"I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to look into patients’ eyes and tell them they have a disease without a known cure—and that it is likely to kill them in a short time," says medical oncologist Dr. Allyson J. Ocean. "This makes me angry, and I channel this anger toward finding the best treatments for pancreatic cancer."

"What many pancreatic cancer patients don’t realize," she adds, "is that there are many more treatment options available to them today than there were even five years ago. Unfortunately, not every patient finds out about that new research, or knows how to leverage it for use within the context of their own care."

That's where Let's Win Pancreatic Cancer, our VB Gives Back partner, comes in. With her patient Anne Glauber, Dr. Ocean co-founded the organization in 2016 to get that vital information to patients everywhere. Let’s Win’s impact has been immeasurable, helping countless others find the resources they need for the pancreatic cancer journey, including how to best manage life during treatment.

The cause couldn't be more urgent: The disease is one of the deadliest in the world with an overall survival rate of just 13%. Most patients are diagnosed with advanced disease, and 75% pass within a year of diagnosis. Still, as Dr. Ocean tells us, pancreatic cancer is not a death sentence, and knowledge is power.

Here, she talks to us about the nonprofit's early days and shares vital information every woman needs to know—from symptoms of pancreatic cancer to the essential questions to ask your own doctor.

What inspired you to enter the field of gastrointestinal oncology?

I’ve always been a problem solver. I remember spending many late hours as a kid, turning the Rubik’s Cube. I could not put it down until I solved it. I feel the same way about certain challenges in medicine.

Ever since I started working in oncology 20 years ago, pancreatic cancer has been my Rubik’s Cube. This is why I decided to study and research gastrointestinal malignancies; I knew I could make a difference in a rare disease that not enough physicians or researchers were willing to tackle.

Tell us about the inspiration behind Let’s Win Pancreatic Cancer...

The organization originated with a single extraordinary patient, Anne Glauber. Anne was an executive in the public relations world and was in the prime of her life when she was diagnosed with stage IV disease in 2014. Like most patients, she was initially told she didn’t have much time and to "get her affairs in order." But Anne and her family began to search for treatments. I remember Anne saying to me, “No, I won’t listen to this. I will seek out more information and more options.”

From Anne’s initial feelings of helplessness and confusion came the concept that would become Let’s Win. She wanted to create a way to empower patients through information that would help them take action to seek out and to find the very best options for their pancreatic cancer.

What’s the most valuable advice you give your patients?

I give my patients the same advice given to me by my family:

• If you are not satisfied with the answer to your question, ask more questions.
• Don’t ignore symptoms or feelings that are not usual for you—go see a doctor ASAP.
• Make sure you are seeing an expert on the medical matter you are seeking help about.
• Ask your doctor about clinical trials that are going on where you are being treated, nearby, and nationally.
• Don’t let anyone rain on your parade!

What are the top questions every woman should ask her doctor about gastrointestinal health? 

Make sure to tell your doctor about the history of any type of cancer in your family, including those that affect your immediate family, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Ask what you can do to improve your overall gastrointestinal health? What foods should you eat? Foods to stay away from? How much alcohol is OK to drink?

Signs and symptoms women should not ignore?

Abdominal pain, back pain, unintended weight loss, worsening indigestion, abnormal bowel habits like change in shape or consistency of stool, oily stools, constipation, diarrhea, blood in the stool, yellowing of the eyes or skin (jaundice).

Stereotypes and misconceptions about pancreatic cancer?

The number one stereotype is that pancreatic cancer is a death sentence. This is not true—more patients are living longer and better, the survival rates are slowly improving, and new treatments are continually being tested. The second biggest myth is that the treatments are horrible and don’t provide any benefit: not true. Treatments for pancreatic cancer have been proven to make people live longer and make people feel better.

What are you most optimistic about right now in the field?

There is so much research—it has grown exponentially in just the time that Let’s Win has existed. Here’s what’s most exciting:

• Blood tests to diagnosis cancer at its earliest stage
• KRAS inhibitors—90% of pancreatic cancer patients have a KRAS mutation and we must find ways to counteract the effect of these mutations
Tumor vaccines
• Expansion of genetic testing for everyone diagnosed with pancreatic cancer
• Specialized immunotherapy
• Oncolytic viruses—viruses that can infect cancer cells and destroy them
• The increased number of scientists and researchers entering the field

From now to the end of December, we will donate a portion of proceeds from every single veronicabeard.com order to Let’s Win Pancreatic Cancer, a pancreatic cancer community changing the way patients and caregivers navigate this disease. Learn more here.