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Janet Benefited From “Neoadjuvant” Therapy
Julia Brabant, January 20257-Year Survivor Janet Bor Turned Her Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosis Into a Platform for Hope, Advocacy
Patients living with cancer—especially those with pancreatic cancer—now have more treatment options than ever before.
“The most significant change in treatment has been the personalization of therapy,” said Steven Sckolnik, M.D., a radiation oncologist with HonorHealth. “There is no longer a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach. By using new treatment techniques, we can individualize cancer care and maximize response while minimizing side effects.”
That certainly applies to Janet Bor, who says her the first indication something was seriously wrong in June 2017 was her skin tone.
“I was at my mom’s group home,” the Scottsdale resident said, “and the owner of the home told me I looked yellow. And not just jaundiced, but bright lemon.”
The cause was a build-up of bilirubin, a brownish pigment that’s part of bile secreted by the common bile duct in the liver. In July 2017, a surgeon confirmed a diagnosis of Stage 2 cancer confined to her pancreas, known as localized pancreatic cancer or pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).
I was at my mom’s group home, and the owner of the home told me I looked yellow. And not just jaundiced, but bright lemon.
Connecting with HonorHealth Research Institute
Janet lives near the HonorHealth Research Institute in north Scottsdale, Arizona, so she asked her doctor to help her connect with experts there. On a Wednesday in July 2017, Janet had an appointment to see Erkut Borazanci, M.D., an oncologist who told her about a new, investigative regimen of drugs that when administered together are known as “neoadjuvant” therapy (meaning treatment before a surgery).
Dr. Borazanci wanted to enroll Janet in a clinical trial as soon as possible. As soon as her bilirubin levels had normalized in September 2017, Janet began the regimen of four drugs administered intravenously: Abraxane, gemcitabine, cisplatin and paricalcitol (an analog of activated Vitamin D). This innovative combination, part of the clinical trial, proved so effective that it has since become the standard of care for people with Janet’s type of pancreatic cancer, offering hope and improved outcomes for countless patients. Janet continued this regimen through December 2017.
I cannot talk about how I feel without talking about the people at the HonorHealth Research Institute. From the minute you walk in the door, every staff encounter is a model for what the patient experience should be about. I am eternally grateful for every day I wake up. And I have great quality of life.
“The most significant change in treatment has been the personalization of therapy,” said Steven Sckolnik, MD, a radiation oncologist with HonorHealth. “There is no longer a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach. By using new treatment techniques, we can individualize cancer care and maximize response while minimizing side effects.”
In a review of the newer treatment approaches for localized pancreatic cancer, Dr. Borazanci and his colleagues, Dr. Albert Amini, Dr. Steven Sckolnik and Nurse Practitioner Gayle Jameson, highlighted several studies showing improved survival with neoadjuvant therapy in individuals with localized pancreatic cancer. Historically, most individuals with localized pancreatic cancer are offered immediate surgery of their pancreatic tumor. However, average survival with the upfront surgery approach was, at the time, only about two years.
“This review focuses on the shifting paradigm in how we look at localized pancreatic cancer,” Dr. Borazanci said. “By incorporating systemic, multi-agent therapy utilizing newer combinations of chemotherapy, we may be able to offer individuals a much better chance to live longer.”
Janet’s response to the chemotherapy regimen, followed by a surgical procedure to remove the tumor and the pancreas, proved remarkable.
“The advantages of neoadjuvant therapy in resectable (responsive to surgery) pancreas cancer are becoming more and more prominent as chemotherapy options continue to improve,” Dr. Amini said.
When Janet was asked how the process affected her, she replied, “I cannot talk about how I feel without talking about the people at the HonorHealth Research Institute. From the minute you walk in the door, every staff encounter is a model for what the patient experience should be about.” She added that she’s “eternally grateful for every day I wake up. And I have great quality of life.”
