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Michael Fitzpatrick
Written By: Julia Brabant, October 2025After Losing His Mother to Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors, Michael Fitzpatrick Is Now a 25-Year Survivor of the Same Condition
When doctors diagnosed Michael Fitzpatrick with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors back in 1999, he was more knowledgeable about the disease than many. His mother had the same condition when she was pregnant during the early 1960s, and while her care team urged her to terminate her pregnancy, her strong Catholic faith kept her from doing so. She passed away shortly after the birth of her child, and the child, too, passed several weeks later. Hoping to avoid the same fate, Michael let his doctor move forward with a potentially life-saving Whipple surgery – one that his surgeon told him gave him a 50/50 chance of bleeding out. Yet, the Whipple – the very first one his surgeon ever performed – proved successful, giving Michael a second chance at life he didn’t plan to waste.
There are dark days, and there are light days. I’m most happy when I can share my experiences with everyone out there.
Michael, his mother and his father all had Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome, a condition that can create excess stomach acid and ulcers. They also had Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1, a rare, inherited condition that increases the odds of tumors developing within the endocrine system. Still, it took a full 10 years of symptoms and suffering before anyone figured out what was ailing Michael.
He’d sought treatment multiple times after experiencing diarrhea, vomiting, back pain and an inability to keep food down, but everyone he saw said they couldn’t see any obvious problems, encouraging Michael to “just live with it.” He’d find temporary relief after taking Prilosec, a treatment for frequent heart burn, but found that his symptoms would typically return about 90 minutes later.
Michael’s ongoing health issues and pursuit of multiple opinions led him to UMASS Memorial in Worcester, Massachusetts, where doctors ordered virtually every kind of test imaginable, including an MRI. The MRI revealed that Michael had pancreatic tumors, some of which were intertwined with one of his veins.
His doctor told Michael and his wife that there was good news and bad news. The bad news was that he had a very rare form of pancreatic cancer (at the time, he was the first person out of two million to receive this diagnosis; the same one eventually given to Steve Jobs and Aretha Franklin), but the good news was there was a potential treatment method available – an intensive surgery known as the Whipple. Doctors didn’t recommend chemotherapy at the time, instead recommending that they go in and remove Michael’s tumors one by one.
Michael’s care team then spent about three months assembling a “dream team” that would give him his best chance at survival. At the time, Whipple procedures were not nearly as common as they are today, and his surgeon had never performed one before. Given the rarity and complexity of Michael’s case, though, they knew the success of the operation would depend on locating the right specialists, so they took their time finding the right people for the job.
Michael underwent a 13-hour Whipple procedure May 26, 2000, with surgeons from around the country taking part in it. While the surgery was ultimately successful, it was far from smooth sailing, with the main surgeon coming down with the flu and excusing himself midway through and then two more doing the same.
Afterward, everything looked clear, so his team decided against having Michael go through any chemotherapy or radiation. He did, however, develop Type 2 diabetes in the aftermath of the Whipple, which is common, and has to take CREON with meals now for the foreseeable future.
It took Michael about a full year to feel close to normal after his surgery, and he continued to have regular scans during and after to make sure his cancer hadn’t returned. A routine follow-up scan in 2018 revealed two tumors on his pancreas, which doctors said they removed. However, Michael’s symptoms returned again six years later, prompting another visit to the doctor.
It turned out Michael’s doctors hadn’t removed the two tumors like he’d been told due to an excessive amount of scar tissue. As a result, he has two tumors stuck in the head of his pancreas and gets a monthly shot to help prevent them from spreading. He’s now considering getting another medical opinion, and he’s also become an increasingly vocal advocate for others facing similar uncertainties on their cancer journeys.
Michael began partnering with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, attending summits and fundraising walks, speaking on Capitol Hill and raising money for pancreatic cancer research. He also joined forces with the American Cancer Society, serving as a speaker or keynote speaker at various events and fundraisers. He also appeared in various news articles and TV segments and drew inspiration from Marta Friendman, who was part of PanCAN’s Purple Stride affiliate group in Broward County. A major fundraiser for the cause, Marta spent six months in clinical trials despite her own poor prognosis to gain knowledge she could use to support others before eventually passing about a year ago.
Inspired by Marta’s selfless efforts, Michael seeks to continue her legacy of advocacy and education. He also speaks with people with pancreatic cancer about their situations and treatment options, making sure to share information about clinical trials, genetic testing and other resources that may help them navigate their experiences.
“There are dark days, and there are light days,” Michael said. “I’m most happy when I can share my experiences with everyone out there.”
Michael fields calls, texts and emails from people with pancreatic cancer from all over the world, some of whom have never spoken with a long-term pancreatic cancer survivor before. Many tell him hearing his story gives them comfort.
“When I tell people I’m 25 years out, they kind of perk up a little bit,” he said.
Michael’s hope is that, in the future, long-term survival will become an expectation, rather than a rarity. He hopes to see new tests emerge, both to detect pancreatic cancer at an earlier stage and to help identify genetic mutations at birth that could increase one’s risk of developing certain diseases. He also hopes to see increased awareness about who faces an elevated risk for pancreatic cancer, including people of Jewish and Black heritage, so they can be more proactive when it comes to their testing and care.
He also wants to help counter a widespread belief that treatment options and hope are minimal.
“Recognize that there is hope out there,” he said. “Think of the positive things and don’t let negativity into your mind. And pray! That’s a big part. Prayers, no matter what denomination you are, are key.”
Michael continues to monitor his condition closely and share his own story and knowledge with anyone who asks, recognizing that, for some, simply meeting or speaking with a 25-year survivor can provide something that medicine and treatment can’t – living, breathing proof that long-term survival is possible.
