Pancreatic Cancer -- My Father Died 3 Months after Diagnosis

Teri shares her family's story about her father's diagnosis with pancreatic cancer and his death in less than three months after diagnosis. Her father had always lived a healthy life, ate a good diet and was physically active. Teri noticed he looked ill and took him to UCLA where he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She helped him search for options but learned he was past the point of surgery. Chemotherapy had no good outcome, in fact his tumors doubled. Shortly after, Teri's father died. She met Agi Hirshberg, founder of the Hirshberg Foundation, who talked with Teri about her experiences. Teri dove into work with the Foundation; it actually became her therapy as she says. She helped the Hirshberg Foundation plan events to raise funds for pancreatic cancer research and started a charity in her father's name to support further investigation and help spread awareness about this disease. Teri states, "My passion is that no one should go through what my dad did. He was gone in under three months; this should not happen to anyone. I had no knowledge of pancreatic cancer, but learned more than I need to know. In the last eleven years we've come a long way, but we are nowhere near where we need to be. I'll continue to fight till we find that cure."

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

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[adamhg7]

Lost my terrific, otherwise healthy dad in 2006 to the same terrible disease. Im sorry for your loss.