Living Hope

A quote from Hamlet is how Kitty felt when getting her diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.  Kitty was going through a difficult time dealing with her father's illness, a friend in the hospital, so much going on at one time.  It felt like the whole army was marching down on her.  How does someone diagnosed with pancreatic cancer feel like they are the luckist person in the world?  Kitty is very open in...

Eleven people out of one hundred will be alive five years after their pancreatic cancer diagnosis. The five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer patients has increased recently from a single digit number to 11%. Tori Larrick, Patient Services Manager ll with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network recently shared with us why early detection and better treatment options are some of the reasons why...

Ken Parme, a husband, father, grandfather a man with many talents when asked how he wants to be remembered he replied very simply "as a kind man." Ken is a very kind, friendly, talented man who I've had the pleasure of knowing for a number of years.  It wasn't until he shared his journey with us that I realized how much we had in common in regards to our diagnosis.  In December 2012 Ken was diagno...

Paul and I sat down and had a chat about the ways in which COVID has complicated people's battle with pancreatic cancer.  The affects it had on the patient and their families. Being back in person at PurpleStride, how having a positive outlook can get you through the difficult times.  What we hope for the future of Living Hope and more! #PurpleStrideOC #PurpleStride #PancreaticCancer #COVID  

Laurie Paolone went to lunch with friends.  Later when she wasn't feeling well she thought she had food poisoning.  When the symptoms became worse she went to the Dr and was treated for an ulcer. It wasn't until someone noticed she was jaundice (yellowing of skin/eyes) that she was told to go to the ER immediately and learned she had pancreatic cancer.   The first thing Laurie thought of was "oh m...

This episode of Living Hope is a continuation of a pervious conversation about being a Caregiver with Stephanie Ruvalcaba Ho. What is a Caregiver? If you provide help to another person in need, you are a caregiver. Caregivers can be professional - hired through an agency or a family member stepping up.  Caregivers come in all different types - the one who takes care of all the medical needs, runs...

I can't believe a year has come and gone! Who knew, for me the first episode I would go from "Executive Producer," to actually becoming the host.  Looking back through our first year, so many amazing journeys, each one left me with wanting to learn more.  We shared so many emotions, laughter and tears but each one filled with love. Many of the journey's may not have had the outcome we hoped for bu...

What is the pancreas, where is it and what does it do? Can you live without your pancreas? What do you do after getting a pancreatic cancer diagnoses? Hear the answers to these questions and others, only on OC Talk Radio, Orange County's only community radio station live streamed from UCI Beall Applied Innovation Center at the Cove.

A family friend gave 14 year old Tori a purple journey to help her cope with her feelings after learning her father had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.  Ironically at that time neither realized purple is the awareness color for pancreatic cancer.  Tori felt her journal offered her a safe place to write about her journey and also used this journal not only to write about her feelings but to...

PS We're Back!  PanCAN Orange County Affiliate JB Jaso, joins us and we talk about PurpleStride Orange County!  Last time we had an in person PurpleStride was in 2019.  We're so excited to be back!  We talk about the route, the new way to do the Path of Heroes and how you can get involved! This episode of Living Hope is dedicated to all those who helped put Orange County PurpleStride together:  JB...

In this episode of Living Hope we continue our conversation we started on March 24.  What to do when a loved one dies?  This is a subject no one wants to talk about but at some point it's information that can be helpful.  If we can all set down and talk about what we want when we die it would be so helpful for those left behind.  What is a  Advanced Health Care Directive? Is one needed?  Who needs...

At the time of this episode, Courtney Sparkuhl was a licensed clinical social worker at UC Irvine Health. Courtney has sense left UC Irvine Health to start her own private practice, "Counseling for Cancer and Chronic Illness" Is death the last taboo topic in America? It's a difficult conversation but one we all should have.  This topic is not meant to take away hope or pose a negativity but to pro...

Stephannie helped take care of her grandmother, she wasn't her Caregiver in the traditional sense.  When asked to describe her grandmother Stephannie lovingly replied "tomboy and lace." Stephannie visited her grandmother everyday after she got home from work.  While others took care of her physical needs, Stephannie, which is just as important, took care of her emotional needs. Whether it was read...

