Greetings Friends and Family, 

Thank you for your wonderful support durig the past four years. I'm counting on celebrating surviiing for 5 years in December of 2026. When I was first diagnosed, I was in complete shock . . . a certain death sentence. I am htruly blessed, having enjoyed four years of family and friends and nature and travel and laughter and joy. 

What is true is that most pancreatic patients discover the disease in stage IV and live less than 5 years . . . in fact 87% will succumb to the disease before 5 years. During their first year of diagnosis, they endure brutal chemotherapy treatment and yet the disease comes roaring back, taking their life even though they did everything the doctor ordered. 

Some patients qualify for the whipple surgery as I did, but most do not. For many their tumor is located near a major blood vessel and is therefore, inoperable. The whipple procedure is major surgery so even those who do qualify face difficult if not impossible recovery. Again, I was fortunate to qualify for and have the surgery to remove the tumor. My body recovered well for which I am truly thankful.

Why PURPLE STRIDES? I hope to join others in raising funds to ensure that PanCan.org can support other patients who have difficult treatments and recoveries. Certainly the most important goal is for people to identify the symptoms early and get diagnosed so their survival rate is much higher.  

Symptoms:

- Pain or discomfort in abdomen or back

- Digestive problems

- Jaundice

- Unexplained weight loss

- Change in stools

Please join me in raising funds for research and increase awareness of this deadly cancer. 

I appreciate you so much and I feel incredibly lucky to be living a life surrounded by so much love and support.

Fondly,

Candy