Meet Elizabeth
“Since survivorship, I’ve been able to witness things in life that I never thought possible such as helping my daughter get ready for prom, traveling with my son for baseball, and celebrating my 20th wedding anniversary with my husband.”
Elizabeth O’Connor was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer in 2010, after the birth of her son, Andrew. She was only 31 years old and had little hope, as the survival rate for late-stage pancreatic cancer is low. “I felt doomed. I would sit there and picture my children and my husband moving on. And that hurt.” Her husband, Patrick, gave her invaluable support: “He would not let me quit.”
Early in her treatment, Elizabeth received a combined treatment of chemotherapy and radiation. She also had several recurrences, including a tumor in her brain, which required surgery. Eventually, Elizabeth received targeted chemotherapy and immunotherapy – a treatment that Stand Up To Cancer-funded researchers helped develop. She responded well and is currently stable, with no new occurrences of cancer showing up in her scans for several years now.
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Stand Up To Cancer’s success is measured in the months, years, and lifetimes given back to people with cancer and their families.
Today, Elizabeth continues to cherish new memories and milestones with her family. “It’s unheard of to live 10+ years for pancreatic cancer,” she says. “Cancer research means so much to me because I know that without research my journey may have had a much different outcome. I can’t put into words how much it means to me to spend more time with my family. To not have that fear that I wouldn’t be around.” Her daughter, Abigail adds: “My mom is a fighter. She is always trying to fight for her life so she can be here with us.”
Now a 14-year pancreatic cancer survivor, Elizabeth encourages other individuals with her diagnosis to find a doctor who believes in them and to lean on family and friends who can provide support through their journey. “The message I want others to take away from my story is to never give up or lose hope no matter how hard the obstacles you face. Remember to take one day at a time.”
Our Mission
Stand Up To Cancer raises awareness and funds research to detect and treat cancers with the aspiration to cure all patients. Find out how you can get involved.