Lisa had excruciating back pain but related it to the fact she was a runner.  She went to the Dr and because she was also having digestive issues and just didn't feel "right." It was decided she would also get an appointment with a GI Dr.  Xray on her back didn't show anything so she tried pain management while trying to make an appointment with her gastrologist.  Due to COVID she wasn't able to g...

Monica loses both her parents to pancreatic cancer, first her mother and later her father.  Her mother wasn't given many options - either chemo or let nature take its course.  With the low survival rate the decision made was to let nature take its course.  Monica being a researcher googled pancreatic cancer and found a chat group.  After reading a few stories posted by family members, Monica felt...

Tori Larrick, Patient Service Manager with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network guides us through clinical trials, what to expect and why clinical trial participation is safe.  Tori encourages anyone considering clinical trials to feel comfortable with reaching out to Patient Services and asking questions.  The first step is to feel free to contact PanCAN Patient Services.  They're happy to talk t...

Karen Mooney, a Board-Certified Registered Nurse with more than 12 years of inpatient oncology experience at an acute care hospital, joins us again to share information about barriers in clinical trials here on OC Talk Radio Orange County’s only community radio station streaming live from UCI Beall Applied Innovation at the Cove

Tori Larrick, is a Manager ll, Patient Services with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.  Tori has been with PanCAN for five years and was drawn to the organization due to the loss of her father to pancreatic cancer.  Tori supervises a team of Case Managers in the Patient Services department which provides information and resources to patients and families affected by pancreatic cancer.  Tori ov...

Colleen LaSalle shares her journey with her husband, John, diagnosed with stage lV pancreatic cancer.  John was put in a clinical trial and told with chemo he would have 3 years and without chemo one year, sadly John was gone in four months.  Colleen was John's Caregiver, it was difficult, she went from being his wife to being more like a parent.  She shares how she had to keep things as normal as...

Looking back this has been an amazing year for Living Hope and for myself.  Coming out of my comfort zone going from Podcast Producer to Podcast Producer and Podcast Host!  Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I'd be here doing this.  This year we have shared my personal journey as well as the journeys of so many.  2021 has been anything but normal but hopefully the journeys shared have giv...

The holidays for most are usually a time of joy, family gatherings and making lasting memories. This "wonderful time of the year," can also be very stressful for pancreatic cancer patients and their Caregivers. We had the opportunity to talk with Courtney Sparkuhl , about dealing with stress during the holidays. Courtney, is a licensed clinical social worker at UC Irvine Health working in the Comp...

Nikki was an oncology nurse practitioner for 15 years in the Chicago area.  Nikki relocated to Nevada and began volunteering with the Nevada Affiliate. Nikki’s journey with pancreatic cancer started when her brother-in-law was diagnosed in February 2014 and died in November that year. She made a promise to him that she would continue the fight and work on bettering the outcome for patients and for...

US Army Ranger Veteran and pancreatic cancer survivor Chris Calaprice traveled 43,000 miles - on a Victory motorcycle to bring awareness.  He formed "Road to a Cure," and traveled one mile for every person diagnosed with pancreatic cancer that year.  Chris shares he "got a little crazy," in 2010, was angry and frustrated and wanted, needed to do something. Chris was on the road for 9 months, bring...

Sunday, October 31, 2021 marked the 24th annual "L.A. Cancer Challenge." Due to the pandemic, last years event was virtual but this year the Hirshberg Foundation was excited to be back in person and on UCLA's Campus at Wilson Plaza. The 5K walk/run is always held on Halloween weekend, a fun festive event that leads up to November - Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month. Dr Zhaoping Li, served as Honor...

What are the odds of going on your first date, talking, enjoying each others company.  You feel this amazing connection and in getting to know each other you ask the question "how did your spouse die?" Imagine the dismay they must have felt to realize they both lost their spouse to pancreatic cancer. Lee and Dwaine are open and honest about their relationship, their relationship with their perviou...