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@colleenyoung Hey, I was just recently diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer Stage 4 in August of this month, 2026. I had been having stabbing back pain under my right shoulder blade for years and all the doctors diagnosed me with muscle pain or some kind of back pain. Little if nothing helped it so I learned to live with it. Dial it forward to last month and I had A-fib so went to the emergency room. Got the normal CT scan for the heart but the exam showed something concerning with the pancreas. So after I got shocked back into rhythm, I had a consult with a GI specialist who prescribed the MRI for abdominal area. There it was, small tumor with metastatic spots on my liver. So now I await treatment which I am hoping will in include the new drug. I am at Mayo in Jacksonville Florida where they are just starting the trial to use the new drug as the first line of treatment. I have had 20 or more surgeries relating to athletics and was never nervous about the outcomes. But this, I am scared, a lot. I just got to the age to retire, see my boys get married and have grandchildren. I don't want to miss that. I pray to God he give me enough time on this earth to see that. All the other surgeries I knew I was going to get better through physical therapy and my persistence to get well. This seems to be out of my control and I honestly don't know what to do, what I can control and contribute. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated! Thanks all and I pray for everyone impacted by this cruel disease to get better and fight strong.

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Replies to "@colleenyoung Hey, I was just recently diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer Stage 4 in August of this..."

@bwelch235 Hi, and welcome to Mayo Connect. I understand how you feel. Getting the diagnosis is scary and can take your breath away. I also can relate to sports surgeries, but you are correct. This is a completely different ball game. Let's just try and take things one step at a time. At this point, what are the next steps in your testing and treatment planning? How are you feeling overall?

@bwelch235, I'm so glad that you connected with @tomrennie here. He too has stage 4 pancreatic cancer with mets to the liver. You are both in good hands at Mayo Clinic - one in Florida, the other in Arizona.

Keep that mindset of persistence and focus on healing. It will serve you well even in the cancer experience as will being fit. And you've got those boys and their future endeavors that you want to be part of.

May I assume that having had surgeries related to althetics that you are in relatively good physical form?

@bwelch235 I am so sorry about your diagnosis. It is shocking to hear those words from the doctor. My husband diagnosed 6 months ago with Stage 4; they stopped counting nodules in the liver when they reached 20. He had just retired, doing long surgeries most days. Worked out every day of his life. Keep the faith! Progress is being made every day, and your strength and fitness will make a huge difference in your ability to fight this and withstand treatment. Finding out specific cancer type and genetic alterations critical to determining course of treatment. Thinking of you and sending you strength.