The Adventures of PanCan Man

Something a doctor said in passing to me when I was first diagnosed with pancreatic cancer was, "With this kind of thing it's unlikely you'll see December." It was just a statistical reality. But I made it to December 2019. And December 2020. And now...December 2021. And I'm still standing. 

I launched this show on December 1, 2019. It's been a long two years. And I'm glad I'm here to give you an update. I kinda look at this date as my re-birthday. 

It's been a while since I made a new episode for The Adventures of PanCan Man. So, here it is. I had another surgery in April 2021, and I've been recovering from that.

I'm NED nine months after having my Whipple surgery by Dr. Truty at Mayo Clinic. I should have given this update in November when I found out. I didn't. My buddy Jim gave me a little kick in the pants to remind me I said I'd let you know. Here you go. 

Alex Trebek passed away yesterday from pancreatic cancer. It's been a tough one-two punch with RBG and then Alex going away. I have to go back for my assessment seven months after my Whipple next week and I have scanxiety. This didn't help. This is me talking about that. 

I had the Whipple Procedure done by Dr. Mark Truty at Mayo Clinic on April 14, 2020. Here's my story in the continuing Adventures of PanCan Man.

What happens when PanCan Man and Son of PanCan Man take an epic road trip from the East Coast to Mayo Clinic? They stop in at Niagara Falls, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and Notre Dame along the way. And they talk cancer-cancer-cancer.

This issue of the show is a conversation with Stephen Roche, Son of PanCan Man, about his experience with having a dad with pancreatic cancer: what he thought, what he observed, and what we all can learn from the pancan trip so far. 

Ever wonder what it's like to be zapped in the pancreas under a linear accelerator? Hasn't everyone? With this issue of the show, here's your chance to find out all the details. 

Welcome to a very special issue of The Adventures of PanCan Man. I asked my caregiver, my wife Sheryl, to sit down with me and chat about her perspective on these past nine months of me dealing with Stage 3 pancreatic cancer…and her role as a caregiver throughout this time. She really has been the superhero in all of this. Left to my own inclinations…well, I’m lucky that I don’t have to be. But I’ll say I’m better because she took care of me in my darkest moments…and some of those were really dark. And still she stands.

One of the worst side effects from chemo isn't all that painful. It's just disgusting. Ever heard of thrush? Well, listen up and you'll hear all about it. Plus, you'll get a story of my biliary stent replacement. And if you listen all the way to the end, you'll get an update from me on my current status with pancreatic cancer. 

If you'd like to send me an email, you can contact me at [email protected]

Get the show wherever you get your podcasts. 

Chemo is simple, right? Sit in a chair, get hooked up to a pump, and boom...you get your chemo. But it's not quite that easy, especially when our pancreatic cancer superhero has to have his chemo port replaced after only two uses. 

Plus, you can hear about the joys of fentanyl (that'll make anyone feel like a superhero). And why nurses are your best friends.