Pancreatic Cancer: 7 Lessons From My Father’s Story

Twenty-eight years ago, a seemingly ordinary complaint of back pain led to an unexpected diagnosis that changed our family forever. This is the story of my father’s pancreatic cancer, a major operation, an unexpected complication, and three more precious years together.

Twenty-eight years ago, I received a phone call from my father, Anastacio B. Gayao Sr.

Now, if you knew my dad, you would understand why that call immediately got my attention.

My father was not a complainer.

He belonged to that generation of Filipinos who believed that if an arm fell off, you picked it up, tucked it under the other arm, and calmly finished your chores before mentioning it to anyone.

He was tough, disciplined, and remarkably healthy.

So when he called complaining of pain in his right mid-back, alarm bells went off in my physician’s mind.

After asking him several questions about the nature of the pain, I felt there was enough reason for concern to refer him to a gastroenterologist colleague Dr. Leroy Hightower in Abilene, Texas for further evaluation.

A few days later, the phone rang.

It was my colleague.

“Larry,” he said, “the ERCP shows your dad has pancreatic cancer.“

For a moment, I was speechless.

As a physician, I knew exactly what those words meant.

As a son, I wished I didn’t.

Finally, I managed to ask, “Where do we go from here?”

His answer was immediate.

“I’ll refer him to an oncology surgeon at Baylor Medical Center in Dallas.”

A Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosis That Hits Like a Thunderbolt

The news was heartbreaking.

Dad was 79 years old, but he hardly fit anyone’s picture of an elderly cancer patient.

He still enjoyed playing tennis with people half his age. His mind remained razor sharp. Every day, he studied his Bible and actively participated in church Bible discussions.

He was physically active, mentally engaged, and spiritually grounded.

He seemed to be doing everything right.

Yet cancer had quietly taken up residence in one of the most hidden organs in the body.

That is one reason pancreatic cancer is so feared.

Unlike many other cancers, pancreatic cancer often doesn’t announce its arrival with obvious symptoms. There is no early warning siren, no flashing dashboard light.

It sneaks in through the back door.

The pancreas lies deep within the abdomen, making early tumors difficult to detect. By the time symptoms become noticeable, the disease may already have advanced.

Unfortunately, that is precisely what makes this cancer so challenging.

The Whipple Procedure: A Seven-Hour Surgical Marathon

At Baylor Medical Center, the surgeons recommended a Whipple procedure, formally known as a pancreaticoduodenectomy.

This is one of the most complex operations in modern abdominal surgery.

The pancreas sits at a busy intersection of the digestive system, closely connected to the small intestine, bile duct, and gallbladder.

Because of this anatomical arrangement, a tumor in the head of the pancreas can involve nearby structures.

During a Whipple procedure, surgeons remove the head of the pancreas, the duodenum (the first portion of the small intestine), the gallbladder, and part of the bile duct. Depending on the surgical approach, a portion of the stomach may also be removed.

The remaining organs are then carefully reconnected to restore the flow of food, bile, and digestive enzymes.

It’s not just surgery.

It’s advanced plumbing, carpentry, engineering, and medicine rolled into one!

The operation can take several hours. Dad’s surgery lasted seven hours.

When it was over, the surgeons believed they had successfully removed the cancer.

We were relieved.

But the journey wasn’t over.

The Unexpected Battle: Sepsis After Surgery

About a week after surgery, Dad developed a high fever.

Blood cultures revealed sepsis, a potentially life-threatening complication of infection.

He was immediately started on intravenous antibiotics and transferred to the intensive care unit.

As both a physician and a son, those were difficult days.

The fever persisted despite aggressive treatment.

The medical team continued searching for the source of the infection.

Finally, a CT scan of the abdomen revealed the hidden culprit: an intra-abdominal abscess.

A guided needle aspiration was performed to drain the infection.

Within days, the fever began to disappear.

Sometimes medicine resembles detective work more than science. You gather clues, rule out suspects, and keep digging until you uncover the truth.

