Pancreatic Cancer Patient Stories

In September of 2022 I was a healthy retiree, living with my husband and enjoying life. A year later, I am a pancreatic cancer survivor.

Last year, I began to have gastrointestinal issues that concerned me. All of my life, I’ve had issues with going to the bathroom, but my doctors always told me that what might be abnormal for other people might be normal for me.

My wife Catrina was the first to notice something was wrong. I remember we were out playing Topgolf one day when she told me that the whites of my eyes looked really yellow. Later on, my skin would start to itch, and my urine would turn a dark shade of yellow, but my eyes were the first to show any signs. I told her that I felt fine, but she insisted that I should get it checked out.

When I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at 46 years old, my goal was just to make it to 50. Even with that short-term goal, I knew the odds were not in my favor.

That was 15 years ago. I’ve made it well past my original goal, and my Fox Chase care team played a huge role in making that possible.

Diagnosing the Problem

I’m 45 and live in Delran, New Jersey, with my wife and two kids. I work as a vice president of business development for MasterCard, and in my spare time I love to run.

I’ve run marathons and completed an Ironman 70.3 (also known as a Half Ironman), which consists of a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride, and a 13.1-mile run. So, I’m no stranger to pain and discomfort.

Being defeated is a matter of perspective and will. I feel that no matter how serious the illness is, I can overcome it with the right help and the right attitude.