Stay up to date with all Pancreatic Cancer Action Network news.
In Conversation: Interview With Christina DePippo, PurpleStride Chair, Los Angeles Affiliate
Los Angeles PurpleStride Chair Christina DePippo spoke with Community Engagement Coordinator Paula Mukherjee about her motivation for volunteering with PanCAN and goals for PanCAN PurpleStride 2023. This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
Paula: What initially brought you to PanCAN?
Christina: My mom was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in January of 2021. We abruptly found this out when she started to become jaundiced. We were sitting outside one day, and I said, “Mom, you look a little yellow. I don't think that's normal.” I thought I was imagining it, so I turned to my sister and asked, “Does she look yellow?” and my sister agreed. We said that she should probably go to the doctor and didn't think much of it at all.
A couple days later, my mom went in for scans. We found out she had a tumor on her pancreas. I immediately jumped into action. My dad and I started investigating and my mom began chemo. She went through a couple of rounds. In June of 2021, she had an aborted Whipple procedure. She went in for surgery for about three or four hours. The surgeon came out and said that it's too dangerous, the tumor's unresectable, and there's nothing we can do. I was just shocked because we were all banking on the Whipple procedure saving her life. It was a very low point.
I researched as much as I could, and I found PanCAN. I had my dad schedule an appointment with PanCAN Patient Services to talk about the options for my mom: should we seek a second opinion or try some clinical trials? What route should we go down from here? The case manager explained everything to them, and they sent very helpful resources that I still have today.
We then met with my mom's oncologist. He told us that my mom had a one-in-a-million shot of living. The tumor wasn't getting removed. We opted to go forward with more chemo. In July of 2021, through one of our other doctors and PanCAN, we had a meeting with Dr. Nick Nissin, who's my personal hero. He looked at my mom's scans and said, “I can operate. I can remove this tumor.” We looked at him and said, “But the other doctor said it can't be done.” He responded, “It can be done. It's a very complicated surgery. It's very close to the portal vein, but I can operate.” He was confident and all of a sudden it became, “Okay, we can do this.” He wanted her to do eight more rounds of chemo to get to the full amount. She did seven rounds, because she kept getting really sick, and five days of radiation therapy. They operated successfully in January of 2022. Dr. Nissin, after many, many hours, was able to remove her tumor successfully. She endured one more round of chemotherapy after that.
We walked in PanCAN PurpleStride for the first time last year. We had 40 or 50 people on our team, “Positive Vibes Only.” That is the motto that we go by; we're all about a positive mentality. Live life day by day. Take everything one step at a time. That's what got us through the last couple of years.
I decided that I want to use my platform to make a difference. I work for AEG at Crypto.com Arena, and we were able to partner with the Los Angeles Kings to have a Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Night on December 1st, where a portion of the ticket sales go back to PanCAN. We're hosting a Survivor Suite for 24 survivors and their guests. They're going to have a spotlight on them and they'll get gift bags – we’ll make it a really special and memorable time. PanCAN will have a table on the main concourse so people walking by can grab information, wristbands, and learn about the organization. We've raised over $16,500 in donations.
I don't think people know enough about pancreatic cancer in general. People think “You had surgery, you're good.” But every three months when my mom goes in for scans, my life stops again. I'm a big advocate for the organization, as are my mom, dad, and sisters. I'm excited to be PurpleStride Chair this year. It's going to be really fun. Any way I can create awareness and raise money – which I know is the biggest thing we need right now – I’m going to do that. That's the story in a nutshell.
Paula: Thank you for sharing; I’m so happy for your mom and your family! That is really phenomenal, and you touched on a lot of the reasons that make PanCAN special.
Christina: The beautiful pamphlets that I received from Patient Services - they weren’t pieces of paper thrown into an envelope. It was methodically thought out. I’m not a doctor and I don't know medicine. It was easy for me to understand and it simplified things for me about the disease and what the next steps would be. I was always very impressed from the start with the thoroughness and how the organization carries itself. I'm excited to be part of it.
