Early Diagnosis Is Important

Jami Curry

• Back pain and a family history
• Diagnosis at stage I
• BRCA2+
• Pancreatectomy and chemo

Early diagnosis is important when it comes to pancreatic cancer.

I was diagnosed with pancreatic adenocarcinoma in 2021. I was 49 years old at the time and we managed to catch it at stage I. Things could have turned out differently. I got very, very lucky.

A Family History Put Me on Alert

Pancreatic cancer is in my family. Both my brother and first cousin were diagnosed right before me. My mother has also had two different breast cancers. I knew to be on the lookout. Once I was diagnosed, my doctor sent me to a genetic counselor for testing. I tested positive for the BRCA2+ mutation. Knowing that I have this mutation allowed my doctor, Dr. Joshua Barton at St. Luke’s Cancer Center in Boise, Idaho, to create a better treatment plan.

The first step in my treatment was a pancreatectomy. Then I went through eight months of FOLFIRINOX chemotherapy, which was delivered through a “chemo ball” (a continuous infusion with a wearable pump).  Would you believe that I actually miss going to my chemotherapy appointments?  The staff was amazing!

I had very little pain during my entire stint of treatment. I did not lose my hair. I also kept my weight on. The only side effects I had were short-term memory loss and neuropathy. I have also been taking Ozempic since my surgery to control my sugars as most of my pancreas was removed.

Feeling Great Again

Since I completed treatment I remain cancer-free, and am feeling better than I did in my twenties! I am the face of a local formalwear shop, and like the other cancer survivors in my family—my brother, cousin, and mom—am back to work and thriving.

My advice for others, besides getting a diagnosis as early as possible, is to live a life as normal as possible while you are in treatment. Fear and stress make everything worse.  I’m not ignorant; this diagnosis is serious. But, there are many more survivors now. We need to see and hear from more survivors.  Remember always that it will be ok.

Why is a family medical history important?

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