Living Hope

Nisha Patel, Nurse Practitioner at Hoag Family Cancer Institute, joins Living Hope to discuss pancreatic cancer risk, early detection, and the importance of screening for individuals with a strong family history or inherited genetic mutations. She explains who may qualify for high-risk surveillance, the guidelines used to make screening recommendations, what patients can expect from Hoag&r...

On this episode of Living Hope we welcomed long-term pancreatic cancer survivor Michelle Hackbarth. Diagnosed in 2001, Michelle shared her extraordinary journey of faith, perseverance, and hope.

More than two decades later, she continues to inspire others with her message that hope is powerful, resilience matters, and every day is truly a gift.

Her story is a beautiful reminder that...

After spending more than 40 years developing medicines and leading clinical trials involving Gemzar, Dr. Martin Hynes never imagined he would become a pancreatic cancer patient himself. In this episode of Living Hope: Your Journey with Pancreatic Cancer, Dr. Hynes shares his unexpected diagnosis, the hope he found when his cancer was deemed operable, and the vital support of family and friends throughout hi...

Burt Rosen shares his journey living with stage IV pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) and renal cell carcinoma.

He discusses his treatment experience, the growing role of integrative oncology and evidence-based complementary therapies in supporting quality of life, and how artificial intelligence has helped him better understand his medical records, track symptoms, prepare for appointments, and become a more informed partner ...

Dr. Kessler, a member of City of Hope's multidisciplinary pancreatic cancer team, joins us on Living Hope: Your Journey with Pancreatic Cancer to discuss innovative approaches to pancreatic cancer treatment, including the RenovoCath. We also explore the importance of collaborative, team-based care and the growing reasons for hope for patients and families facing pancreatic cancer.

P...

Pancreatic cancer survivor Thom Mrozek joins us once again on Living Hope: Your Journey with Pancreatic Cancer for an honest and heartfelt conversation about the realities of long-term survivorship.

Together with host Roberta Luna, Thom shares personal experiences, insights, and lessons learned while navigating life beyond diagnosis and treatment. From the physical and emotional cha...

In this episode of Living Hope: Your Journey with Pancreatic Cancer, we continue the conversation with Megan Liles from March 5 with a thoughtful and reassuring look at what patients can expect when considering a clinical trial. From understanding the informed consent process to navigating enrollment timing and trial duration, this discussion emphasizes the importance of taking your time, asking questions, and feeling confident in ...

In this episode of Living Hope, we are joined by Ana Karen Gonzalez from PanCAN Patient Services to discuss the emotional impact of pancreatic cancer on patients, survivors, and caregivers. Together we explore challenges such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, survivor’s guilt, and scanxiety, while highlighting the importance of support, connection, and open conversations. This episode offers understanding, reassurance, and hope f...

Megan Liles, a clinical research professional with over 28 years of experience, joins Living Hope to discuss how clinical trials work and why they are essential to advancing cancer treatments. She shares insights on improving access to research and helping patients and physicians better understand clinical trials as a care option.

This is just the beginning of an important conversation—join us for Part 2: Clinical Trials Expl...

In this episode of Living Hope, we welcome Dr. Lavanya Yohanathan a highly respected Hepatopancreatobiliary surgeon (HPB) who specializes in caring for patients with pancreatic, liver, and biliary cancers. Dr. Yohanathan brings deep expertise in some of the most complex areas of HPB care, including advanced treatment sequencing for challenging cancers, innovative robotic surgical techniques, and emerging approaches such as transpla...

In this episode of Living Hope, we sit down with Dr. Andrew Rakeman, Vice President of Research at the Lustgarten Foundation, who leads the Foundation’s efforts to advance early detection, prevention, and treatment with the goal of making pancreatic cancer a curable disease.

Dr. Rakeman breaks down key developments in the field, including the emerging link between new-onset diabetes and pancreatic cancer, reasons behind long-...

We kick off Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month with Nick Pifani — husband, father, marathon runner, and survivor of Stage III inoperable pancreatic cancer. Nick shares how his symptoms led to a shocking diagnosis, his experience with chemo and radiation, and the emotional moment he learned his tumor had become operable.

He reflects on the strength he found through family, faith, and mindset, the life-changing Whipple surgery p...

Kerri Kaplan, President and CEO of the Lustgarten Foundation, the world’s largest private funder of pancreatic cancer research. Under her leadership, Lustgarten has helped drive major breakthroughs — from the first FDA-approved immunotherapy for pancreatic cancer to advances in early detection and personalized treatment that offer new hope to patients and families.

Kerri also shares how the Foundation began, the meaning...

Shaun Bagai, CEO of RenovoRx, joined us to discuss an innovative approach delivering chemo directly to pancreatic tumors. By targeting the cancer more precisely, this treatment may reduce side effects and improve quality of life. We explored how this approach could transform treatment for those with locally advanced pancreatic cancer, the progress being made in clinical trials, and the hope it brings to patients and families.

#Targ...

In the final episode of our special 3-part Living Hope series with Hoag Family Cancer Institute, we welcome Dr. Sourat Darabi, Director of Precision Oncology at Hoag.

She takes us inside the world of genomics and research, showing how science is uncovering new ways to detect pancreatic cancer earlier and more accurately. From biomarkers and RNA sequencing to advanced technologies that find what current tests may miss, Dr. Darabi sh...

On this episode of Living Hope: Your Journey with Pancreatic Cancer, we welcome Dr. Michael Demeure, Medical Director of Precision Medicine at Hoag Family Cancer Institute.

Dr. Demeure explains how precision medicine—using DNA sequencing to identify genetic drivers of cancer—can help doctors choose more effective treatments with fewer side effects. He discusses the importance of early detection and Hoag’s High-Ris...