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Raymond Shupe
Written By: Julia Brabant, March 2022Early Detection Gave Pancreatic Cancer Survivor Ray Shupe a 2nd Chance at Life
Raymond Shupe had his gallbladder removed in 1998, so when he started experiencing similar pain the following year, he knew of at least one thing he could rule out. Not knowing exactly what was causing his symptoms, he underwent an “endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography,” or ERCP, which helps identify issues within the liver, gallbladder, pancreas or bile ducts.
I think it’s time for us to have the hard talk. I think the pancreas needs to come out.
The ERCP revealed a small spot the doctor referred to as a “mucus plug.” Ray continued to have more ERCP procedures every six months from 1999 until 2012 to keep an eye on things, with the procedures not revealing any growth or changes during that time.
By early 2013, though, Ray started experiencing back pain and jaundice, which causes yellowing of the eyes and skin. He contacted his gastroenterologist, who in turn sent him to the local ER. There, doctors performed another ERCP and installed a stent, which helps relieve pain and symptoms associated with jaundice. They determined that the spot doctors had identified long ago had grown against his bile duct and was causing the pain and jaundice.
The following day, his doctor broke the news.
“I think it’s time for us to have the hard talk,” he’d told Ray and his wife, Brenda. “I think the pancreas needs to come out.”
Doctors had identified a tumor in the “neck” of the pancreas and told him that, while they could remove his pancreas there, one of the world’s leading pancreatic cancer surgeons, Dr. Douglas B. Evans, worked at the nearby Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin.
I feel blessed, believe me. If you’re going to have pancreatic cancer, then my outcome is about as good as you can hope for.
Ray’s doctor contacted Dr. Evans to make the referral and within a matter of days, Ray met with Dr. Evans. After reviewing Ray’s existing scans and test results, Dr. Evans agreed with Ray’s original doctor and concluded his entire pancreas would have to come out.
Ray underwent a whole pancreatectomy March 22, 2013, with doctors removing his pancreas as well as his spleen, part of his stomach, part of his small intestine and the end of his common bile duct. Afterward, they determined that he had Stage 1 pancreatic cancer. This meant the tumor was relatively small in size and had not yet spread outside the pancreas.
Ray spent two weeks in the hospital recovering and then followed that up with six months of chemotherapy, which he tolerated relatively well. He then had five-and-a-half weeks of daily radiation, which he says was much more brutal than the chemo.
Ray also became diabetic and fully insulin-dependent in the wake of his surgery, as the body is unable to produce its own insulin without a pancreas. He began taking Humalog and Lantus to manage his diabetes and CREON, a prescription medication that helps with digestion in the absence of pancreatic enzymes.
About 18 months ago, Ray started using an insulin pump to manage his diabetes, which helps monitor and stabilize blood sugar.
“That’s been fabulous,” Ray said. “My A1C is down, and my endocrinologist is very happy with where I’m at.”
After his surgery, Ray saw initially saw Dr. Evans every three months for follow-up visits. As time passed and his scans remained clear, he started spacing those visits out to every six months, and then every two years. After Dr. Evans declared him “cured” in May of 2020, he stopped scheduling regular follow-ups.
“I feel blessed, believe me,” he said. “If you’re going to have pancreatic cancer, then my outcome is about as good as you can hope for.”
Ray credits Dr. Evans and his medical team with that positive outcome – as well as his wife and three adult children, Jessica, Nathan and Matthew, all of whom were a tremendous source of support along the way.
And while Ray has managed to live a relatively normal life since his diagnosis, he does recognize that the financial and professional ramifications of a pancreatic cancer diagnosis are significant. He had an attorney help him navigate the process involved in obtaining Social Security Disability benefits, and he also had six months of COBRA health insurance coverage through his former employer, which helped him manage the financial aspect of his battle. He notes, though, that not everyone has those options.
“It’s tough because you’re at your highest income potential, but you can’t work,” said Ray, who was 58 at the time of his diagnosis. “And then, when you can, not everyone wants to hire someone who is 60 years old.”
Ultimately, Ray, who’d had a long, successful career in executive-level management, wound up returning to work part-time during some of his cancer battle before fully retiring after his surgery. He also seized the opportunity to get more involved in advocacy efforts and volunteer work, helping form a youth group alongside several parishioners from his church.
He and Brenda have also become increasingly active advocates within the pancreatic cancer community, taking on leadership, advocacy and speaking roles at a series of fundraisers and special events. Over time, his efforts gave him a chance to connect with more people facing similar health struggles.
“Back in 2013, I didn’t really have anyone to talk to about this other than doctors,” Ray said. “The same goes for my wife.”
That’s why Ray told Dr. Evans he could give Ray’s cellphone number to any patient who might want to talk to someone – and why both Ray and Brenda have taken comfort in communicating with other patients and caregivers in the years since Ray’s diagnosis.
These days, Ray fields several calls a month from people friends and community members send his way, and he makes an effort to offer them hope, guidance and a perspective as a long-term survivor. He says many people he speaks with have similar concerns, like becoming fully diabetic and dependent on insulin if they have their pancreases removed,
Ray acknowledges that this is, in fact, the reality, but reminds those he speaks with that diabetes can be manageable, especially with modern tools like insulin pumps now available. There is a financial element involved in managing diabetes and other parts of a pancreatic cancer journey, though, so he also makes a point to educate people about Social Security Disability Insurance, which may be available to those who qualify. The application process can be timely and complex, though, so he encourages those interested in applying to do so without delay.
Ray also makes a point to enjoy his retirement, spending time with his five grandchildren, three of whom live locally. He and Brenda also celebrated their 50-year wedding anniversary in October 2025 alongside their children and grandchildren in Gatlinburg, Tennessee – a milestone that felt especially meaningful given Ray’s diagnosis 12 years earlier.
While Ray recognizes that he benefited from early detection and quality medical care, he also acknowledges that not everyone has these same opportunities and hopes to see more advancements take place in the field of early detection.
“Having been detected very early, myself, I know the importance of early detection,” he said. “Anything they can do in that area is vitally important for survival rates.”
He also hopes to see more psychiatric and emotional support become available for people navigating pancreatic cancer. While many feel anxiety amid treatment or a loss of control after a diagnosis, Ray notes that he also feels a degree of “survivor’s guilt” for overcoming something others sometimes don’t and believes that having more professional support could help him and others work through similar feelings.
Ray also has some additional words of wisdom for others navigating pancreatic cancer, regardless of where they are in the process.
“You have to be your own best advocate with your medical team; make sure they explain everything to you as you go,” he said. “And you have to trust your medical team; that’s vitally important.”
Ray has not showed signs of active cancer since his 2013 pancreatectomy.