Thankfully, the right diagnosis and intervention turned things around.

Dad recovered.

A Remarkable Comeback: Three More Years of Life

Over the following months, Dad gradually regained his strength.

He returned to many of the activities he loved. In fact, he went on to live another three years after his pancreatic cancer surgery, eventually returning to the Philippines after two years.

Ironically, pancreatic cancer was not what ultimately ended his life.

At age 82, he succumbed to pneumonia that unfortunately was diagnosed too late.

For our family, those extra years were a priceless gift.

Years of conversations.

Years of family gatherings.

Years of Bible discussions.

Years we might never have had.

Sometimes medicine cannot add decades to life.

But it can add precious moments, and sometimes those moments mean everything.

Pancreatic Cancer: Why It Remains So Deadly

Pancreatic cancer doesn’t always receive the same public attention as breast, colon, or lung cancer.

Yet it remains one of the most serious cancer diagnoses a person can face.

The pancreas lies deep within the abdomen, making early tumors difficult to detect. Unfortunately, there is no established routine screening test recommended for people at average risk.

Some symptoms that deserve medical attention include:

• Upper abdominal or back pain: Persistent discomfort that may radiate toward the back.

• Unexplained weight loss: Losing weight without trying.

• Loss of appetite: A noticeable change in eating habits.

• New-onset diabetes: Particularly when it occurs unexpectedly in someone without typical risk factors.

• Jaundice: Yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes.

• Fatigue: Persistent tiredness or weakness without an obvious explanation.

• Digestive changes: Nausea, bloating, or other unexplained digestive problems.

These symptoms do not necessarily mean pancreatic cancer. Many have far more common explanations.

However, persistent, unexplained, or unusual symptoms deserve proper medical evaluation.

And remember: the absence of symptoms does not guarantee the absence of disease.

Understanding Pancreatic Cancer Risk Factors

Pancreatic cancer is influenced by several factors. Some are beyond our control, while others offer opportunities to reduce risk.

Factors we cannot easily change:

• Advancing age

• Family history of pancreatic cancer

• Certain inherited genetic mutations and syndromes

Factors we can potentially influence:

• Cigarette smoking

• Excess body weight and obesity

• Type 2 diabetes and metabolic health

• Chronic pancreatitis

• Certain lifestyle and dietary patterns

One important distinction: not everyone with these risk factors develops pancreatic cancer, and some people develop it without any identifiable risk factors.

The goal is not to create fear, but to understand where prevention and early medical evaluation may help.

Chronic Inflammation: A Piece of the Bigger Picture

Over the years, researchers have increasingly recognized the role of chronic inflammation in several long-term diseases.

Unlike acute inflammation, which is the body’s normal response to infection or injury, chronic inflammation can persist and contribute to tissue damage.

Chronic pancreatitis, for example, is an established risk factor for pancreatic cancer.

Obesity and metabolic disturbances are also associated with changes in inflammatory and hormonal pathways that may influence cancer risk.

Think of inflammation as a small fire.

When it burns briefly to fight infection or heal an injury, it serves a useful purpose.

When it smolders for years, however, it can damage tissues and contribute to disease.

Inflammation is not the single common cause of all cancers, but understanding its role is an important part of modern preventive medicine.

The Soda Connection: More Than Just Empty Calories?

A few years ago, headlines attracted attention with a provocative claim:

“Just two sodas a week may increase pancreatic cancer risk.”

Where did that come from?

The finding originated from the Singapore Chinese Health Study, which followed 60,524 participants for up to 14 years.

Researchers identified 140 cases of pancreatic cancer during the study period.

They found that participants reporting two or more soft drinks per week had approximately 87% higher relative risk of pancreatic cancer compared with those who did not drink soft drinks.

Interestingly, the group consuming at least two soft drinks weekly actually averaged about five drinks per week.

The researchers adjusted their analysis for several potential confounding factors, but the findings still require careful interpretation.

An important caution: Association does not establish causation.

This was an observational study, not a clinical trial. It cannot establish that drinking soda directly causes pancreatic cancer.

