Richard beat colon cancer in 2004. Fifteen years later, he started experiencing severe stomach pains. A trip to the emergency room led to a diagnosis of stage IV pancreatic cancer. He was not a candidate for chemotherapy or radiation and he was initially given a devastating prognosis of only 4-6 weeks to live. However, a glimmer of hope came in the form of a clinical trial.
Because of a clinical trial, I’m part of the 1% who survive stage IV pancreatic cancer.
Richard had completed genetic testing some years prior, which led to the discovery that he carried the Lynch syndrome gene – the most common cause of hereditary colon cancer. He had been advised to increase the frequency of his colonoscopies for additional monitoring. This genetic testing ended up being his lifeline.
At the time of Richard’s diagnosis, the University of Louisville Health – where he was being treated – was seeking patients with pancreatic cancer with the Lynch syndrome gene for a clinical trial. He quickly received a port for immunotherapy and returned to the cancer center once every three weeks for treatment. He had no side effects.
The cancer stopped spreading, and within nine months, all physical signs of the cancer were gone. Richard is part of the 1% of stage IV pancreatic cancer patients who survive thanks to new advancements made possible by cancer research.