Stephanie was a Ph.D. candidate studying pancreatic cancer when she was involved in a car accident that changed her life. An incidental finding of thyroid cancer led to a total thyroidectomy to remove the cancer. Even with the unexpected diagnosis, Stephanie considers herself lucky. She had access to some of the best health care providers and was able to advocate for herself to receive appropriate treatment. She also knew how lucky she was to have such a treatable cancer, especially relative to the pancreatic
cancer she was studying, which to this day remains difficult to diagnose, treat, and survive.
I am a fervent believer that progress will only be made if we – patients and caregivers, physicians, politicians, scientists – all work together with a common vision.
As a former federally-funded pancreatic cancer researcher, Stephanie was thrilled to see the FDA approve a new first-line treatment regimen for metastatic pancreatic cancer last year; the first in over 10 years to demonstrate a positive survival benefit over standard of care. The ~2-month survival benefit is meager compared to other cancers, but in pancreatic cancer, it is a clinically meaningful improvement – an indicator of how far we have yet to go.
Stephanie currently works as a life sciences consultant, engaging with pharmaceutical companies to help them develop and commercialize their products, focusing on the cutting edge of hematology and oncology. This work often has her connecting with physicians and patients to better understand the factors impacting treatment decision-making and how to improve their respective experiences. Stephanie uses her research background and patient experience to inspire progress and emphasize the importance of research funding to reach the goal of ending cancer as we know it, for everyone.