Early March 2026 – New Clinical Trial

First a quick story…

Recently, I didn’t buy 5 tubes of toothpaste at Costco because as I stared at the bargain, I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to use all of them.

When I told a friend, their response was simple and kind: “It hurts my heart not knowing how long you’ll be here.”

For me, that was the sweetest thing to hear because they…

• came alongside me
• didn’t tell me that what I was thinking/feeling was wrong by saying, “You can’t think that!”

It was a relief and a comfort that I didn’t have to defend my moment of sadness.

As time goes on, I think part of my faith life is to acknowledge my fears and sadness and to share them with God, not to deny them. These are moments in my life where I grow and learn to place my hope and trust in Him.

MY UPDATE

CT Scan Results

The good news is that it appears my pancreatic tumor has remained stable since December. However, some tumors in other areas, including my liver, have grown. 

Washing Out

I’ve now been off chemotherapy for more than six weeks. This “washout” period allows the chemo to clear from my system, so I’m eligible to start a clinical trial as soon as possible.

Moving Forward Through Change / An Ever-Evolving Situation

Over the last two and half years, I’ve received and managed all three of the standard chemotherapy regimens available for pancreatic cancer. These established treatments have helped thousands of fellow patients, and I’m grateful to have benefited from that standard of care.

When my most recent treatment showed signs of increased tumor activity, my doctor and I decided that I should pursue a clinical trial to see if I could achieve a better outcome. 

I am pursuing clinical trial options both within Northern and Southern California as well as out-of-state.

I’m learning that openings for any particular clinical trial can be very limited with sometimes only two to three patient slots per site, and spots may fill up within hours. I am on waiting lists for a couple of studies while I continue to seek consultations with additional centers. 

Most of the available options are Phase 1 trials, focused primarily on determining safe dosage levels, etc. Entering a Phase 1 trial is a sobering reality check, knowing that there’s less certainty as to whether the treatment will help, harm, or have any effect at all. 

I’ve Been Accepted into a Clinical Trial

As of this posting, I’m enrolled in a clinical trial at Hoag Medical in Newport Beach, CA. It’s a beautiful facility with a friendly staff, and I know several dear friends who have received care there over the years. 

If all goes as planned, I’ll begin the clinical trial on Tuesday, March 3rd. The start of the trial will be very busy during the first week and the rest of the month. During the first week, I’ll be at Hoag every day starting with the infusion on Day 1 and then, daily follow-up visits to monitor how I tolerate the treatment. After that, it will be one infusion every three weeks. 

Some of the potential side effects that have been previously observed include: vision changes, skin rash, and mouth sores. I’ll be monitored closely by the trial team, along with visits to an ophthalmologist every six weeks. I’ve also been given medication to help manage the possible side effects. 

I’m hopeful that this trial will be effective. If not, I’m currently on waiting lists for other studies and continuing to keep an eye out for additional promising options.

Prayer Requests

1. That this clinical trial will be effective against the cancer and that my body will respond well to the treatment.
2. That any side effects will be minimal and manageable. 
3. That another promising option will open quickly should this trial not be successful.
4. That the logistics of traveling regularly from Los Angeles to Newport Beach will go smoothly, and that I’ll have the energy and resources to sustain the commute. 
5. I’ve been invited to serve on a cancer patients/survivors panel at the Hirshberg Foundation Symposium at UCLA next month. I’m honored to have been invited alongside three other survivors. I pray that sharing our stories will encourage and bring hope to others facing pancreatic cancer.

Also, I’m trying to keep this update brief, but I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge some of the incredible people at Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C). I have experienced and appreciated their kind support for me and for others facing this disease. Through SU2C, I learned about a clinical trial at UC Davis that I may participate in the future, and I’m very grateful for the connection. Fighting cancer can be such a lonely journey and having the support of great organizations, like SU2C and others, is invaluable.

Thank you for your continued support and prayers. 

P