On this episode of the Project Purple Podcast, host Dino Verrelli sits down with Andy Lyons, a commercial photographer from the heart of the Midwest, Iowa, as he shares his deeply personal journey with familial pancreatic cancer. With a family history spanning three generations, affecting countless family members, including his grandmother, mother, and brother, Andy has long felt the shadow of this disease.

Diagnosed in 2021 after over two decades of proactive screenings, including ultrasound endoscopies and genetic testing through research studies in Chicago and Pittsburgh, Andy was fortunate to catch his pancreatic cancer early. He reflects on the importance of vigilance and early detection, and how his experience demonstrates the power of knowledge, community, and persistence in managing a disease often considered a death sentence, even when it runs in your family.

Andy shares the emotional and practical aspects of his journey: robotic surgery at UPMC, chemotherapy, the support of caregivers and his community, and the mental resilience that comes from maintaining humor, positivity, and hope. He emphasizes the importance of asking questions, connecting with other patients, and taking control of your health, summarized in the motto: “knowledge is power.”

Through his story, Andy shows that pancreatic cancer is scary, but it’s not invincible. He talks about the strength found in numbers, the hope that comes from proactive care, and even the symbolic meaning of a survivor tattoo and a healing blanket passed among friends as a gesture of solidarity.

You can reach Andy at [email protected].

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To learn more or support Project Purple’s mission of a world without pancreatic cancer, visit projectpurple.org.