The relatively small number of pancreatic cancer cases also limits how confidently we can interpret the results.

Researchers have proposed several possible biological explanations involving blood sugar, insulin, and metabolic health. However, these mechanisms have not established that soda consumption directly causes pancreatic cancer.

So, should we throw every soda machine into the nearest river?

Not necessarily!

But there are good reasons to reduce sugar-sweetened beverages.

Excessive consumption contributes to excess calorie intake, weight gain, and increased risk of metabolic problems, including type 2 diabetes.

As I often tell patients:

Your body was designed to run on water much better than it was designed to run on liquid candy.

That’s a lifestyle lesson worth remembering, even without the pancreatic cancer headlines.

Seven Lessons My Father’s Pancreatic Cancer Taught Me

Looking back, my father’s experience left me with seven important lessons.

1. Listen to your body.

A new symptom, especially in someone who rarely complains, deserves attention. Don’t automatically dismiss persistent or unusual pain as simply part of getting older.

2. Don’t delay medical evaluation.

Back pain is common and usually has ordinary explanations. But when something doesn’t fit the usual pattern, further investigation may be necessary.

3. Know the limitations of early detection.

Pancreatic cancer is difficult to diagnose early, and routine screening is not recommended for everyone. People with significant family or inherited risk may need specialized evaluation.

4. Understand your risk factors.

Smoking, obesity, chronic pancreatitis, and certain inherited conditions are among the recognized risk factors. Knowing your family history and discussing concerns with your physician matter.

5. Take complications seriously.

Cancer surgery is not the end of the medical journey. Dad’s postoperative infection and abscess reminded us how important it is to recognize and treat complications promptly.

6. Never underestimate resilience.

Despite major surgery, sepsis, an ICU stay, and a prolonged recovery, Dad demonstrated remarkable courage and determination.

7. Treasure the time you are given.

As physicians, we often measure success in months or years of survival. Families measure it differently.

One more Christmas.

One more birthday.

One more Bible study.

One more conversation.

Where Do We Go From Here? Prevention, Awareness, and Hope

The same question I asked the gastroenterologist 28 years ago remains relevant today:

“Where do we go from here?”

We go toward prevention.

We go toward healthier lifestyles.

We go toward reducing avoidable health risks.

We go toward maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, avoiding tobacco, controlling blood sugar, and choosing foods that nourish our bodies.

We go toward paying attention to our bodies and seeking medical evaluation when something feels wrong.

But we must also recognize the limitations of what lifestyle changes can accomplish.

Healthy habits can reduce certain risk factors, but they cannot guarantee protection against pancreatic cancer. Nor should people blame themselves when cancer develops.

Medical knowledge about pancreatic cancer has advanced since my father’s diagnosis. Surgical techniques, chemotherapy, targeted treatments, and other emerging approaches have expanded treatment possibilities.

Research continues to explore ways to detect the disease earlier and improve survival.

And we go toward hope.

A Father’s Legacy: More Than Three Extra Years

My father’s story reminds me that behind every cancer diagnosis is not simply a disease but a person.

A father.

A mother.

A spouse.

A friend.

A child of God.

As a physician, I understand the limitations of medicine. We cannot always prevent disease, reverse its course, or change the final outcome.

But sometimes we can intervene, provide more time, restore meaningful activities, and give families opportunities to create memories they would otherwise have missed.

My father was blessed with three more years after his pancreatic cancer surgery.

For our family, those years were not merely additional time on a calendar.

They were gifts.

And for that, I remain profoundly grateful.

Because sometimes the greatest measure of medical success is not how many years we add to life, but how much life we add to those years.

“Sometimes the greatest measure of medical success is not how many years we add to life, but how much life we add to those years.”

For The Good Life | Healthy Aging • Lifestyle Medicine • Health Wisdom • Inspiring Stories

Medical note: This article shares a personal family experience and general health information. It is not a substitute for individual medical advice. Persistent or unexplained symptoms should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare professional.