| The article talks about only 9% surviving five years. That's probably me. I'm three years out from Whipple Surgery (the only fix in 2019) with no sign of a cancer return. My blood is tested and I get CTscans often enough to know everyone by name. Because I'm a pancreatic unicorn people come to me all the time (a German camgirl recently approached me on her professional account when her uncle was afflicted). It's very sad and I often feel survivors guilt because I know how it will end for them. Pancreatic cancer is not a pleasant way to die. Once it has spread it is fatal 100%. When Alex Trebek said Stage 4, I knew his fate was sealed in spite of his positive vibe. Undoubtedly Alex knows too. How did I get lucky? I got sick one night -- vomit and poop simultaneously. It had nothing to do with my cancer, but it got me the tests that found it. Once it was found I was on the medical conveyor belt. I am 69 and I've never experience medical care close to this. The care was proactive. They made the referrals and appointments. I just had to show up. To have my cancer removed (there is no cure) took around a half dozen small procedures where I was put out and an angioplasty where my cardiologist yelled, "Geoffrey, I'm trying to work" when I asked too many questions about the technology. This was followed by a six hour, two surgeon Whipple Surgery (consider small by Whipple standards), a week in the hospital, sixteen staples holding my belly together (and diabetes now that I only half half a pancreas), chemo, radiation and more chemo. I currently receive NO TREATMENT for cancer. No one you know is luckier. I am playing on house money. |