatment. Chemo treatment has been difficult. I’ve experienced a lot of pain, which was eventually controlled. One of the drugs was so harsh on my body that they lowered it by 25 percent.  I also lost my hair and am losing my fingernails and toenails.

In addition, my blood sugar is very high and continues to be that way. I have a very swollen leg, which thankfully is now controlled by my medication. I actually have not felt bad other than the pain.

Up Next

I was scheduled for a Whipple procedure on November 3rd, 2025. I was nervous about having the Whipple.  I have a lot of faith, and I am doing everything I can to treat my cancer.  I was hoping it would work out great but when they started the surgery, they found that the cancer had metastasized to my liver, so they stopped the surgery.

I was pretty devastated but have since come to terms with the situation. My church and my friends are supporting me with prayers and I have a very strong faith. My blood work numbers continue to go down, and I am working with my doctors on the next steps, possibly including a clinical trial.

Best Advice

The best advice I can offer to others is to learn the side effects of your treatment and understand the chances of your cancer returning. I was not informed about either of these things at first. To be honest, I have mixed feelings about not being told about the chances of my cancer returning. The thought never crossed my mind. Then when I was told, I was so upset that I had to leave the doctor’s office.  But I have hope and have faith that it will work out.