Paula: What about the PurpleStride Chair role in particular spoke to you?
Christina: PurpleStride Chair spoke to me because I'm in the events business. I put on many events through our arenas, and I love planning, executing, and raising money and awareness. I felt like this could be the best platform for me to do all those things, engage some of my clients, and engage my friends and family.
I also was so impressed with the walk last year. My mom felt like a star walking into the survivor tent and wearing her survivor T-shirt and hat. It was really, really special. I want to do it again and I want to grow it. I want more people to come to PurpleStride; I want everyone to experience it. That made the decision pretty easy.
Paula: One thing I've heard from other PurpleStride Chairs – and I’ve had this experience too – is that it's an event where you're going to laugh and you're going to cry.
Christina: Right? Oh my goodness, yes. I cried my eyes out at the end. It's so emotional and to think about the journey…the journey's very difficult and it’s a lot. To be there with other people who have also experienced these things– it's really powerful.
Paula: What are the goals you have for your first year in this role?
Christina: My first goal is to raise as much awareness as possible. I want people to understand more about pancreatic cancer. My second goal is to raise money and get as many people involved with fundraising as we possibly can, so we can provide funds for research that are so desperately needed. That's a very big goal of mine and I've engaged a lot of my clients through the Survivor Suite concept. People are donating $1,000, $2,000, or $5,000 at a time, and it goes a really long way. What is nothing for someone that has a lot of money is a lot for pancreatic cancer research.
My third goal: I want to do this for my mom, and I want her to feel the passion and the love. She experienced this horrific disease, but she's not alone in this fight. I'm right beside her and going to continue to fight for research and fight for money and fight for saving people's lives so they don't have to go through what we went through. My fourth goal is to create positive vibes and bring positivity to people that are affected by this disease. They're not alone and there are other people that are also going through this.
Paula: What advice would you give to someone who also has a family member or loved one who has received a pancreatic cancer diagnosis?
Christina: Have a good therapist. I'm just kidding…although that is important. Take it day by day. We took my mom’s journey one step at a time, rather than saying, “Well, what if this happens?” and going down that rabbit hole. It’s so important to know that this diagnosis doesn't mean your life is over. You don't know what tomorrow brings. It's imperative that we live in the moment. Enjoy that moment. Don’t make up assumptions or diagnose in your mind.
Paula: You mentioned that you're in event planning. Could you tell me a bit more about that?
Christina: I'm the Senior Director of Premium Events for Crypto.com Arena, Microsoft Theater, and L.A. Live. I oversee our event suite sales, VIP tickets, award show tickets, and group tickets. For instance, we had the American Music Awards last month. The Grammys is one of my big projects and I'm working very closely with the Recording Academy. We work through the execution from when clients enter the building to when they get to their suites to make sure it's perfect and that they get top-notch service. I'm involved in a lot of events on a day-to-day basis and get to be part of a lot of cool things which help inspire new ideas for PurpleStride: what could I utilize from here that I could bring there?
Paula: That really drives home how lucky we are to have you! Those are some of the most high-profile events in the country.
Christina: They keep me busy, that's for sure!
Paula: A lot of our volunteers have busy lives like you. Do you have suggestions for how to stay organized and on top of your schedule?
Christina: I make a lot of to-do lists on my phone. My Notes App on my phone is my best friend and I check things off as I go. Whenever I have a thought, I add the note, because that's what I look at every day. I'm very type A, so my to-do lists are very important. I keep everything on my calendar. I hold myself accountable; I committed to doing this and I want to give it my all.
Paula: Outside of PanCAN, what keeps you busy?
Christina: Being present with friends and family and anything outside. I just did my first triathlon. I love cycling, I like to run; I do a lot of active things. Hanging out with my mom and dad. My niece and nephew are my world. My friends have been my rocks since day one and I'm so appreciative. I don't know that I could ever repay them for the kindness they've shown me through such dark, dark times. I’ve really learned through this disease that you should not take anything for granted. Don't take your time with your parents for granted. Don't take your time with anyone for granted.
