June is National Cancer Survivor’s Month and we are happy to share these heartfelt messages with all those facing cancer. All month long we celebrate survivorship and honor those in treatment as we work towards a cancer-free future.
Share your message of hope here. Together, let’s provide support, hope and love with all those facing pancreatic cancer!
I am an 8 + year survivor of pancreatic cancer. I was diagnosed in 2012 and had a distal pancreatectomy in September, followed by chemo for six months. I am happy and blessed to say I am still here, cancer free, and thriving! There is hope and you can survive too!
Barbara
Be well informed but don’t let anyone take away your hope. Hope gives us the power to endure what we think we can’t, to heal. Remember to enjoy life, enjoy the little things. Be your own best advocate and keep fighting. It’s ok to have bad days, to feel like you want to quit, but remember what or who you are fighting for and continue. Even the strongest of us get tired and need to lean on someone else for a bit, or have someone give us a hug and say it’s okay.
Roberta
Thank you to all the researchers, the clinical trials, the doctors, pharmacists, scientists, oncologists and nurses working to cure pancreatic cancer patients each day.
George
The greatest gift I have received from my recent stage IV pancreatic cancer diagnosis is the deeper appreciation of each day of life and the deeper connections I have with each person, object and experience in my life. It is the gratitude and connections that give me strength and purpose to get through each step of this journey. Life is so much more beautiful when I focus on the wonderful things I have and not on what I don’t have.
I am so thankful for the treatment options available for me, only made possible by incredible foundations such as the wonderful team at Hirshberg Foundation, generous donations from supporters and believers in the amazing scientists and doctors working hard to give us reasons for greater hope each day.
Esther
I remember hearing that the tumor on my husband’s pancreas could be cancer and that the 5-year survival rate less than 5%. Boom! He was 50, and our kids were still too young. When I told my hubby’s brother that the survival rate was only 5% (and I was shaking) he said this to me,
“So, why can’t he be in the 5% ?” HOPE. Those words let light in and we began the fight! We formed our team of family, medical experts, support people and HOPE was restored. That was 11 years ago. He was in that 5%!In this pancreatic cancer journey, it’s hard and scary and so sad. But I KNOW that hardwork is happening and progress is happening and numbers are changing in a better direction. I KNOW that there is HOPE to increase them further. I KNOW! And so does my husband! Eleven years, what a gift! So thankful and full of gratitude and HOPE.
Cyndy
We are all individuals. Focus on surviving and positive energy instead of looking at stats or educating yourself on survival. Educate yourself in health and what that means instead. Maybe explore Ayurveda or cannabis if you are looking for gentle plant medicine. I was diagnosed in 2010 and I am a survivor.
Christina
I am a 16 year survivor, Blessed Be! My motto was “leave no stone unturned.” I did everything the doctor told me to do, and everything meditative and spiritual my heart and hospice counselor suggested. Hospice was so supportive. I exercised and walked daily and ate healthy as much as I could. It was so long ago and I’m so healthy now, I can only thank heaven. I tell everyone who is interested about my story because there IS hope and there ARE angels.
Julie
Hang in there! Every new day brings a chance for hope, more treatments and cures. Thank you to the Hirshberg Foundation for all the information and support, you are so helpful and inspiring! Appreciate it all!
Joanne
Each morning is a new day- live, love, experience…cherish each moment!
Kevin
Hang in there, be strong, have resilience. You are not alone, relatives, patients and the pancreatic cancer community is here to support you.
Ana
Happy National Cancer Survivors Day! I would just like to celebrate all cancer survivors perseverance, strength, passion and enthusiasm in each day, your spirit inspires all of us! It’s been an honor being able to support this amazing foundation and be around such a great atmosphere of people!
Brandon
I am a 1 year Pancreatic Cancer survivor! My journey has had so many different emotions of fear, tears, pain, the unknown, but most importantly HOPE! Knowing that my medical teams and organizations like Hirshberg are doing everything they can to keep this mean cancer away and that research continues to progress gives me hope that I will continue to live a beautiful life, cancer free! I will win and beat this cancer! I am Dawnie Strong!!!
Dawnie
I am a 7 1/2 year pancreatic cancer survivor! A positive attitude is key to your recovery with the love and support of those around you.
Barbara
I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the year 2000. A state-of-the-art clinical trial saved my life. Twenty years later the treatments and therapies have advanced to such an extent that the protocol I received is seldom used. The past two decades of breathtaking research can truly bring hope to you who have been recently diagnosed.
Helping hands and hearts are waiting to help you. Be strong and know that you are not alone!
Lee
Never give up hope! There is ALWAYS reason to believe!
Margie
To all those fighting and surviving every day…this is a new day. We have significantly progressed in the search for a cure. Don’t give up hope and keep fighting because there are people you don’t even know praying for you, and prayer is enormous! God Bless you and keep you healthy. You were given this life because you are strong enough to live it!!!
Noël
We will never give up! You deserve to be celebrated every day!
Lisa
What a beautiful thing it is, to be able to stand tall and say; “ I survived”
Rocio
Wishing you years of health, happiness and a cancer-free future spent with loved ones!
Sarah
With love and encouragement to all who are working and educating themselves about pancreatic cancer and everything being done to support those who are affected by pancreatic cancer. We need this now and on into future when there will finally be a cure! Never give up!!
Kelley
You are examples of strength and we honor you for that!
Matt
I am doing very well after my Whipple in April of 2020. New survivors should hold on to hope, no matter what happens. I am working with research doctors to update protocols by educating both patients and doctors to signs, symptoms and risks of this cancer. Early detection is the goal! Please support my efforts by letting the associations associated with pancreatic cancer know you agree that this is important for future survivors. God bless you all!
Laura
I am a 23+ years survivor of pancreatic cancer. I was diagnosed and had the Whipple surgery in January, 1998, followed by chemo and radiation therapy. I am happy to say that I am still here, cancer free, being checked by my original surgeon and oncologist at least once a year with scans and blood tests. So far, so good!!!
Ruth
Wishing everyone suffering from this horrible cancer the very best and always look at what options are available to you. I am so very thankful to have some more time and hoping it stays away. Glad I had doctors that were looking out for me and offered me options for the liver metastasis. Thankful for all the researchers and doctors and caregivers who are there for us.
Kay