LIVING HOPE: Living w/ Pancreatic Cancer

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 Compr...

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...

Jenny Isaacson was attending a conference when she heard Julie Fleshman, President and CEO of The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, speak about her vision of progress to double the survival rate for pancreatic cancer by the year 2020.  Jenny was so impressed by Julie and her vision that she also wanted to be part of that vision. Jenny picked up the phone called Julie, that was ten years ago.  Thou...

A daughter creates a notebook for Caregivers to help keep track of medical information for the family members and patient seeking treatment. The Founder of Hirshberg was impressed and Sarah has been a member of the Hirshberg team for ten years. This year is LA Cancer Challenges 24th annual event and the event always takes place on last weekend of October. The event is fun and festive with costumes...

November is important for those affected by pancreatic cancer in that it gives us a designated month to go the extra mile to bring awareness to the world's toughest cancer. World Pancreatic Cancer Day, is celebrated on the third Thursday of November.  This year it falls on November 18 #WPCD a day to nationally recognize pancreatic cancer, bring awareness by wearing purple, decorate home/office tak...

JB's childhood friend, Tyler Neosen was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer when he was only 25 years old.  Tyler invited JB to attend his first PanCAN Advocacy Day in 2010, leading JB to continue to fight in Tyler's memory and becoming a volunteer with the Orange County Affiliate.  JB has only been Affiliate Chair for 3 months and with the core leadership group has devoted many hours planning the go...

Vic Luna, OC PanCAN PurpleStride Chair shares why he became  involved and why you should join us for PanCAN PurpleStride Orange County 2022!  Do you know how the funds raised by PanCAN PurpleStride fight the worlds toughest cancer? Are you interested in volunteering or becoming a sponsor?  Find these answers and more here on Living Hope; Your Journey with Pancreatic Cancer livestreaming on www.oct...

Chemotherapy is a difficult treatment to go through.  As difficult as it was Dawnie found a way to not only help her get through it, but it helped her support group as well.  Dawnie is also very open about her experience with chemo side effects, neuropathy and having to learn her body again and neuropathy.  Only on www.octalkradio.net Orange County's only Community Radio Station, livestreams from...