My name is Jon Fox and I’m a survivor of two different cancers:  testicular cancer and pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer.  I also developed acute pancreatitis about 2 years following my Whipple procedure.

I’m from New York City and still currently reside here, though I am planning on relocating soon.   I’m a deep thinker and feeler and I love learning new things and meeting new people.  I’m a writer, poet, and I have also spent over 10 years working as an elementary school teacher.

Personal Journey and Diagnosis
In February of 2022, I was diagnosed with metastatic testicular cancer.  At this time, multiple CT scans showed a sizable mass on my pancreas.  After determining that this mass was unrelated to the testicular cancer, an endoscopic biopsy was performed, and pathology revealed a second cancer diagnosis:  a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor.

I did not experience any symptoms from my pancreatic tumor, as it was both a nonfunctional tumor (does not release hormones) and only stage 1b (despite being a little over 3 cm).   I am fortunate that it was caught so early due to the imaging performed for my testicular cancer.  After the diagnosis of two distinct and concurrent malignancies, I received genetic testing, which showed no mutations or anomalies.  Given that I also don’t have a family history of cancer, my doctors and I conclude that there are either some environmental factors that we don’t know about, or it was just some truly extraordinarily bad luck.

When I first received my diagnosis, there was an initial period of shock.  I still hadn’t fully processed my first cancer diagnosis, let alone a second cancer.  After learning more about my diagnosis and treatment options, I felt very bitter and hopeless.  It seemed cruel and unfair for this to have happened to me, seemingly inexplicably, and my only option and chance at a cure was to undergo the notoriously dreaded Whipple procedure.

Treatment and Recovery Experience
Because my tumor was caught so early, surgical resection (via a Whipple procedure) was the only necessary treatment for my pancreatic cancer, and there’s a good chance that it was curative.  I actually had this surgery done at the same time as a major surgery for my testicular cancer, in an operation that spanned over 7 hours.  My recovery from this surgery was the most difficult thing that I’ve ever had to do in my life, even more so than the highly toxic chemotherapy cocktail that I received to treat my testicular cancer. I will say that each day of the recovery for me felt a bit less horrible, and after about 6 weeks, it no longer felt like I was suffering.

After I was declared NED (no evidence of disease), I thought that the worst of my health challenges were behind me…until I received a third diagnosis. About two years after my initial diagnosis of cancer, in April of 2024 I was diagnosed with acute pancreatitis.  The pain that I felt was unreal, and I had to be hospitalized for a week.  At this point there was more psychological turmoil, as I felt that I had been dealt such a truly bad card in life, and I even began to feel jealous of all the people who have a normal, healthy pancreas.

Hope and New Life Outlook 
My diagnosis has changed my perspective on life by showing me just how unpredictable and fragile life is.  It is always a bit of a gamble to live with the premise that you’re going to reach retirement age, but I even take the opposite belief to heart–the idea from Stoicism that “even the next hour is not guaranteed.”  This mantra is a reminder that we should always try to live each day and each hour the best that we can.  For me, this means clarifying my values and priorities and aligning my life with them as best as I can.  Whether I die in 50 years or in 1 year, that’s ultimately outside of my control.  What is in my control is making the best choices that I possibly can, and as long as I do that, I think I’ll be ok with everything.  Because really, ultimately, that’s the best that any of us can do.

What keeps me hopeful during challenging times is the reminder that even with all of life’s suffering, I’d still always trade being alive for not being alive, and that life is full of beautiful and joyful moments too.  One of the moments that stands out is the first time I was able to eat cheesecake again after having pancreatitis.  There is a particular restaurant in Brooklyn that makes my favorite cheesecake, and even though I wasn’t sure how I would feel afterwards, I remember savoring how delicious it was and feeling so fortunate to have made it back to a place where I can have a little bit of dessert without fearing the worst.

 Advocacy and Mental Health 

I’m very proud of the way that I advocated for myself in order to make sure I received the best treatment and outcome possible. Receiving any kind of cancer treatment or surgery (and certainly pancreatic surgery!) can be a life-changing event–it is the epitome of what Jeff Bezos would call a “one-way door decision.”

My advice to others facing a similar diagnosis is, firstly, to make sure there are no alternatives that can be exhausted before getting pancreatic surgery (especially the Whipple procedure), and secondly, to not be afraid to seek out multiple opinions.  In my case, a Whipple procedure was the only option, but I of course wanted to be sure of this, knowing well the long-term side effects and risks of this operation. When meeting with my surgeon for the first time (whom I immediately loved), I still declared that I would like a second opinion from his colleague, who is another top doctor in the field of neuroendocrine cancer. Not only was my surgeon okay with this, but his office actually helped to facilitate the second opinion consultation appointment, where it was confirmed that this surgery was indeed my best course of action.

There is no room for ego in medicine, and there is certainly no room for risking your health and life for fear of offending a doctor or health provider. Cancer treatment and surgery can be complex and there are many factors to be considered.  Always seek out more than one opinion if you are at all hesitant or unsure. Any doctor who would be offended by you seeking another opinion is not the right doctor for you in the first place.

In addition to the physical challenges that follow pancreatic disease and surgery, I have also faced significant mental challenges.  Food has always been my first love in life, and it still saddens me that I am no longer able to eat the way that I was able to before having the Whipple Procedure.  Maintaining weight and adequate nutrition is also more challenging; these are things I never had to think about before and took for granted.  And even with my modified diet and eating style, I still occasionally feel some discomfort after eating.  Food is such a central part of culture, socialization, and the human experience in general, so it is a tremendous loss to have compromised digestive function and capability.

As with pancreatitis, the most helpful dietary adjustment after the Whipple procedure is adhering to a low-fat diet.  It also helps to avoid very large meals, which can be overwhelming for my modified digestive system.

What has made the most positive impact on my mental health has been forming connections with others who have experienced or are still facing similar challenges.   For me this has meant getting involved with Adolescent and Young Adult cancer survivor organizations such as Elephants and Tea, Young Adult Survivors United, and Cactus Cancer Society.

My advice to anyone facing a cancer diagnosis is to seek out others who have been through a similar challenge under similar circumstances.  They can offer both practical support and advice, as well as the profound comfort in knowing you are not alone.

The message I’d like to share is that even when being dealt a series of terrible blows and losses in life, it’s possible to come out of it the other side feeling hopeful and grateful for the gifts and opportunities you still have.