It could be you, or someone you love.

Home is where our story begins; we all begin with a home and a mom. Like many women in 2020 my mom had to forgo her annual mammogram due to restrictions from the COVID-19 Pandemic. In time, she was able to undergo the scan and ‘something’ was detected and ‘it’ was suspected to be malignant. Thanks to the professionals at UNMC the surgery was quick and effective. Our family was relieved at the prognosis and looked forward to what else the year held. Mom is the nucleus of our family, and we were excited to have her there to welcome the family’s first grandson. 

But the levity of the days after the lumpectomy were masking a much more somber reality. On Father’s Day weekend we learned the breast cancer was merely the beginning of the story; the doctors had discovered Pancreatic Cancer.

It was an emotional turn of events. Pancreatic Cancer is ruthless, and more often than not, lethal. However the team at UNMC introduced a treatment plan to combat the diagnosis. They assured us that mom was given just that — a ‘medical diagnosis’ not a ‘death sentence’. Thankfully, the detection was made early and the professionals were confident and correct: the treatment plan worked. Followup scans have repeatedly returned as ‘clear’. 

UNMC is home to the nation’s only Pancreatic Cancer early detection study. Family members of patients are seen twice a year for blood tests, urine samples etc. The goal is to identify genetic and hereditary factors. The data is captured with the hope that eventually general practitioners will be able to identify early stages of Pancreatic Cancer from a routine check-up. We are lucky to have state-of-the-art medical facilities readily available and medical experts on standby. What more could they do if Pancreatic Cancer could be consistently identified in early stages? This Benefit goes towards Early Detection of Pancreatic Cancer and its successful treatment.