Bill Whitney

“First of all, I’m alive,” Bill said, when asked whether he’s done anything in the past 15 years that he once thought his diagnosis would prevent. “I didn’t think that would happen.”

Still, long-term survival hasn’t meant a complete return to normal. While Bill hasn’t had any signs of cancer since 2021, he lives with lower back problems and arthritis, the latter of which inflames his joints and sometimes compromises movement in his left arm. He also sees a hematologist, a doctor who specializes in blood-related issues, on an annual basis.

Despite these existing health issues, Bill recognizes how fortunate he is to be alive.

“I came out of this whole package pretty good,” Bill said, although his lung surgery made it difficult to do some of the things he’d long enjoyed, like swinging a golf club. Even so, he finds ways to stay active, and he also supports others through efforts like the William & Mary Whitney Fund for Pancreatic Research, which he and his wife of 65 years launched in 2011. The couple and their children contribute to the fund annually, and Bill also listed it as a beneficiary in his will.

The pair also support the ongoing work of Dr. Doug Evans at Froedtert and MCW by donating to the doctor’s We Care Fund, helping pave the way for additional research in cancer, cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal disease and other major health issues.

Bill also remains committed to helping people with pancreatic cancer by sharing his own story and highlighting how important it is to have faith in one’s care team.

“I pray every day, and I’m still here!” Bill said. “I have the utmost confidence in the team I was with down at Froedtert – they saved my life, and that doesn’t go away. If there are people I can tell, I tell them. I’m willing to help anybody in any way I can.”

Bill finds that he rests easier at night knowing that his case helped inspire and accelerate the advancement of MRI-guided radiation, including the use of MR-LINAC technology, that continues to benefit patients today. He now sees SBRT therapy becoming increasingly common, suggesting it must be working as intended.

“From what I read and what I’ve been told, the life expectancy has gone up,” Bill said. “We’re moving the benchmark out, which is happening through treatment. I think we’ve come a long way.”

He also urges others facing pancreatic cancer to maintain hope and recognize that real, evidence-backed advancements are taking place on a regular basis.

“When you start out, you’re scared. That’s natural, and there’s not always something they can do about it,” Bill said. “But in my case, 15, 16 years later, everything has changed, so there’s always a chance for a different way of approaching treatment.”

Bill continues to monitor his condition closely and has shown no evidence of cancer since 2021.