Pancreatic Cancer Action Network

Support PanCAN's Drive to Thrive and CHANGE LIVES! ?? From now until September 17th, your support of our mission will go twice as far! Here's how: The Estate of Barbara Hanania has graciously created a Challenge Gift, which means that ANY amount you give today will DOUBLE in impact! ?????? Don't miss this opportunity for every dollar of your gift, up to our goal of $200,000, to go further in helping those facing a pancreatic cancer diagnosis. Give now at https://pcan.at/35iwrx.

Sisters Sara Wollner, Megan Riggins and Katie Riggins went viral on social media after sharing "confessional" videos dedicated to their mom, who passed from #pancreaticcancer in 2022. ???? In their videos, they chronicle mishaps that have happened in their lives since her death, often resulting in contagious laughter from the sisters. This laughter has helped them, and so many others, heal from their devastating loss. Katie says, "I wish we'd known about PanCAN earlier. They've helped us in so many ways. It would be a dream come true to see everyone affected by pancreatic cancer receive the support they need." ?? These sisters are helping us get the word out there that from now through September 17th, every dollar you give (up to $200,000) will have double the impact, thanks to a generous Challenge Gift created by The Estate of Barbara Hanania. Help us provide free, personalized support to patients and their families by making a gift today and doubling your impact! Give now at https://pcan.at/35iwrx.

Luis Rios starts each day with a deep sense of gratitude for his journey over the past seven years. He went from a bleak prognosis facing stage IV #pancreaticcancer to an almost unheard-of recovery that hinged on a rare mutation uncovered through PanCAN’s Know Your Tumor precision medicine program. ?? In 2017, Luis began to feel vague symptoms, including acidity and indigestion that came and went throughout the day. Following a slew of tests including an ultrasound and a CT scan, Luis was ultimately given a stage IV pancreatic cancer diagnosis. He and his family went into research-mode. In addition to being connected to Dr. Hosein, an oncologist, researcher and member of PanCAN’s Scientific and Medical Advisory Board, this research led Luis to PanCAN's Know Your Tumor. That action proved to be critical – thanks to the genetic and biomarker testing offered through the program, Luis discovered he carried an inherited mutation in a gene called RAD51C, present in less than 1% of patients with pancreatic cancer. Luis was the first patient Dr. Hosein had ever treated with this mutation. At that time, in 2019, research was starting to suggest that patients with BRCA mutations may benefit from immunotherapy. Since Luis’ very rare mutation shares some characteristics with this more common mutation, Dr. Hosein suggested he try an off-label immunotherapy combination. The drugs were already approved for other cancer types but had not been used in pancreatic cancer. After beginning the immunotherapy, Luis’ health turned around, seemingly overnight. “The results were dramatic,” Luis said. “From the very first infusion, I started to feel way better. The scans were just incredible, the way everything shrunk. The rest is history.” For Dr. Hosein, Luis is a beacon of hope. He still comes in every six weeks for lab work and every three months for scans and has no evidence of disease. “It is just remarkable, unprecedented, the response that he had,” said Dr. Hosein. “He has a second lease on life. There's no other way to describe it.” Read Luis' full story and learn more about our Know Your Tumor precision medicine service at https://pcan.at/bkbfpm.

Calling all Star Trek fans! ???? We couldn't let #StarTrekDay pass without shouting out Star Trek Stars Kitty Swink, Armin Shimerman, Jonathan Frakes, John Billingsley and Juan Carlos Coto for all they do to create a world in which all patients with #pancreaticcancer can live long and prosper. ?? From being #PanCANPurpleStride's #1 fundraising team to lending your voices to our campaigns, thank you for taking on your most important mission yet- teaming up with us to battle #pancreaticcancer. Send them a Vulcan Salute in the comments! ??

