Woman Loses Pancreas, Spleen, Gallbladder, and Part of Her Lung but Never Lost Hope
All types of cancer are truly unforgiving diseases, but there are some variations that are marginally worse than others. Typically, when you hear the words "pancreatic cancer," it is not a matter of if it will end your life; it is a matter of when.
At least, that's what single mom Kay Kays thought when she was diagnosed at the young age of 44.
"In 1994, cancer was oblivious to me…only old people got cancer, and I was unconcerned," she tells Parade. "I was divorced, raising a son, employed, hiking, and playing tennis…enjoying the active lifestyle of being 44. After several months of losing weight (thought my diet was working), having high abdominal pain (thought I was stressed or not eating correctly), and being very, very tired (thought I was just being lazy)."
She followed up with her primary care doctor and had several tests done. She claims she didn't hear back from them and took it as "no news is good news." It wasn't until she ended up in the emergency room with extreme lower back pain that she learned she actually had exocrine pancreatic cancer, Stage IV. She describes it as getting hit with a freight train of emotions and new realities.
"Pancreatic cancer brought the good and bad out of family, friends, and medical professionals," Kays recalls. "Some friends approached me and said they couldn't watch me die, and left me alone. My first oncologist suggested I get on an iceberg and push out. I fumbled for answers and hope, both medically and mentally."
However, her faith in God and herself remained steadfast, and she became determined to beat it.
The Long Road Ahead
Despite not finding many (if any) success stories, Kays pressed on to find answers. At the time she was diagnosed, there was no significant research into pancreatic cancers. Surgery, which she qualified for, became her best and only option.
"The Whipple procedure surgery involved for me a re-plumbing of the digestive system and removal of the cancer mass," Kays explains. "I just kept close follow-up with CT scans and bloodwork for the next 5 years. Relentlessly, it again recurred in my remaining pancreas, and I had my pancreas, spleen, and gall bladder removed. Three months after that surgery, my CT scan showed an enlarged lymph node with an upgraded case of exocrine pancreatic cancer, which, after several years of getting second and third opinions, new research, and persistence, became operative. My roller coaster ride continued, and after another 8 years, the cancer showed up in the lung. With the mass location, I elected to have the lower right lung lobe removed…research options were still very naive for pancreatic adenocarcinoma."
Her persistence has absolutely paid off. Today, Kays is 75 years old and, despite being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer four times in 32 years, she is a true testament to perseverance.
"All came with a remission, until it appeared again," she says of each diagnosis. "This last remission has continued now for 18 years. It is kind of surreal to even think about. Talking with others on the same journey, and knowing that pancreatic research is moving forward so patients might not have only a plan A, but a plan B, C, D, etc., is hope… to cope!"
Dr. Erkut Borazanci, M.D., M.S., the Director of Oncology at the Honor Health Research Institute, says the hardest thing about treating pancreatic cancer is its ever-changing nature from patient to patient.
"Every case of pancreatic cancer presents its own unique challenges," he says. "As of this year, the 5-year survival for localized pancreatic cancer is 44%, and the 5-year survival for metastatic pancreatic cancer is 3%. At HonorHealth Research Institute, we examine cases like Kay's and strive to understand as much as possible. That means pursuing blood testing to see what mutations may have been inherited from mom and dad, along with tumor sequencing. These types of tests allow us to tailor the best possible regimen."
Luckily, researchers are making strides in new treatment options every year. Currently, Borazanci is leading the way on a new drug, Daraxonrasib, which is a targeted therapy that has shown the potential to double survival rates compared to chemotherapy alone, with far fewer side effects. This is also the drug that former U.S. Senator Ben Sasse is currently taking for his battle with the aggressive disease. As of today, the drug is not currently available outside of clinical trials, but it is an option patients can inquire about should they find themselves facing this harrowing disease.
Related: Doctors Insisted Woman 'Just' Had Anxiety. Now She Lives With a Feeding Tube
Moving Forward With Hope
Both Kays and Borazanci credit Kays' remarkable survival not just to innovative treatment but also to her tenacity and ever-present hope.
"While we are still dealing with a difficult cancer, it is important to learn what we can from individuals like Kay who have the chance to inform the medical community on ways we can provide better treatment for pancreatic cancer," says Borazanci.
Today, Kays serves as one of the support group hosts for the Seena Magowitz Foundation, an organization that helps newly diagnosed patients navigate their "new normal" and supports caregivers, survivors, and those in bereavement.
"It is important that my story is being told because people need to know that even a diagnosis of the worst of cancers does not mean an automatic death sentence," says Kays. "Patients are living longer and longer as medical advancements are occurring at a more rapid pace. Sustaining hope and courage is so important."
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This story was originally published May 3, 2026 at 7:48 AM.