Thinking outside the box – UPDATE
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Thinking outside the box – UPDATE

ByJudi Zitiello

The past few weeks have been an emotional roller coaster ride for my family, friends and me. Confirming that the malignant adenocarcinoma had returned to the head of my reconstructed pancreas and having my oncologist tell us without treatment we have just months would send any human being to a deep dark place. Having survived…

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November is Pancreatic Cancer Month…Podcast

ByJudi Zitiello

In 2019 Leslie Bishop, Field Development – Boston Scientific< Inc. produced a podcast to be used during windshield time by employees designed to give a patients perspective on a pancreas cancer diagnosis and treatment. Here is the first of two podcasts: https://www.dropbox.com/s/z8jz7udua8wsxbq/Living while Dying_ Judy’s Story.mp3?dl=0 In 2020, Leslie revisited me to provide an update…

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Christmas – Chemo vacation

ByJudi Zitiello

The metallic taste and the nausea would begin the moment I thought about my upcoming chemo infusion appointment. Don’t get me wrong, Mayo does everything to make the experience relaxing and comfortable with their individual chemo suites complete with a sofa and table for a guest or two and a large smart TV complete with…

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Is it working?

ByJudi Zitiello

I rejoined Tom and we sat looking at the people in the crowded room from the sickest to the healthiest. Some in wheelchairs, some coughing with tubes and oxygen tanks. Some speaking foreign languages….some looking perfectly healthy. But, you wonder…why are they here and knowing they were wondering the same thing about us.

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Another miracle?

ByJudi Zitiello

The next thought after your doctor shares with you the terrifying news that you have a mass or a tumor your mind goes on defense mode. Or at least that is what happened for me. A defense mechanism seemed to take over. “Surely it is not cancer”. “Can I die?” Maybe you were like me…

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I got a “Save the Date”

ByJudi Zitiello

Yesterday I had a CT scan as a follow up after my last appointment confirming the beast had returned…I now have pancreas cancer mets to my lungs 100% confirmed. My radiology oncologist entered the room with a piece of paper, my scan report from the radiologist. On the paper he had numbered 8 entries. Each…