The first symptom I had was pain in the upper abdomen. I thought it was gallbladder-related and that the symptoms were not serious. Turns out, it was stage 2 pancreatic cancer.

My feelings regarding my diagnosis were a mix of anger, fear, sadness and surprise. I read about it on my chart. The doctor didn’t call and I did not have a follow up scheduled for 2 weeks.

I was given the standard of care, which was Whipple surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. I started with 5FU chemo, then radiation, then Whipple surgery. Once I recovered from surgery, 4 more rounds of chemo were done. In total, I had 8 rounds of chemo over 5 months and 45 sessions of radiation therapy over 2 months. In terms of financing treatment, I am covered by insurance.

Honestly, I felt kind of numb when my treatment plan was decided. I was a totally healthy person when this was found. I really didn’t have a chance to think about it. I also could not discuss how bad the chemo was. In fact, I ended up with a clot in my portal vein and now a possible ulcer – that’s something I didn’t expect.

I’ve been cancer-free since January 2024.

The worst side effects I had were fatigue, followed by diarrhea and hand and foot syndrome. I had to just go to bed and take anti-diarrhea meds prescribed to me.

My plan mainly is to follow up on all orders from my doctor.

I continued working because I needed the income to support myself and my loved ones.

After being diagnosed with cancer, my social life and relationships with loved ones were affected. But challenges in my day-to-day life hit me the hardest. I tried to always be positive and keep those type of people around me.

Surviving cancer comes with its own set of challenges, such as the:

• Physical side effects (e.g., fatigue, pain, mobility issues)
• Changes in body image or appearance
• Ongoing medical care or check-ups
• Fear of recurrence
• Coping with a "new normal" or lifestyle changes

It is tough. You always think about recurrence. But I try to remain positive.

Fears of the cancer returning (recurrence) and not being able to continue with normal life or activities worry me the most. But I’m taking the following steps to try and overcome them:

• Seeking support from family or friends
• Engaging in mindfulness or relaxation techniques (e.g., meditation, yoga)
• Joining a support group or connecting with other cancer survivors
• Engaging in spiritual or religious practices
• Focusing on positive thinking or gratitude

Now I am fearful but optimistic at the same time. I know the cancer can return.

Stay positive and listen to your doctor. If you do not feel that connection with your doctor, find a new one. Take advantage of days or hours you feel more normal. Talk yourself into having a good day. Think of food as a new challenge.