TEAM

TEAM ROXANNE

  • Roxanne Kania Slotnick

    Roxanne Kania Slotnick

TEAM ROXANNE

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Raised: $2,020

Goal: $10,000

Welcome to our team fundraising page!

Welcome to TEAM ROXANNE Fundraising Page!

Roxanne and I want to make the biggest impact on the lives of pancreatic cancer patients – and we need you to do it!

A note from Roxanne: I was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer April 5, 2023. In November 2022, I entered the hospital for a blocked bile duct. During that time I had asked repeatedly if I had Pancreatic Cancer (PC).  I knew the cancer too well. My beautiful friend, Jane Von Voigtlander, died within four months of diagnosis. I was always told no because the doctors did NOT see the cancer on my CT or MRI (those are the only tests to detect it).

A scrape biopsy in January 2023 was negative. I later found out that those types of biopsies are not accurate - we just didn't know. Every two weeks until April, I went in to replace the tube in my duct, with a CT once a month. They NEVER saw any cancer.  My IR surgeon thought to run a CA19-9 blood test, which is a pancreatic cancer marker. They only use this number to decide if treatment is working, but for me, it was the only way to really find out if I had this deadly cancer. My CA19-9 was 3900. It should be below 38. Finally, it was decided to do a proper, but blind, needle biopsy. Sure enough, I had PDAC (Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma).

I had a valve in my heart replaced from a birth defect on April 10 and on April 20 I was in chemotherapy. That is how fast you must work when you have this very aggressive cancer. I was stage 2B. I have been a warrior through 74 nights in the hospital, 27 surgeries (including the 12-hour Whipple surgery), 35 rounds of chemo and five weeks of radiation. I am currently NED and living each day to the fullest.

Unfortunately, there is not a test to identify any form of pancreatic cancer. That is why many are at stage 4 when it is found. We also do not have a maintenance chemo. That is very scary because this cancer is the type that keeps on giving. The recurrence rate is high and it is expected to be the second highest form of cancer in people by 2030.

So, if you can find it in your heart to please walk with my team, donate to PanCan,or do both, my family, Jane's family and myself, along with many other warriors out there, I would be most grateful. Together, let's win the fight of Pancreatic Cancer! Thank you from the bottom of my heart! Roxanne Kania-Slotnick

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About PanCAN PurpleStride

Local action. Nationwide impact. This is PanCAN PurpleStride, the ultimate walk to end pancreatic cancer.

On Saturday, April 26, 2025, at nearly 60 events across the country, pancreatic cancer survivors, families, caregivers, researchers and supporters will join together and walk to honor everyone affected by the disease.

PurpleStride is PanCAN's signature community celebration, raising money to fight pancreatic cancer on all fronts — through research, clinical initiatives, patient services, advocacy and nationwide volunteer support. Learn more.