Joann's Story

I am someone who is not good at remembering dates, but there is one date that I doubt I will ever forget…October 28, 2021. Let me backtrack a bit. Two weeks earlier I had an appointment with a new primary care physician, Dr. Pattem, to try and determine why I was having this strange tightness around my body under my ribcage. It had started in the middle of my ribcage and, over the next few months, the tightness had extended all the way around to my back. I’m not sure whether or not I had also told my doctor that I was having strange looking bowel movements, because talking about things like that can be embarrassing, but they shouldn’t be. In any case, this wise doctor ordered a CT scan. The day after I had my scan, October 28^th to be exact, I was in the car with my husband heading to a leisurely dinner with friends when my doctor called. That’s when we both heard the dreaded words; mass, pancreas, and liver…not a good combination. We were both in shock. My life would be forever changed.

The doctor finished the conversation saying that there was only one doctor I was to see, and she would have his office contact me the next day. It was Dr. Bhagwandin. She turned out to be right. She set me on the right path.

As promised, I was contacted by his staff the very next day. There was no time to lose. The next few weeks were a whirlwind of scans, bloodwork, biopsies and consultations. The team at Anderson took me through the whole process seamlessly. I felt enough stress without having to do this all by myself. They could not have been more caring or more efficient.

When all the results were in the news was not good. The cancer in my liver was pancreatic cancer. The large, golf ball sized cancerous mass on my pancreas had metastasized to my liver. I had stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Dr. Bhagwandin said that therefore I was not a candidate for surgery. He would refer me to another amazing doctor, the head of medical oncology, Dr. Brandt. Without treatment I probably had 3 to 6 months before the cancer won out. Giving up that easily was not an option. Dr. Brandt would guide me through the chemotherapy process in hopes of destroying as much of the cancer as possible and keeping it from spreading further. There was no “cure” for stage 4 pancreatic cancer. The goal was to buy me more time to enjoy my family, my friends, and the retirement life I was enjoying so much.

My CA 19-9 tumor marker was through the roof…2434 to be exact. Normal range was under 37. The 5-year survival rate at my stage was probably about 3-4 %., but why couldn’t I be one of those 4 %?

Chemo wasn’t a bed of roses: nausea, neuropathy, spasms, fatigue, weight loss, thinning hair…but the oncology nurses couldn’t be more caring and qualified to handle the situation. Six rounds turned into 12 rounds then 18 rounds. I was encouraged by Dr. Brandt’s positivity and the fact that, almost without exception, my tumor marker kept coming down after each round. Dr. Brandt customized my treatment, thus ensuring the best quality of life while still undergoing chemo. After 2 years and 36 rounds of chemo, my tumor marker, although not in the normal range, was quite low and had remained unchanged for a few months. Dr. Brandt conferred with Dr. Bhagwandin and decided that if I agreed, he’d do surgery.

October 19, 2023, I was back in the extremely capable care of Dr. Bhagwandin. The surgical team was wonderful and reassured me that I was in the best hands possible. I could feel it. The surgery involved a liver resection, removing my spleen and removing the tail portion of my pancreas where the large mass had been found. The procedure was not a piece of cake. The recovery was a little more difficult than I envisioned, but proved to be well worth it. Two weeks later I returned to have my staples removed and Dr. Bhagwandin was smiling from ear to ear. The news was amazing. The pathology showed no active cancer in my body. At least for the moment I was cancer free!

That was 1 year ago. I continue to have regular blood tests and PET CT’s. Gradually the span between these tests is getting longer. My most recent CA19-9, which you may remember started at 2434 was at 6.09…well within the normal range.

I know there is no promise that my cancer will not return, but for now I am living the best life possible and even playing tennis 3 times a week on our Eastpointe tennis team. I feel so blessed to have a wonderful cancer center with amazing doctors right here in Jupiter.

You often hear the words fighting and battling when describing someone dealing with cancer. Sometimes it’s more than just a battle, it’s a war. Try to keep that fighting spirit and know that you have the love and prayers of family and friends and an entire army of the best nurses, doctors and support staff on your side.

My hope is for a cure for this deadly disease. The statistics are still not great, but research is being done and discoveries are being made so there is reason to be optimistic. I am a prime example of why you should never give up.