COLUMBUS, Ohio — Over the last decade, the Ohio Department of Health says pancreatic cancer incidence and mortality rates have increased in Ohio, but one woman is living proof of beating the odds. 

What You Need To Know

  • A woman was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in July 2021

  • The 71-year-old shares how early detection may have saved her life, as she and doctors continue to defeat the cancer once and for all

  • Through her story, she wishes to give other cancer survivors hope

 "I have a lot to stay alive for,” said Sue Sweeney, a 71-year-old pancreatic cancer survivor.

Sweeney says it started out of nowhere with itchy skin and losing 40 pounds, but after a trip to the hospital in July 2021, doctors delivered the shocking news: She had pancreatic cancer. 

And that started her fight.

"I'm not going out now,” Sweeney said. “I've got things to do. I was gonna fight this thing, and I intend to beat it." 

Luckily, though, the doctors caught it early. 

"The surgery itself destroyed the tumor that would have ended my life had it not been found when it was," Sweeney said.

But the last couple of years haven’t been easy, snowballing into a long road ahead. 

"My treatment was, like anybody who's had chemo would tell you, it was rough sometimes,” said Sweeney. “You go through periods. You can't eat. I had a round of blisters in my throat and mouth until I couldn't eat, couldn't drink. It was horrible." 

But Sweeney's come a long way nearly a year and a half later.

"I'm back to eating and tasting most things,” Sweeney said. “Once in a while, I get things I couldn't taste, but it's only once in a while now."

She's now off chemotherapy, and aside from the occasional checkups for the next six months, Sweeney's fight is nearly over and this is the happiest she's been in a while. 

"I'm able to do a lot of what I want to do,” said Sweeney. “We ride motorcycles, went down through Hocking Hills this summer, out to eat, just the normal things people do."

Sweeney just hopes her story inspires others undergoing treatment: "You can't quit. Yeah, you're going through these bad times, but you cannot quit. If you want to have life after cancer, you want to beat it, you cannot quit." 

If you or someone you know is experiencing decreased appetite, unexplained fatigue, jaundice, and are developing diabetes, be sure to see a doctor.

Dr. Agulia at Mount Carmel said those may be early signs of pancreatic cancer. ​