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Message from the Volunteer Advisory Council
PanCAN VAC member Tripp Razor shares his mother’s journey with pancreatic cancer. Black Americans are more likely to be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer than any other racial or ethnic group. Although Black Family Cancer Awareness Week is no longer an official national campaign, PanCAN believes it is critical to continue spotlighting the disparities affecting the Black community in the fight against pancreatic cancer.
On May 31, 2015, my mom gained purple wings when she passed after an almost two-year battle with pancreatic cancer.
She had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, a risk factor for pancreatic cancer, two years earlier. She had also begun experiencing a loss of appetite, a symptom of the disease.
On December 22, 2013, I got a phone call from one of the ladies that my mom knew from church. She told me that my mom had to be taken to the hospital. I arrived at the hospital on Christmas Eve, and we spent Christmas there. It was not the ideal place to spend the holiday, but at least we were together.
A couple of weeks later, surgery was scheduled but then cancelled as the surgeons thought that chemotherapy would be best. She received chemotherapy and changed her eating and exercise habits. This helped until she got blood clots in April 2015 and passed in May.
My mom taught me to be an ally to others. After she passed away, I wanted to find an organization where I could share the knowledge about pancreatic cancer that we didn’t have before her diagnosis.
I found PanCAN and I’m proud to be the Raleigh-Durham PurpleStride Chair and a member of the VAC. I can’t give my mom a hug anymore, but if I can help someone else keep their loved ones here just a little while longer to give them hugs, that’s what I’m here for.
When my mom died, the five-year survival rate of pancreatic cancer was 5%. It is now 13% overall, but 11% for Black Americans. Barriers to quality healthcare, the higher rate of diabetes, obesity and smoking may play a role in this disparity.
As a former athlete and coach, I know that training is necessary to prevent injuries. Perhaps we can think about knowing the risk factors for pancreatic cancer and taking action to lower your risk in the same way.
That would include seeing your primary care provider regularly, maintaining wellness, understanding your family history, and more. You can always consult PanCAN Patient Services for more information on how to reduce your risk and be your own best advocate.
Learn more about the disparity the Black community faces and how to take action. Raise awareness in your community with PanCAN outreach resources, including the Reduce Your Risk toolkit for Black churches.
On May 31, 2015, my mom gained purple wings when she passed after an almost two-year battle with pancreatic cancer.
She had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, a risk factor for pancreatic cancer, two years earlier. She had also begun experiencing a loss of appetite, a symptom of the disease.
On December 22, 2013, I got a phone call from one of the ladies that my mom knew from church. She told me that my mom had to be taken to the hospital. I arrived at the hospital on Christmas Eve, and we spent Christmas there. It was not the ideal place to spend the holiday, but at least we were together.
A couple of weeks later, surgery was scheduled but then cancelled as the surgeons thought that chemotherapy would be best. She received chemotherapy and changed her eating and exercise habits. This helped until she got blood clots in April 2015 and passed in May.
My mom taught me to be an ally to others. After she passed away, I wanted to find an organization where I could share the knowledge about pancreatic cancer that we didn’t have before her diagnosis.
I found PanCAN and I’m proud to be the Raleigh-Durham PurpleStride Chair and a member of the VAC. I can’t give my mom a hug anymore, but if I can help someone else keep their loved ones here just a little while longer to give them hugs, that’s what I’m here for.
When my mom died, the five-year survival rate of pancreatic cancer was 5%. It is now 13% overall, but 11% for Black Americans. Barriers to quality healthcare, the higher rate of diabetes, obesity and smoking may play a role in this disparity.
As a former athlete and coach, I know that training is necessary to prevent injuries. Perhaps we can think about knowing the risk factors for pancreatic cancer and taking action to lower your risk in the same way.
That would include seeing your primary care provider regularly, maintaining wellness, understanding your family history, and more. You can always consult PanCAN Patient Services for more information on how to reduce your risk and be your own best advocate.
-Submitted by Tripp Razor
Learn more about the disparity the Black community faces and how to take action. Raise awareness in your community with PanCAN outreach resources, including the Reduce Your Risk toolkit for Black churches.
