As I get older and people around me start to pass away it really changes my perspective on life, and living. When some people die it can really make you do a hard pause and reflect on your own mortality, and more importantly, asking the question, Am I living the best life I can, and should? A few years back I caught a glimpse of a show titled Caught in Providence. It featured a look into the courtroom of Judge Frank Caprio in Providence, Rhode Island. While it was a reality TV show, the Judge showed a genuine regard for the people before him and an empathy for their struggles in life.
Caprio made headlines in 2023 when he announced he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer (PC). The pancreas is a gland that sits behind the stomach and does it work in conjunction with the liver, gall bladder, and small intestine. It secretes hormones like insulin and glucagon, which regulate blood sugars, and enzymes like lipase and amylase which aid in the digestion of fats and carbohydrates, respectfully.
My friend Jim Matson, of Pulse Disc fame, was diagnosed with PC in the spring of 2018 and passed away a few months later. Pancreatic cancer has no cure but there are surgeries and treatments that can slow the disease. It used to have a six-month survivability, but studies have
shown better outcomes these days. About 10% of patients survive the first year, and now 13% have a five year survival rate. Caprio fought the disease for a little less than two years and passed away at the age of 88.
Whenever I hear about pancreatic cancer my thoughts go back to the story of Patrick Swayze, who brought PA into the spotlight. Swayze an actor and famous for his roles in the movies Dirty Dancing and Ghost. Diagnosed in 2008 he survived for 20-months before passing at the age of 57 in 2009.
They are forecasting about 70,000 new cases of PC diagnosed in the United States in 2025. Unfortunately the symptoms show after the disease already has its hold on most patients. Symptoms can include, changes in ones GI system from indigestion, bloating and weight loss,
to problems regulating blood sugars, stool that is pale in color and greasy, and floats, or the yellowing of the skin and eyes, or jaundice. Most patients diagnosed with PC have been treated for other problems which leads to a delayed diagnosis.
While there are no routine screenings for PC any prolonged symptoms should be assessed. Many times we just shake things off, or try to, which leads to delays in treatment. For a fly fishing blog there is a lot of mention of health screenings and prevention here, although I'm not the best specimen for health out there.
If you think about it, how respectful and careful have you been with your body? For me, I've abused my body for now 57 years. From poor diet, to poor choices, to occupational and environmental exposures, how could I complain if it decided to quit on me now. I'm just looking back to these past two weeks and the amount of bread, butter and Guinness I forced into my body. No doubt it had to work overtime to keep me "normal".
Pancreatic cancer, like all cancer, is a nasty disease that I hope one day we can find a cure for. In the meantime I should do better protecting my body from myself.