Dr. Diane Simeone, a leader in the field of pancreatic cancer research currently serves as the Director of the Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health. Dr. Simeone founded (PRECEDE) the Pancreatic Cancer Early Detection Consortium. Dr Simeone shares her insights into the challenges and advancements in combating one of the toughest forms of canc…

During the month of June, OC Talk Radio's program "Living Hope: Your Journey with Pancreatic Cancer" acknowledges the hardships that survivors endure and celebrates their strength and resilience. Meet our featured survivor Charles Czajkowski, a remarkable six-year pancreatic cancer survivor who lost his mother to the same disease 25 years ago. Diag…

June is National Cancer Survivor Month, a time dedicated to honoring cancer survivors, offering hope to those newly diagnosed, supporting their families, and engaging the community. During the month of June, OC Talk Radio's program "Living Hope: Your Journey with Pancreatic Cancer" acknowledges the hardships that survivors endure and celebrates the…

June is National Cancer Survivor Month, a time dedicated to honoring cancer survivors, offering hope to those newly diagnosed, supporting their families, and engaging the community. During the month of June, OC Talk Radio's program "Living Hope: Your Journey with Pancreatic Cancer" acknowledges the hardships that survivors endure and celebrates the…

Join us as we talk with Ariya Selvakumar and Haley Kamola, Co-Directors of the Kesem Chapter at Chapman University. Kesem is a national nonprofit dedicated to supporting children through and beyond a parent’s cancer diagnosis. With over 120 college chapters nationwide, Kesem provides free, year-long services to affected families. Discover how Kesem…

Mary Mickelson is a Case Manager I at the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN). Mary is passionate about ensuring that patients and caregivers receive all the information they need to be empowered and make informed decisions. On Living Hope, we discuss helping to get patients on the right track, clinical trials, the right team, learn what the …

Dr. Raymond Wadlow is the Director of the High Risk Pancreatic Cancer Clinic, which focuses on early detection and prevention for individuals at high risk of developing pancreatic cancer. This clinic is part of the Pancreatic Cancer Early Detection (PRECEDE) Consortium, an international effort to improve the five-year survival rate for pancreatic c…

Living Hope: Your Journey with Pancreatic Cancer host Roberta Luna and her husband Vic, recap the recent PurpleStride event at the Honda Center. This was the 16th such event in Orange County and is known as "the ultimate walk to end pancreatic cancer." Anaheim Ducks Goalie Coach Sudarshan “Sudsie” Maharaj was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in May…

Amy Reiss, Director of Patient Programs with the Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research joined Living Hope to talk about the 18th Annual Hirshberg Symposium taking place on April 13 at UCLA Luskin Conference Center. Symposium topics include the latest in pancreatic cancer care, genetic testing, enzyme research, just to name a few. Ther…

Thom Mrozek, a 12-year survivor of pancreatic cancer, diagnosed on the unique day of Leap Day. Thom's diagnosis day has become symbolic of his extraordinary journey—rare, remarkable, and filled with unexpected turns. As he celebrates each leap year, he also marks another year of survival, another year of making a difference, and another year of che…

In this episode of Living Hope, we welcome Mike Greenstein, a committed advocate in the battle against pancreatic cancer, driven by his experience as a caregiver for his sister Jackie. Mike combines his business expertise with deep compassion in his work at Let's Win! Pancreatic Cancer, aiming to strengthen the network of support for patients and t…

Pamela Acosta Marquardt and Julie Fleshman have both been profoundly impacted by the loss of their parents to pancreatic cancer, which fueled their dedication to creating change. In 1996, Pam faced the loss of her mother after a six-month struggle with the disease. Confronted by the lack of resources and support for pancreatic cancer, she was drive…

While facts are critical to understanding and treating the disease, feelings are equally important in shaping the patient's experience and approach to care. The podcast serves as a reminder that in the face of a challenging diagnosis, the fusion of facts and feelings guides not just survival, but the quality of life.…

Dr. Jose Trevino serves multifaceted roles one as the Surgeon-in-Chief at Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center. He is dedicated to not only providing patient care and education but also contributing to the field of pancreatic cancer research. Developing novel therapies and advancing research in health disparities related to pancrea…

Sarah Banks from Hirshberg Foundation joins us to discuss her own mother's journey with Pancreatic Cancer. Sarah Banks' personal connection to pancreatic cancer through her mother's journey likely provides a deeply heartfelt and insightful perspective. Her experience may offer a unique blend of personal and professional insights into the challenges…

Jay shares his personal journey with pancreatic cancer. Such openness can be incredibly impactful for others facing similar challenges, offering them insight, guidance, and hope.By LivingHope2055

Thom Mrozek's decade-long battle with pancreatic cancer is a testament to resilience and determination in the face of a challenging illness. Such a journey likely involved numerous highs and lows, requiring immense strength and perseverance.By LivingHope2055

