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DEFYING THE ODDS FOR OVER A DECADE: RICK GROEBEL’S STORY

Written By Julia Brabant
February 2023

Diagnosed: Mid April 2013
Status: Continuing His Fight

When doctors diagnosed Rick Groebel with pancreatic cancer, they gave him a 2% chance of surviving the next five years. Now, nearly 11 years later, Rick is both an example of the power of resilience and determination and a compelling demonstration of the limitations of medical prognoses.

Rick’s diagnosis came in April 2013, after he fell ill at the airport while wrapping up some international travel.  He met with his primary care provider to discuss his digestive issues, and the PCP said Rick appeared jaundiced and ran some blood tests before referring Rick to a gastrointestinal doctor. There, the GI doctor ran additional tests, determining that Rick’s blood sugar was sky-high and that his liver numbers were also concerning.

The GI doctor recommended an ERCP, which is a minimally invasive procedure used to identify problems within the bile duct, pancreatic duct and gallbladder. The GI doctor didn’t perform that particular procedure, though, and urged him to get the test promptly through a colleague.

The urgency with which his doctor spoke concerned Rick, who suspected he might have gallbladder issues or potentially something even more serious. He wasted no time having the ERCP, and when the doctor came in to share the results, he sat down and held Rick’s hand.

“I knew that wasn’t a good sign,” Rick said.

The doctor told Rick that surgery was his only viable option and that he’d need to have an operation within two months, or it would likely be off the table. Rick got to work researching cancer programs and contacted two of the nation’s best, sending his pathology reports and other paperwork to both hospitals. Ultimately, he opted to undergo treatment at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.

After flying to Houston, Rick met with the team at MD Anderson. The surgeon there said he had two options: Rick could either undergo chemotherapy prior to surgery in an effort to shrink the tumor, or have surgery without having chemo first. Rick was unsure about how to proceed, but his oncologist said she’d make the decision for him and recommended he forgo chemo for the time being in favor of scheduling surgery.

Rick’s surgeon performed a Whipple procedure May 31, 2013. The Whipple removes the gallbladder, parts of the pancreas, small intestine and bile ducts while preserving as much of the digestive system’s functionality as possible. After surgery, Rick’s care team recommended six months of chemotherapy followed by another 30 days of chemo with radiation daily to help prevent the cancer from coming back.

Recovering from a Whipple is often rough, but Rick found that he was able to move about the hospital relatively quickly afterward. While he’d experience discomfort in bed, walking somehow felt better, so he spent as much time as possible on his feet. After removing Rick’s nose drain, the hospital discharged him, and he continued recovery at a hotel connected to the hospital.

MD Anderson has an enclosed skybridge that patients can use to access restaurants and educational facilities without facing exposure to the elements or having to leave the property. Rick spent quite a bit of time walking back and forth on it while recuperating at the hotel, the Rotary House.

“I was relatively strong and in shape before all of this,” Rick said. “The exercise I did may well be what saved me.”

Rick’s robust health before his diagnosis also prompted MD Anderson to include him in a study. Later, his surgeon performed another study on exercise and physical condition and how they impact pancreatic cancer. Rick had worked out hard ahead of his own surgery, concentrating on his legs, in particular. He believes this helped him walk quickly afterward, which in turn helped his body recover faster.

After about 15 days of recovery at MD Anderson and another week and a half at the onsite hotel, Rick was able to leave and return to Las Vegas. After a short rest, he continued his treatment with chemotherapy for another six months, taking weekly Gemcitabine injections. After another short break, he began a different chemo regimen for 30 days, taking six oral pills daily while having daily radiation.

Rick began returning to Houston every three months for follow-up tests, none of which revealed any cause for concern. Gradually, he was able to space those visits out, and he now sees his doctor for follow-ups about once a year.

Returning to “Normal” Life

Once Rick completed chemo and radiation and regained most of his strength, he decided he wanted to see more of the world. He took a trip to the Galapagos Islands, a group of islands off the coast of Ecuador, and a side trip to Cuba (quite an experience in itself) on the way back.

He also visited Asia, visiting China and the Philippines and taking multiple trips to Thailand, which has become one of his favorite travel destinations. Rick also has plans to explore Bali and Jakarta, Indonesia, and Sydney, Australia, in the year to come.

When he’s not on the road, Rick tries to serve in a volunteer capacity, speaking with other people living with pancreatic cancer. It provides support and encouragement to the other person, as well as Rick.

Rick also found it beneficial to do minimal research when it came to his own condition.

“Everyone handles things in their own way, but I didn’t delve too deeply into the details or a learn a lot about my particular cancer,” Rick said. “I didn’t want to get too technical or detailed so I wasn’t all wrapped up in it all the time.”

Rick plans to continue to travel the world and talk to other people with cancer for the foreseeable future. He also plans to leave some of his legacy to MD Anderson and a hospice after seeing the impactful work they do in terms of supporting patients and families during difficult times.

Finally, Rick plans to continue to practice gratitude in his daily life – and continue to share his story with others who might gain something from what he endured.