Originating publication: Detroit Jewish News
Thursday, December 18, 2008 FEATURES: A Fighter
Pancreatic cancer survivor rallies for her life and that of others
Sheila Sky Kasselman of West Bloomfield didn't feel well in late 2006. At first, she thought the feeling would pass. She was in good shape and took care of herself; but when she started losing weight for no reason a few months later, she decided to make a doctor's appointment. She had several tests and they all came back negative. But she persisted. She knew something was just not right.
In October 2007, Kasselman was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Life as she knew it would never be the same. This vivacious, active mother and grandmother in her mid-60s was devastated, but still determined to fight this disease. Due to her persistence, her cancer was actually caught in the early stages, which is highly unusual for this disease.
Kasselman worked with her team of doctors at the Detroit-based Henry Ford Health System and decided to have the Whipple procedure - a major surgery that impacts the pancreas, small intestine, bile duct and stomach.
Kasselman's fight and passion to live, and her tenacity to find a way to detect pancreatic cancer in the earliest stages, led to the creation of the Sky Foundation, Inc. Through the foundation, Kasselman is raising awareness and funds so that researchers Michael Tainsky, Ph.D., from the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute and Wayne State University School of Medicine, both in Detroit, and Ann Silverman, M.D., from the Henry Ford Health System, can collaborate their work to one day develop a blood test to detect pancreatic cancer in its early stage.
The project would detect antibodies that are produced by patients when they react to proteins expressed in their tumors and use these antibodies as diagnostic biomarkers. Biomarkers are biochemical characteristics that indicate a biological process. They are one of the only ways to aid in diagnosing diseases in patients who do not magnify symptoms.
Those with pancreatic cancer are often diagnosed in the late stages because the disease presents very few symptoms in its early stages, and those it does demonstrate are often indistinct. Dr. Tainsky, along with a team of researchers, aims to apply an advanced screening technology to pancreatic cancer to detect it in its earliest stages, before symptoms manifest. Early detection would provide a five-fold improvement in survival rates.
Through the Sky Foundation, Kasselman continues to raise the seed funding necessary for this research. She held a friend-raiser for 50 guests on Dec. 7 to let friends know about the Sky Foundation and to ask for their support. She was so moved by the Randy Pausch story, The Last Lecture, that she contacted co-author, Jeffrey Zaslow of West Bloomfield. Zaslow talked about Pausch's belief that one day pancreatic cancer will be a survivable disease. He signed complimentary copies of his book. The books were donated to the Sky Foundation from a generous supporter.
Just recently, Kasselman was joined by members of the Roberta Sanchez family who presented a check to the Sky Foundation, Inc. for research efforts. Roberta Sanchez, a registered nurse who worked in the emergency room at a local hospital and dedicated her life to helping others, was diagnosed with stage 3 pancreatic cancer in June 2008. She died just two months later. Heartbroken, Sanchez's family reached out to Kasselman and invited her to a bowling fundraiser in their sister's memory to raise funds for research. Sanchez's family, including four of her sisters and her daughter, were able to present a $5,700 check to Kasselman and Tainsky in their sister's memory.
Kasselman has met other families who have lost loved ones to pancreatic cancer - some of whom she would probably never have met if it weren't for her illness.
"I'm fighting for my family, Roberta's family and everyone who is touched by pancreatic cancer," said Kasselman. "We know the research will take time, but we are determined to work vigilantly toward measures that can help diagnose this deadly disease in its earlier stages."
Kasselman added, "Although my blood work is currently clear of the disease, those of us with pancreatic cancer are never really 'cancer-free.' We must all work together to help save lives."
Written by Patricia A. Ellis, Media Relations Manager for the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit.
Sheila Sky Kasselman of West Bloomfield didn't feel well in late 2006. At first, she thought the feeling would pass. She was in good shape and took care of herself; but when she started losing weight for no reason a few months later, she decided to make a doctor's appointment. She had several tests and they all came back negative. But she persisted. She knew something was just not right.
In October 2007, Kasselman was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Life as she knew it would never be the same. This vivacious, active mother and grandmother in her mid-60s was devastated, but still determined to fight this disease. Due to her persistence, her cancer was actually caught in the early stages, which is highly unusual for this disease.
Kasselman worked with her team of doctors at the Detroit-based Henry Ford Health System and decided to have the Whipple procedure - a major surgery that impacts the pancreas, small intestine, bile duct and stomach.
Kasselman's fight and passion to live, and her tenacity to find a way to detect pancreatic cancer in the earliest stages, led to the creation of the Sky Foundation, Inc. Through the foundation, Kasselman is raising awareness and funds so that researchers Michael Tainsky, Ph.D., from the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute and Wayne State University School of Medicine, both in Detroit, and Ann Silverman, M.D., from the Henry Ford Health System, can collaborate their work to one day develop a blood test to detect pancreatic cancer in its early stage.
The project would detect antibodies that are produced by patients when they react to proteins expressed in their tumors and use these antibodies as diagnostic biomarkers. Biomarkers are biochemical characteristics that indicate a biological process. They are one of the only ways to aid in diagnosing diseases in patients who do not magnify symptoms.
Those with pancreatic cancer are often diagnosed in the late stages because the disease presents very few symptoms in its early stages, and those it does demonstrate are often indistinct. Dr. Tainsky, along with a team of researchers, aims to apply an advanced screening technology to pancreatic cancer to detect it in its earliest stages, before symptoms manifest. Early detection would provide a five-fold improvement in survival rates.
Through the Sky Foundation, Kasselman continues to raise the seed funding necessary for this research. She held a friend-raiser for 50 guests on Dec. 7 to let friends know about the Sky Foundation and to ask for their support. She was so moved by the Randy Pausch story, The Last Lecture, that she contacted co-author, Jeffrey Zaslow of West Bloomfield. Zaslow talked about Pausch's belief that one day pancreatic cancer will be a survivable disease. He signed complimentary copies of his book. The books were donated to the Sky Foundation from a generous supporter.
Just recently, Kasselman was joined by members of the Roberta Sanchez family who presented a check to the Sky Foundation, Inc. for research efforts. Roberta Sanchez, a registered nurse who worked in the emergency room at a local hospital and dedicated her life to helping others, was diagnosed with stage 3 pancreatic cancer in June 2008. She died just two months later. Heartbroken, Sanchez's family reached out to Kasselman and invited her to a bowling fundraiser in their sister's memory to raise funds for research. Sanchez's family, including four of her sisters and her daughter, were able to present a $5,700 check to Kasselman and Tainsky in their sister's memory.
Kasselman has met other families who have lost loved ones to pancreatic cancer - some of whom she would probably never have met if it weren't for her illness.
"I'm fighting for my family, Roberta's family and everyone who is touched by pancreatic cancer," said Kasselman. "We know the research will take time, but we are determined to work vigilantly toward measures that can help diagnose this deadly disease in its earlier stages."
Kasselman added, "Although my blood work is currently clear of the disease, those of us with pancreatic cancer are never really 'cancer-free.' We must all work together to help save lives."
Written by Patricia A. Ellis, Media Relations Manager for the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit.
Back to Media Page.