Barbara Bendlin Pancreatic Cancer Survivor Story

I am really happy to be here at the Seena Magowitz Foundation’s “Power of Us” set of Separate Events in Milwaukee especially “Dinner on The Diamond”, at the American Family Field, home of the Milwaukee Brewers.
I'm a five-year cancer survivor. Every morning when I wake up, I say to myself, "I'm alive," and I'm so thankful..
I'm from Milton, Wisconsin, a small community in South Central Wisconsin. I received my pancreatic cancer diagnosis and initially had all of my chemo treatment there. I was assigned to a surgeon from that medical unit. The first time I met with the surgeon, I came away not very hopeful. I remember taking several clonazepam when I got home because he told me that my tumor was "marginally resectable." Those words are words no pancreatic patient would ever want to hear.
I went back to my oncologist and told him, "I'm not comfortable with this. Can I get a second opinion?" There was a problem with insurance; if I went somewhere else, it probably wouldn't be covered. But I decided to get second opinions anyway. My doctor referred me to “Dr. Douglas B. Evans here at Froedtert/MCW.” He was so incredible. When I met him, he looked at my scans, and after what felt like an eternity, he looked at me and said, "This will be one of the easier surgeries I do." He patted me on the shoulder and said, "You're going to be just fine." Can you imagine? "I'm gonna be just fine." It gave me hope and confidence, and inspired the increased stamina I would need for surgery.
After deciding to go to Froedtert, and knowing that my insurance company wouldn't cover it, we fortunately were able to switch insurance companies in the middle of my treatment. Ahead of my Whipple surgery, Dr. Evans and his team advised that I should prepare as if I was preparing for a marathon. Our two daughters, who live in Oregon and Hawaii, came to live with us to support me through my journey. They were instrumental in helping me stay active. My husband and two daughters would take me out snowshoeing in the winter, walk when it wasn't icy. One of my daughters even took Zumba classes with me. They ensured I was getting healthy and strong enough for the surgery.
It must have worked because my surgery went really well. I was astounded by the care I received at Froedtert Hospital, not only from Dr. Evans but from his entire team. They were incredible. I never really believed in angels until I got sick, and then I realized that all the people attending to me were angels.
Surgery was about four and a half years ago. Now, I have follow-up visits every six months. I am very healthy and back to doing everything I used to do. In fact, last September, I took a three-week solo trip to Germany. My husband wasn't interested in coming, so I went alone. For ten of those days, I did a hike with a friend in the Bavarian Alps. I called it my "Cancer Victory Tour."
My hope for patients battling pancreatic cancer is having a great care team like I found. And hopefully someday, you also will have a chance to have a "Cancer Victory Tour."
HELP SAVE LIVES. SUBSCRIBE TO OUR RUclips CHANNEL
/ @seenamagowitzfoundation
SEENA MAGOWITZ FOUNDATION WEBSITE
seenamagowitzf...
DR. DOUGLAS B. EVANS
www.mcw.edu/de...
www.froedtert....
PANCREATIC CANCER SUPPORT GROUP SOS
seenamagowitzf...

[@achtinon]

Prayers for good health continue.