Walking sunshine. ?? That is how Joelle Hervis describes her grandmother, Abuela Martina. Martina was kind, giving, compassionate and a great listener. ?? Abuela Martina also showed her love through cooking. Joelle remembers traditional Dominican and Spanish dishes always simmering or baking. Most of all, Martina was there for her family. “We were a very Latino family in that there’s always a grandparent around,” Joelle said. “If you see any sitcom that’s Latino-based, there’s always a grandparent. She was that grandparent.” Martina's #pancreaticcancer diagnosis came with little warning and hit the family hard. They were devastated when their Matriarch passed just nine months following her diagnosis. Joelle keeps that spirit of "walking sunshine" alive in her community through volunteering with PanCAN. She says, “I get to spread the word. I've been able to tell my grandmother's story and our story too. If I can possibly help a family like mine, it’s worth it. On #NationalGrandparentsDay and always, thank you, Joelle, for all you do to support patients and their families in honor of Abuela Martina. ??

It can be difficult to keep up with all the information available about #pancreaticcancer. ??????? Our webinars can help you stay on top of the most relevant information about pancreatic cancer from the comfort of your home. ????? During these virtual events, leading medical professionals and members of our community discuss a wide range of topics with patients, caregivers and loved ones in mind. ?? Explore our free educational webinar library and start watching now: https://bit.ly/3OxyBoN

"With PanCAN's help, nobody has to face #pancreaticcancer alone." - Sara Wollner ?? Sisters Sara Wollner and Katie Riggins lost their mother to pancreatic cancer in 2022 and since, they've taken to social media to share about their grief through humor. In their viral "confessional" videos dedicated to their mom, they chronicle mishaps that have happened in their lives since her death, often resulting in contagious laughter from the sisters. So many were inspired by the videos that they flocked to the comments and opened up about how the sisters' confessions helped them process their own grief. These sisters began to heal by inspiring others and today, during PanCAN's Drive to Thrive, they want to inspire you to take action too. ?? Thanks to a generous Challenge Gift created by The Estate of Barbara Hanania, every dollar you give now through September 17th will have double the impact- up to our goal of $200,000. Right now, join Sara and Katie, especially at this crucial moment when your gift will DOUBLE in impact! Give now at: https://pcan.at/35iwrx

For years, Registered Dietitian, Danielle Baham, has referred her patients at UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center to PanCAN for additional #pancreaticcancer resources. ?? But, after attending #PanCANPurpleStride Sacramento, Danielle became inspired to get even more involved with the organization, so she signed up to become a volunteer in her local area. Because of her daily work talking to pancreatic cancer patients and their families as a dietitian, she was able to seamlessly take on the role as our Survivor Outreach Chair in Sacramento. Her volunteer role with PanCAN compliments her work as a dietitian because when she meets with patients to discuss nutrition and symptom management, she also encourages them to contact our PanCAN Patient Services team for additional, free, one-to-one support and resources. When we asked Danielle to share the highlight of her volunteer role, she said, "Pairing up survivors, so they won’t feel alone...I also reach out to survivors who I've met and ask them if I can connect them to newly diagnosed patients." ?????? Thank you, Danielle, for all you do to ensure patients and their families know where to come when faced with this diagnosis. ?? If you're inspired by Danielle and want to learn more about a volunteer role that might be right for you, visit https://lnkd.in/gSrQ8CQg

This week marks one year since award-winning journalist and dear PanCAN friend, Ruschell Boone, passed from #pancreaticcancer. ?? Spectrum News NY1 says, "Ruschell was a cancer warrior, and she used her platform as a journalist to raise awareness, sharing her emotional journey online and educating people along the way. She was open and deeply honest about chemotherapy treatments, her pain and the agonizing moments...Ruschell made it her mission to inform viewers about the symptoms of pancreatic cancer — symptoms often overlooked until it's too late." We are forever grateful for the light Ruschell shed on this disease and we're sending our warmest thoughts to all her loved ones.

Support PanCAN's Drive to Thrive and CHANGE LIVES! ?? From now until September 17th, your support of our mission will go twice as far! Here's how: The Estate of Barbara Hanania has graciously created a Challenge Gift, which means that ANY amount you give today will DOUBLE in impact! ?????? Don't miss this opportunity for every dollar of your gift, up to our goal of $200,000, to go further in helping those facing a pancreatic cancer diagnosis. Give now at https://pcan.at/35iwrx.