My name is Alicia Cook, and I’m a breast cancer survivor. Actually, by the time you read this, I’ll be able to say I’m a three-time survivor now recovering. But that’s not my reason for speaking to you today. You see, I’m also a daughter. And three years ago, I lost my dad to pancreatic cancer.
My dad and I were estranged off and on for most of my life. However, by the time I reached my mid thirties, we found peace and a way to be in relationship with each other for the sake of his grandchildren. By the time I reached my fifties, I finally became the daddy’s girl that I always wanted to be. So hearing my dad say he had pancreatic cancer was like a punch in the gut. But I did what I always do, try to put emotions aside and try to work the problem.
The next day, Monday, I reached out to my oncologist who put me in touch with doctor Kupfer, a pancreatic cancer specialist at the University of Chicago. She agreed to see my dad as soon as he was released from the hospital.
Well, he never was released from the hospital. After much prayer on Saturday, I made the decision to drive ten hours alone from Maryland to Chicago to be with my dad. On Tuesday, we met with the hospice team, and by early Thursday morning, he had passed away. Pancreatic cancer robbed him of a chance to even seek appropriate treatment options and robbed me of more time with my dad.
During a routine visit that same fall, I mentioned to my physician that my father had recently died of pancreatic cancer. Given my history with breast cancer and my BRCA one gene positivity, she advised that I now have an increased risk for pancreatic cancer. As a result, I undergo screening via MRI or endoscope every other year. While this does not prevent pancreatic cancer, it does improve the chances of early detection and provides me with better treatment options, thus enhancing the chances for survival.
As with my experience with breast cancer, I chose to transform my pain into a purposeful mission. I became involved with advocacy groups like The National Pancreas Foundation and The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network to raise awareness, support those undergoing treatment, and to fundraise for research aimed at curing this disease.
In addition to overall reductions in a in NIH funding for cancer research, the current administration’s FY twenty-five budget has eliminated funding from the only federal program dedicated solely to pancreatic cancer research. Consequently, it’s imperative that we engage with organizations supporting those affected by this disease and advocate for increased research funding. Additionally, we must take the necessary steps to protect ourselves, ensuring that we do not lose valuable time with our loved ones due to this illness.