Dr. Lighter Chen's exploration of acupressure and its potential to facilitate the body's natural healing process by balancing energy flow aligns with traditional Chinese medicine principles. Acupressure is believed to stimulate specific points on the body to alleviate pain, enhance relaxation, and promote overall wellness by addressing imbalances i…

Thom Mrozek's willingness to share his experience with the Whipple Procedure offers invaluable insight into a significant aspect of pancreatic cancer treatment. The procedure is known for its complexity and challenges, and hearing firsthand from someone who has undergone it can provide a unique perspective. Thom's journey and his insights could hel…

Diagnosed in June 2021, Mike Kratzer is an incredibly resilient individual. Facing pancreatic cancer with positivity can be a tremendous challenge, but it also speaks volumes about his strength and mindset. Maintaining such a positive attitude during a difficult journey like this can inspire and uplift not only himself but also those around him. Ho…

Losing someone can make the holiday season incredibly tough. It's okay to feel sad during these times. Finding ways to honor and keep the memories of our loved ones alive by sharing stories about them can be a beautiful way to keep their spirit alive during the holidays and help us through the grieving process. Guest Stephannie Ruvalcaba Ho shared …

Andrea O'Donnell is a certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and owner of Rising Roots Nutrition. She started her business after years of struggling with her own health issues. She went to the doctors but felt she was not being heard or supported by doctors. Wanting to bring her daughter into a healthier lifestyle and wanting to help others aft…

"I was determined not to let cancer control my life.” Laurie MacCaskill a Professional Speaker, Motivator, Patient Advocate, Cancer Life Coach and a 17-year pancreatic cancer survivor shares her journey and some invaluable tools she developed to help in her fight with the world’s toughest cancer.By LivingHope2055

Why volunteer for a cancer that has such a dismal outcome? Bringing awareness being around people that you share something in common with helped her to heal having a voice helped her to feel empowered. Stephannie was the Caregiver for her Grandmother in the non tradional sense. She would visit her, read to her, dance for her or just hold her hand a…

Amy Reiss, the Patient and Family Support Coordinator from the Hirshberg Foundation previewed their 17th Annual Symposium on Pancreatic Cancer (in collaboration with the UCLA Hirshberg Center for Pancreatic Diseases) that was held at UCLA's Luskin Conference Center March 11, 2023. Watch the 17th Annual Symposium https://youtu.be/OgMZ-TqgrCc SAVE TH…

When a guest is unable to come, as sorry as we are, that gives Paul and I the opportunity to talk and do a little catch up. We covered a large range of topics like the Hirshberg Symposium, Taking a Leap of Faith, PanCAN's PurpleStride OC, November Awareness, is COVID still affecting the pancreatic cancer community, mask vs no mask.…

We learned about clinical trials and their importance with Fatima Zelada-Arenas. Fatima is the Director of Patient Services Research and Education at the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN). She works directly with pancreatic cancer patients and caregivers providing resources and information. Fatima has a special interest in patient advocacy,…

Sisters, Allison and Erica start a non profit organization to honor their mother and continue her legacy. Miracle for Melanie continues the Legacy that their mother started many years ago and continued during her fight with pancreatic cancer. For more information please visit the website www.miracle4melanie.org "As long as you speak my name, I shal…

Jennifer Garrepy, Reiki Master, advanced studies in Healing Touch, and one of fewer than 100 Certified Healing Touch for Animals Practitioners worldwide. We chatted about how and why she was called to the healing arts, what to expect, how to prepare as well as my experience with a Healing Touch session. After my session I felt more relaxed than I h…

Let's Win launched in 2016 with a goal of breaking down the barriers between the doctors, the patients and the researchers so that everyone diagnosed with pancreatic cancer has easy access to the latest information about the best treatment options. Join us as we talk about the growth of Survivor stories, importance of clinical trials and genetic te…

Jenny Isaacson, Vice President of Stewardship & Partnerships at the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, is responsible for the overall management and direction of the organization’s stewardship efforts. She also oversees strategic partnerships including the World Pancreatic Cancer Coalition, that came together in 2013 to discuss working together to r…

Tom, away from home, gets a call on his 65 birthday from his Dr, not wishing him a happy birthday but instead telling him she needed to see you as soon as possible. Tom, very active and an enthusiast bike rider is diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Tom was not a candidate for surgery but went on a clinical trial. Treatment went on for 15 mon…

"It's not what you know but who you know," was certainly true for 10-year pancreatic survivor Thom Mrozek. Thom wasn't sure how public he wanted to be about his diagnosis, but when his daughter, who at that time attended an episcopal school asked at Chapel "can we pray for my dad?" her request started the ball rolling. Thom woke up one morning with…