Adopting the Role of the Advocate
After Janet’s 2018 surgery, a member of her care team asked if she’d be willing to participate in an interview about her experience. It was through this effort that she connected with Roger Magowitz, the founder, CEO and President of the Seena Magowitz Foundation, and attended her first foundation fundraising event which, at that point, united about 15 pancreatic cancer survivors.
“It’s mind-blowing to see where it has grown in terms of awareness since 2018,” Janet said. “At that first event, the room was filled with donors and supporters, with only about 15 people talking about their experiences. In August 2024, there were 80-plus pancreatic cancer survivors at the event.”
The fundraising event, now hosted annually and known as “Power of Us,” also continues to attract a growing list of the nation and world’s top researchers, oncologists, surgeons and other medical professionals, encouraging collaboration and innovation in the fight against pancreatic cancer. It also creates a platform for patients and survivors to share their stories, and for donors to see the impact of their contributions firsthand.
While the foundation’s fundraiser has grown substantially in terms of attendance, it has also expanded its geographic and virtual footprints, reaching patients and survivors in every state and connecting with others from Europe, Asia and many other parts of the globe.
“It just keeps blossoming and growing,” Janet said, noting that the creation of several support groups targeting newly diagnosed patients, long-term survivors and caregivers is also transforming how people find support, resources and guidance during their journeys. “Now, people diagnosed from all across the country have a community of support and more than one place to go for a second opinion.”
Janet’s observation reflects a meaningful shift within the pancreatic cancer community, where stronger connections and greater access to education are reshaping perceptions and creating hope.
I don’t care what kind of cancer you’re diagnosed with – get a second and third opinion so you feel totally comfortable with the direction you’re going in.
“When you have pancreatic cancer, all of these people come out of the woodwork and think pancreatic cancer is a death sentence. A pancreatic cancer diagnosis is not necessarily a diagnosis of death, and getting the opportunity to speak with people who’ve been diagnosed, or their family members, is an opportunity for raising awareness about what’s available and what’s being done,” Janet said. “Funding equals clinical trials, and clinical trials equal the potential for a cure. The potential for a cure equals hope, and that’s what it’s all about – giving people hope.”
Janet also played a part in the Seena Magowitz Foundation’s latest fundraiser, a “Steppin’ Up Against Pancreatic Cancer” fundraising walk that took place in November 2024 at Mountain America Stadium, the home of the Arizona State University Sun Devils. Although physical limitations prevented her from walking during the event, she helped contact survivors beforehand to encourage their attendance and manned the “Survivors” area during the fundraiser.
“Dr. B [Borazanci] had said quietly in August of 2024 that, maybe next year, in November 2025, something could be done, and within just two months, that ‘something’ had come together,” Janet said. “The walk raised $70,000 in year one, with about 300 people physically there and then there were more virtual participants and donors online. Hopefully, that will continue to grow!”
While these events raise critical funds for pancreatic cancer research, they also create hope by uniting people currently living with pancreatic cancer with real survivors who serve as living proof that progress is possible.
“When people, especially the newly diagnosed, see that others are surviving, that’s the most impactful part for me,” Janet said. She mentioned how the Seena Magowitz Foundation’s “Power of Us” weekend, in particular, gives patients a chance to get to know people who show them that beating the odds is, in fact, within reach.
“On Friday, the fear and worry on the faces of the newly diagnosed is palatable; you can almost taste it,” she said. “The miracle is, by the last event of the weekend, on Sunday, there’s a total shift, because patients and caregivers have been interacting with people who’ve been through it and came out on the other side.”
Building Support Systems After a Challenging Diagnosis
As one of those people who’ve navigated pancreatic cancer and come out on the other side, Janet’s insight continues to hold value for those facing similar health hurdles. She’s helped guide patients and caregivers alike, offering up practical advice and sharing resources and reassurance in both group and one-on-one settings.
And her guidance doesn’t stop at emotional support – Janet also shares key information about the various complexities involved in managing life with pancreatic cancer, like developing diabetes. Many people wind up with diabetes in the aftermath of a Whipple procedure if a portion of the pancreas is removed, and Janet was among them.
