Foreword from the Lustgarten Foundation
I initially met Joel, a five-year pancreatic cancer survivor, at the Lustgarten Foundation’s annual Long Island Pancreatic Cancer Research Walk.
As the world’s largest private funder of pancreatic cancer research, the Lustgarten Foundation is committed to finding a cure for this disease, and Lustgarten-sponsored events like the walk bring together patients, survivors, loved ones, and others impacted by pancreatic cancer for an inspiring day of hope.
Each year, patients, survivors, and their loved ones gather at our survivor tent, where they have an opportunity to share their experiences with each other, browse through the latest material on our research, and participate in our ribbon-cutting ceremony. Joel has been an enthusiastic, committed supporter of our walk since 2016, when he and his family started “Team Joel” to raise funds for the Foundation’s research program.
In 2015, early detection likely saved Joel’s life. Prior to his pancreatic cancer diagnosis, Joel was enjoying a rewarding career as a professor at Hofstra University’s Zarb School of Business and spending time with his family—his wife Linda, daughters Jennifer and Stacey, and sons-in-law Phil and Adam. During a routine office visit with his endocrinologist for his diabetes, his bloodwork showed a high score on a bilirubin test as well as other blood tests, indicating the possibility he was suffering from a serious illness.
His diagnosis of early stage pancreatic cancer was confirmed by undergoing additional testing. After processing the initial shock, he was determined to do whatever was necessary to get through treatment. As his cancer was diagnosed early—which is often not the case with this disease— he was able to undergo a Whipple procedure, a surgery offering the best chance for long-term survival. That was followed by chemotherapy. Now, Joel is grateful to be a survivor and believes it is his responsibility to give back by sharing his story and providing advice, based on his personal experience, to others dealing with pancreatic cancer.
Joel’s experience exemplifies why early detection is so important and why the Lustgarten Foundation is currently supporting many early detection initiatives, including an early detection blood test; a study focusing on pancreatic cancer prevention in families; a test to determine if pancreatic cysts, which can be common within the general population, can develop into pancreatic cancer or remain as benign cysts; and research using artificial intelligence to discover pancreatic cancer earlier, when it may be missed by a diagnostician, so diagnosis and subsequent treatment can be initiated sooner.
Joel gives readers an open, honest perspective on the challenges he faced following his new life after surgery, both mentally and physically, and a glimpse into what his life is like now as a survivor. And in the most heartwarming passage, Joel describes the thrill of that surreal moment when he walked his daughter Stacey down the aisle on her wedding day and then danced with her—he didn’t know if he would even be alive to experience this once-in-a-lifetime milestone.
On behalf of the Lustgarten Foundation, we thank Joel for sharing his pancreatic cancer journey and for inspiring the pancreatic cancer community. For more information about the Lustgarten Foundation, visit www.lustgarten.org.
Kerri Kaplan,
President, Lustgarten Foundation