Patient Spotlight – Nancy Amato

By Nancy Amato

My name is Nancy Amato and I am a survivor of pancreatic cancer.

I will start my story from the beginning. In August, 2006, I had an episode of pancreatitis that would not respond to treatment. I had been having episodes of pancreatitis for about ten years but there was something different about this one so I was admitted to the hospital. All my scans were clean but I still wasn’t feeling any better. It wasn’t until I became jaundiced that everyone realized this was a serious problem. I was transferred to the Cleveland Clinic where I had a stent implanted which made me feel a little better, but still not great. An endoscopic ultrasound was performed which revealed a pancreatic mass, and I was referred to a wonderful, kind, highly-skilled surgeon. After many tests and discussions, I was scheduled for a Whipple procedure. I’ll spare you the gory details, but will tell you it’s a huge surgery. . .some organs are removed and some are rearranged, but it was the best chance I had to fight this horrible disease. As they began the surgery, on October 5th, they found a lesion on my liver (making me a Stage 4 and not a candidate for the Whipple procedure). The lesion was biopsied and came back negative for cancer so they proceeded with the Whipple. Five days after surgery the surgeon came back and told me that the final pathology report on the liver lesion was actually cancer. I knew he had just saved my life.

After my surgery I began a regimen of chemotherapy and radiation at the University of Michigan before I was accepted into a vaccine study at Johns Hopkins, developed by Dr. Elizabeth Jaffee. Setting goals was an important part of my diagnosis and treatment. I wanted to attend my daughter’s graduation. I also wanted to attend my son’s, two years later. Once I reached both of these goals, I decided to take on my next challenge. All of my kids are in to marathons and triathlons so I decided to sign myself up and train for the LA Cancer Challenge 5K with the Hirshberg Foundation. On October 25, 2009, I completed my first 5K with over 30 family members and friends from all over the United States crossing the finish line with me. My sisters, nieces and co-workers surprised me when they flew in from out of town to join Team Nancy Pants.

In February, 2010, I received the good news that my 3 ½ year scan was clean. As I look back over the years I have been very blessed. I have been married to my wonderful husband, Chris, for 29 years, we have four beautiful children, I’ve been a nurse anesthetist for almost 30 years and love my job, I am a 3 ½ year pancreatic cancer survivor, and I am grateful for each day and live life to the fullest.   I don’t want to be the miracle for pancreatic cancer. . .I want to be the norm!

In the beginning I was too scared to believe I could survive. With each day I get a little stronger and a little more vocal. Agi was one of the first people I spoke with early in my treatment. She personally returned my phone call and gave me tons of encouragement and advice. From the beginning Agi offered me hope when no one else would. I will always be grateful to the Hirshberg Foundation…they make me feel like a part of their “Foundation family”. It is because of people like Agi and the Hirshberg Foundation that one day soon I will be the norm!