Melissa knew at a very young age that she wanted to help those with cancer. Initially she wanted to be an oncologist. A professor took her aside and told her "you have a gift in you as a teacher, educator, researcher, you don't you consider this as a career?" Melissa Rowland-Goldsmith, affectionally referred to as Dr RG by her students took that ad…

Reflecting back over 25 years with Hirshberg Founder Agi Hirshberg and her daughter Lisa Manheim, Executive Director. Hirshberg Foundation got its start more than 25 years ago when Ron Hirshberg was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Ron and Agi decided they were going to beat this disease together and live a long life, sadly six months later Ron di…

Sarah Banks is the Development Manager for the Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research. The 25th annual LA CANCER CHALLENGE was a walk/run benefitting the Hirschberg Foundation and their ongoing work battling Pancreatic Cancer. LACC was held on Sunday, October 23rd, on the beautiful campus of UCLA, where much of the foundation’s researc…

Ben Franklin has been quoted as saying “In this world nothing can be said to be certain except Death and taxes” Death is a harsh reality that none of us wants to think about or deal with regardless of our health. Death is part of life and planning your estate can give you peace of mind that your wishes will be met, and your loved ones are taken car…

We talk a lot about pancreatic cancer but for those who don't have a connection, who may be newly diagnosed or just curious may not have a understanding of what we are talking about. Hopefully this episode will help answer some questions.By LivingHope2055

Dr Kim joined us to talk about the use of the ViewRay MRIdian for treatment of pancreatic cancer at Hoag Hospital. Dr Kim explains that the tumor needs to be hit with high energy x-ray beams. To be able to hit the tumor you need to be able to see the tumor. It's that simple. This is the only machine that uses MRI imaging to visualize the tumor. Tum…

Susie Lemieux was the Caregiver for her husband, Peter. Peter survived 11 months before his death. Six months after losing her husband, Susie was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. People came to her and asked how did she get it, was it contagoius? Susie had nothing to compare it with and assumed in a year she would also be dead. Susie moved back to…

Christina Parrish, is a 14 year "Sur-Thriver" of Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer. Christina describes herself as sur-thriver because she strives to thrive everyday. "It's important to realize that you are surviving everyday no matter the struggles." Christina is the Founder of The Purple Iris Foundation. Their mission is to raise awareness, provide suppo…

A quote from Hamlet is how Kitty felt when getting her diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Kitty was going through a difficult time dealing with her father's illness, a friend in the hospital, so much going on at one time. It felt like the whole army was marching down on her. How does someone diagnosed with pancreatic cancer feel like they are the luck…

Eleven people out of one hundred will be alive five years after their pancreatic cancer diagnosis. The five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer patients has increased recently from a single digit number to 11%. Tori Larrick, Patient Services Manager ll with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network recently shared with us why early detection and be…

Ken Parme, a husband, father, grandfather a man with many talents when asked how he wants to be remembered he replied very simply "as a kind man." Ken is a very kind, friendly, talented man who I've had the pleasure of knowing for a number of years. It wasn't until he shared his journey with us that I realized how much we had in common in regards t…

Paul and I sat down and had a chat about the ways in which COVID has complicated people's battle with pancreatic cancer. The affects it had on the patient and their families. Being back in person at PurpleStride, how having a positive outlook can get you through the difficult times. What we hope for the future of Living Hope and more! #PurpleStride…

Laurie Paolone went to lunch with friends. Later when she wasn't feeling well she thought she had food poisoning. When the symptoms became worse she went to the Dr and was treated for an ulcer. It wasn't until someone noticed she was jaundice (yellowing of skin/eyes) that she was told to go to the ER immediately and learned she had pancreatic cance…

This episode of Living Hope is a continuation of a pervious conversation about being a Caregiver with Stephanie Ruvalcaba Ho. What is a Caregiver? If you provide help to another person in need, you are a caregiver. Caregivers can be professional - hired through an agency or a family member stepping up. Caregivers come in all different types - the o…

I can't believe a year has come and gone! Who knew, for me the first episode I would go from "Executive Producer," to actually becoming the host. Looking back through our first year, so many amazing journeys, each one left me with wanting to learn more. We shared so many emotions, laughter and tears but each one filled with love. Many of the journe…

What is the pancreas, where is it and what does it do? Can you live without your pancreas? What do you do after getting a pancreatic cancer diagnoses? Hear the answers to these questions and others, only on OC Talk Radio, Orange County's only community radio station live streamed from UCI Beall Applied Innovation Center at the Cove.…

A family friend gave 14 year old Tori a purple journey to help her cope with her feelings after learning her father had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Ironically at that time neither realized purple is the awareness color for pancreatic cancer. Tori felt her journal offered her a safe place to write about her journey and also used this jour…