Paula: Thank you, Christina!
Please feel free to contact Christina DePippo (cdepippo@cryptoarena.com) or Paula Mukherjee (pmukherjee@pancan.org) with any questions.
Paula: What initially brought you to PanCAN?
Christina: My mom was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in January of 2021. We abruptly found this out when she started to become jaundiced. We were sitting outside one day, and I said, “Mom, you look a little yellow. I don't think that's normal.” I thought I was imagining it, so I turned to my sister and asked, “Does she look yellow?” and my sister agreed. We said that she should probably go to the doctor and didn't think much of it at all.
A couple days later, my mom went in for scans. We found out she had a tumor on her pancreas. I immediately jumped into action. My dad and I started investigating and my mom began chemo. She went through a couple of rounds. In June of 2021, she had an aborted Whipple procedure. She went in for surgery for about three or four hours. The surgeon came out and said that it's too dangerous, the tumor's unresectable, and there's nothing we can do. I was just shocked because we were all banking on the Whipple procedure saving her life. It was a very low point.
I researched as much as I could, and I found PanCAN. I had my dad schedule an appointment with PanCAN Patient Services to talk about the options for my mom: should we seek a second opinion or try some clinical trials? What route should we go down from here? The case manager explained everything to them, and they sent very helpful resources that I still have today.
We then met with my mom's oncologist. He told us that my mom had a one-in-a-million shot of living. The tumor wasn't getting removed. We opted to go forward with more chemo. In July of 2021, through one of our other doctors and PanCAN, we had a meeting with Dr. Nick Nissin, who's my personal hero. He looked at my mom's scans and said, “I can operate. I can remove this tumor.” We looked at him and said, “But the other doctor said it can't be done.” He responded, “It can be done. It's a very complicated surgery. It's very close to the portal vein, but I can operate.” He was confident and all of a sudden it became, “Okay, we can do this.” He wanted her to do eight more rounds of chemo to get to the full amount. She did seven rounds, because she kept getting really sick, and five days of radiation therapy. They operated successfully in January of 2022. Dr. Nissin, after many, many hours, was able to remove her tumor successfully. She endured one more round of chemotherapy after that.
We walked in PanCAN PurpleStride for the first time last year. We had 40 or 50 people on our team, “Positive Vibes Only.” That is the motto that we go by; we're all about a positive mentality. Live life day by day. Take everything one step at a time. That's what got us through the last couple of years.
I decided that I want to use my platform to make a difference. I work for AEG at Crypto.com Arena, and we were able to partner with the Los Angeles Kings to have a Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Night on December 1st, where a portion of the ticket sales go back to PanCAN. We're hosting a Survivor Suite for 24 survivors and their guests. They're going to have a spotlight on them and they'll get gift bags – we’ll make it a really special and memorable time. PanCAN will have a table on the main concourse so people walking by can grab information, wristbands, and learn about the organization. We've raised over $16,500 in donations.
I don't think people know enough about pancreatic cancer in general. People think “You had surgery, you're good.” But every three months when my mom goes in for scans, my life stops again. I'm a big advocate for the organization, as are my mom, dad, and sisters. I'm excited to be PurpleStride Chair this year. It's going to be really fun. Any way I can create awareness and raise money – which I know is the biggest thing we need right now – I’m going to do that. That's the story in a nutshell.
Paula: Thank you for sharing; I’m so happy for your mom and your family! That is really phenomenal, and you touched on a lot of the reasons that make PanCAN special.
Christina: The beautiful pamphlets that I received from Patient Services - they weren’t pieces of paper thrown into an envelope. It was methodically thought out. I’m not a doctor and I don't know medicine. It was easy for me to understand and it simplified things for me about the disease and what the next steps would be. I was always very impressed from the start with the thoroughness and how the organization carries itself. I'm excited to be part of it.
Paula: What about the PurpleStride Chair role in particular spoke to you?
Christina: PurpleStride Chair spoke to me because I'm in the events business. I put on many events through our arenas, and I love planning, executing, and raising money and awareness. I felt like this could be the best platform for me to do all those things, engage some of my clients, and engage my friends and family.
