Let's Win Pancreatic Cancer

Meet Burt Rosen’s digital twin. When Let’s Win first spoke with Burt Rosen, who has a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor—among other things—about artificial intelligence, he was using ChatGPT to translate scan reports into plain English, organize medical records, analyze symptom trends, and prepare thoughtful questions for his doctors. He used it as an advisor, a clarifier, a simplifier, and a research assistant. Now he wants to take things a step further.

When Dr. Stephen Bigelsen learned he had stage IV pancreatic cancer, he was ready to just give up. But his wife Nancy refused accept that this was it for Stephen, so she went into action. She got him interested in learning more about the cancer and treatment options. Stephen stepped up and learned all he could. Now, he is a 10 year survivor who has seen his son get married and met his first grandchild.

When Nancy Bigelsen learned about her husband Stephen’s diagnosis, she sprung into action. Because Stephen is a doctor he knew a little about pancreatic cancer, and assumed that this was it for him. Nancy was not ready to lose her husband, and knew that the way to change his mind was to get him interested in learning more about the disease. They made it through treatment and a recurrence with the help of family and friends.

Let’s Win Pancreatic Cancer is excited to share groundbreaking news for the pancreatic cancer community. The FDA has approved Revolution Medicines’ Rasonque™ (generic name daraxonrasib), the first-ever drug to target the RAS mutation, the driver behind 90 percent of pancreatic cancers. The drug will be standard of care for patients with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma who have had at least one prior chemotherapy, or who are not good candidates for current standard chemotherapies.

For decades, one of the greatest frustrations in pancreatic cancer has been that most patients never knew they were at risk. Unlike breast or colon cancer, there isn’t a screening test for the general population. People with inherited genetic mutations or a strong family history may qualify for surveillance, but they account for only a small percentage of pancreatic cancers.

Weight loss led to my diagnosis Whipple and chemotherapy Turning pain into purpose It’s Christmas 2014. My weight is up, my self-esteem is down, and my pants are stretched out. I’m tired of being chubby. I push back from our holiday dinner table and resolve to lose weight. The next day, I head to Weight Watchers. I attend weekly for six months, and eventually I reach my goal! I am thin . . . but only for a hot minute. So, I do what all good emotional eaters do—I celebrate with fudge brownies.

2026 has started off with a bang for pancreatic cancer patients. This year there is already one treatment approved for locally advanced cancer, and of course the results from the daraxonrasib trial have every metastatic patient looking to get the treatment on expanded access, as it moves through the FDA approval process. Researchers know that once one drug has kicked open the door for formerly “undruggable” KRAS, more will follow. The treatment landscape is clearly changing.

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have identified a previously unknown risk factor for developing pancreatic cancer in high-risk people. A study published in Gastro Hep Advances in November 2025 showed that mild dilatation (widening) of the main pancreatic duct is an important early warning sign for pancreatic cancer among patients with increased risk. This concerning dilatation occurs when there is no visible mass or lesion.

Let’s Win turned 10 in May. A lot has changed since we launched in 2016. Newer treatments such as NALIRIFOX and stereotactic body radiation therapy are now offered. Genetic testing has now become standard of care, to help patients with certain mutations access the best treatments for them. Molecular profiling is on the rise, as identifying tumor mutations becomes important for both clinical trials and treatments. The survival rate has increased from 8 percent to 13 percent but that is still very low.

The doctors and researchers at Duke Cancer Institute see a brighter future ahead for pancreatic cancer patients. From new types of immunotherapy to clinical trials for KRAS, these doctors believe that pancreatic cancer has reached a turning point. Their research is leading to changes on the horizon for prevention, early detection, and treatments, which will lead to more and more long-term survivors. Share Your Story. Help others by sharing your experiences. Share your story