“From a health perspective, I’ve been very lucky so far, but the most challenging part of having the Whipple is when you wake up and they say,” ‘You’re a Type 1 diabetic,’” Janet said. “Then, the fun starts.”
Janet works with numerous professionals to manage her diabetes and dietary needs, including a diabetic educator, a diabetic nutritionist and an endocrinologist. She loves to cook and finds that sticking primarily to keto/low-carbohydrate recipes helps, but notes that ingredients that accommodate her dietary needs are often much more expensive than alternatives.
On top of the additional grocery store expense, Janet, like many others, also has to take CREON, which helps people break down and digest foods when their bodies are unable to do so. The drug is very expensive, and it can also lead to unpleasant side effects.
Janet also stresses the importance of keeping up with traditional medical care in addition to seeing oncologists and dietary specialists and encourages patients to carry their medication lists and dosage amounts with them so they have then handy to share with medical professionals. She said that, in addition to seeing her primary care physician, she also meets with a growing list of “-ists and -gists,” including a cardiologist and an orthopedist.
“I’m up to date on every shot you can get – pneumonia, flu, etc.,” she said. “But I do get more colds than I did beforehand, and part of that has to do with being a diabetic.”
Janet also reflected on how having pancreatic cancer and undergoing chemotherapy caused neuropathy and affected her hair, skin and bones. She said she’s suffered three broken bones in the aftermath and takes a lot of calcium and Vitamin D to try to build back bone strength. Recently, her insurance approved EVENITY injections, which involves taking two shots every month for 12 months to build back bone mass.
“This is a gamechanger,” Janet said. “It doesn’t just maintain bone strength; it actually increases it.”
Janet’s experiences have also led her to develop additional practical tips for managing life after a pancreatic cancer diagnosis – or any serious medical diagnosis that warrants long-term care and treatment.
“I don’t care what kind of cancer you’re diagnosed with – get a second and third opinion so you feel totally comfortable with the direction you’re going in.”
She also encourages people with pancreatic cancer to meet with a dietician (“This is critically important!” Janet notes), eat healthy, avoid smoking, minimize their consumption of alcoholic and carbonated beverages, explore and consider clinical trials, and make sure their care teams are a good fit.
“If you have a doctor who is not explaining things to you in plain English, ask for clarification of the medicalese,” she said. “In the old days, you didn’t challenge doctors. My mother would never have thought of questioning a doctor, but guess what? They’re human, too, and you need to educate yourself to make informed decisions. Make sure you’re comfortable with your care team and it’s the right fit.”
If I had a ‘saint’ list, it would be Dr. B, Dr. Von Hoff and Roger. They all have jewels in their crowns.
Celebrating Progress & Expressing Gratitude
While Janet’s journey has shaped her perspective on self-advocacy, it’s also deepened her sense of gratitude. She credits a multitude of people for her continued forward progress, from her own friends and loved ones and the dedicated doctors, researchers and support networks that keep research moving forward to the generous donors who help fund that research.
She listed Babbo’s Italian Eatery among those donors, with the Arizona-based restaurant not only sponsoring the “Steppin’ Up” event in honor of its founder, Ken Pollack, who passed from pancreatic cancer in late 2022, but also hosting regular events at its various Valley eateries and then donating the money raised by them to research.
She also expressed gratitude for Dr. B, Dr. Von Hoff, one of the world’s preeminent pancreatic cancer researchers, and Roger Magowitz for their ongoing efforts to find a cure for pancreatic cancer and improve and lengthen life for those affected by it.
“Keeping people alive is expensive, but they’re tireless,” she said. “If I had a ‘saint’ list, it would be Dr. B, Dr. Von Hoff and Roger. They all have jewels in their crowns. To see where things have gone in terms of awareness from 2018 until now is phenomenal. I’m just so pleased and grateful for all of the progress that has, and is, being made.”