I also was so impressed with the walk last year. My mom felt like a star walking into the survivor tent and wearing her survivor T-shirt and hat. It was really, really special. I want to do it again and I want to grow it. I want more people to come to PurpleStride; I want everyone to experience it. That made the decision pretty easy.
Paula: One thing I've heard from other PurpleStride Chairs – and I’ve had this experience too – is that it's an event where you're going to laugh and you're going to cry.
Christina: Right? Oh my goodness, yes. I cried my eyes out at the end. It's so emotional and to think about the journey…the journey's very difficult and it’s a lot. To be there with other people who have also experienced these things– it's really powerful.
Paula: What are the goals you have for your first year in this role?
Christina: My first goal is to raise as much awareness as possible. I want people to understand more about pancreatic cancer. My second goal is to raise money and get as many people involved with fundraising as we possibly can, so we can provide funds for research that are so desperately needed. That's a very big goal of mine and I've engaged a lot of my clients through the Survivor Suite concept. People are donating $1,000, $2,000, or $5,000 at a time, and it goes a really long way. What is nothing for someone that has a lot of money is a lot for pancreatic cancer research.
My third goal: I want to do this for my mom, and I want her to feel the passion and the love. She experienced this horrific disease, but she's not alone in this fight. I'm right beside her and going to continue to fight for research and fight for money and fight for saving people's lives so they don't have to go through what we went through. My fourth goal is to create positive vibes and bring positivity to people that are affected by this disease. They're not alone and there are other people that are also going through this.
Paula: What advice would you give to someone who also has a family member or loved one who has received a pancreatic cancer diagnosis?
Christina: Have a good therapist. I'm just kidding…although that is important. Take it day by day. We took my mom’s journey one step at a time, rather than saying, “Well, what if this happens?” and going down that rabbit hole. It’s so important to know that this diagnosis doesn't mean your life is over. You don't know what tomorrow brings. It's imperative that we live in the moment. Enjoy that moment. Don’t make up assumptions or diagnose in your mind.
Paula: You mentioned that you're in event planning. Could you tell me a bit more about that?
Christina: I'm the Senior Director of Premium Events for Crypto.com Arena, Microsoft Theater, and L.A. Live. I oversee our event suite sales, VIP tickets, award show tickets, and group tickets. For instance, we had the American Music Awards last month. The Grammys is one of my big projects and I'm working very closely with the Recording Academy. We work through the execution from when clients enter the building to when they get to their suites to make sure it's perfect and that they get top-notch service. I'm involved in a lot of events on a day-to-day basis and get to be part of a lot of cool things which help inspire new ideas for PurpleStride: what could I utilize from here that I could bring there?
Paula: That really drives home how lucky we are to have you! Those are some of the most high-profile events in the country.
Christina: They keep me busy, that's for sure!
Paula: A lot of our volunteers have busy lives like you. Do you have suggestions for how to stay organized and on top of your schedule?
Christina: I make a lot of to-do lists on my phone. My Notes App on my phone is my best friend and I check things off as I go. Whenever I have a thought, I add the note, because that's what I look at every day. I'm very type A, so my to-do lists are very important. I keep everything on my calendar. I hold myself accountable; I committed to doing this and I want to give it my all.
Paula: Outside of PanCAN, what keeps you busy?
Christina: Being present with friends and family and anything outside. I just did my first triathlon. I love cycling, I like to run; I do a lot of active things. Hanging out with my mom and dad. My niece and nephew are my world. My friends have been my rocks since day one and I'm so appreciative. I don't know that I could ever repay them for the kindness they've shown me through such dark, dark times. I’ve really learned through this disease that you should not take anything for granted. Don't take your time with your parents for granted. Don't take your time with anyone for granted.
Paula: Thank you, Christina!
Please feel free to contact Christina DePippo (cdepippo@cryptoarena.com) or Paula Mukherjee (pmukherjee@pancan.org) with any questions.
