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Tim Ashe Pancreatic Cancer Survivor
Written By: Julia Brabant, June 2025Tenacity, Self-Advocacy Helped Tim Ashe Navigate Pancreatic Cancer
As a no-nonsense, straight-shooting New Englander, Tim Ashe has always faced challenges head on, and his October 2023 pancreatic cancer diagnosis was no exception. Drawing strength from personal experiences and driven by a determination to play an active role in his care, Tim soon became his own best advocate by pushing for answers, advocating for clear and transparent communication, and taking control when the stakes couldn’t have been higher.
I’d eat a single egg and feel really sick after, or I’d have a beer watching the Red Sox and feel like I had a 12-pack
Tim, a native of Bangor, Maine, and a 32-year resident of the Seacoast area of New Hampshire, initially sought medical treatment in August of 2023, when he began experiencing ongoing bloating and discomfort after eating or drinking.
“I’d eat a single egg and feel really sick after,” he said. “Or I’d have a beer watching the Red Sox and feel like I had a 12-pack.”
Tim’s doctor administered an ultrasound, which showed an irregularity on his pancreas. Doctors were unsure if the abnormality was a cyst or cancer, so they recommended he have a CAT scan to learn more. The CAT scan didn’t provide the answers Tim’s care team needed, so he underwent an MRI, after which the radiologist said he still wasn’t sure what he was looking at and determined Tim needed a biopsy.
At this point, several months had passed since Tim initially sought medical care, so when his doctor determined that the mass on the scans was, in fact, cancerous, Tim had little time to waste. His mother passed from pancreatic cancer just 23 days after her own diagnosis, so Tim was well aware of the urgency of his situation.
A Complex Treatment Plan
In conjunction with his care team, Tim began chemotherapy using FOLFIRINOX, a combination of several different cancer drugs, in early November 2023.
As the weeks ticked by, the side effects of FOLFIRINOX, and particularly, the Oxaliplatin component, took a toll. Tim developed severe neuropathy, or nerve damage, in his fingers and hands, and while this made everyday tasks difficult, it also threatened one of his biggest joys in life: fly fishing.
Recognizing that continued use of Oxaliplatin could hinder his ability to tie a fly on his line and otherwise enjoy his favorite hobby, Tim’s doctor recommended he remove that particular drug from his chemo lineup, citing quality-of-life issues. Tim agreed, and, luckily, the change didn’t hurt the chemotherapy’s effectiveness. On the contrary, his tumor markers continued to drop. Initially, Tim’s tumor marker was 5,000; quite a bit above the normal range of 35 or below. At his most recent measurement, Tim’s number had fallen to 12, placing him well within the normal standard.
However, Tim’s medical team identified a nodule on his left lung that “popped up out of nowhere” and grew rapidly in size. Soon after, they identified four additional nodules in the lung. Tim messaged his doctor, expressing concerns that his chemo had become ineffective.
A nurse responded, indicating that the team would continue to monitor Tim’s scans. Tim soon followed up again to make sure his care team was considering all possible treatment options. During’s Tim’s next appointment, a nurse practitioner he’d seen regularly picked up on his anxiety, with Tim emphasizing the importance of clear communication and prompt action. This honest conversation led to a turning point in Tim’s treatment regimen, improving communications and increasing transparency and trust moving forward.
The team is outstanding – the nurses in the cancer center are absolutely phenomenal, and I’m getting the best possible care
A Second Opinion
Tim continued to consider a variety of teams and treatment options, and when he met with a team at a larger hospital in Boston, he felt confident he’d found a good fit.
During a meeting with a radiologist, oncologist and surgeon, the surgeon told Tim, “I’m not looking to give you two or three years – I’m looking to cure you.”
Encouraged by the surgeon’s positivity, Tim decided to work with her. However, within about a month, the oncologist who’d been a part of that initial call told Tim she believed he had about a year left to live.
“How is that possible?” Tim asked. “I was told I was going to be cured.”
The feedback felt contradictory, so Tim voiced his concerns to the oncologist, who responded appropriately with a renewed commitment to keeping Tim informed about all aspects of his care. The shift in communication strengthened Tim’s confidence, and it also reinforced the importance of remaining active and involved in his own care. This proved helpful when Tim faced additional hurdles, including missed opportunities for baseline bloodwork ahead of chemo that would have more accurately reflected the impact of the treatment.
Once Tim got under the care of his oncology team, though, things settled down. After his Boston care team told him he had approximately a year left to live, Tim sought a second opinion from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. His chemotherapy was, at this point, showing signs of effectiveness, with the four new nodules on Tim’s lung shrinking substantially, but the largest one growing in size.
Tim began receiving a highly concentrated form of radiation to help counter the growth, having a type of radiation therapy that would work for another four to six weeks after he completed treatment. His latest round of scans shows that the radiation was effective and that the larger nodule is shrinking. Tim also continues to have chemotherapy and notes that his care team feels confident his condition will continue to improve, although they won’t know for sure until Tim’s next round of scans.
Tim credits much of his progress to the strong care team he has supporting him, which includes his oncologist as well as a group of knowledgeable and compassionate nurses.
“The team is outstanding – the nurses in the cancer center are absolutely phenomenal, and I’m getting the best possible care,” Tim said. His current team in New Hampshire also remains in contact with his previous doctors in Boston, with the professionals working closely with one another while giving Tim confidence he’s in good hands.
With his medical care on solid footing and a strong support system around him, Tim continues to focus on the things he can control, like maintaining his sense of humor, especially during trying times. Last summer, a persistent cough and a 104-degree fever landed him back in the hospital, and it turned out he had pneumonia and a pulmonary embolism, too (“A bonus!” he joked). He’d also faced pancreatitis and diverticulitis at various points in his cancer journey.
Tim also works hard at staying active by going to the gym, lifting weights and walking his dog.
“I want to keep myself strong – it makes a huge difference,” Tim said. “That, and a positive attitude. This sets off endorphins and triggers your body to go about healing itself.”
A Shift in Perspective
It was during one of those dog walks that Tim found himself particularly down about the weight of his cancer experience and asked God for help, noting that he could no longer fight cancer and handle the pressure of staying strong and upbeat on his own.
Like many people facing serious illnesses, Tim experienced a moment of spiritual awareness, and when he woke up the next morning, he found his perspective had shifted.
“The next day, I got up and it felt like a monkey was off my back,” he said. “I had a bigger spring in my step than I usually do. I decided not to lose myself, and to instead find humor in everything.”
While that moment helped change Tim’s mindset, so, too, did the steadfast support of his wife, Laurie, and his friends. For Tim’s birthday in February 2024, Laurie surprised him by organizing a surprise party with his fishing buddies, most of whom he’d known since the fifth grade. The group of close friends takes annual fishing trips together, with last year marking the 40th anniversary of these trips. Some of Tim’s family members also attended the party, with his wife wanting to ensure a large celebration given that one of Tim’s doctors had implied that he may only have a year left to live.
Now, as Tim continues to navigate life with pancreatic cancer, he encourages people undergoing treatment to read “Love, Medicine & Miracles: Lessons Learned About Self-Healing From a Surgeon’s Experience with Exceptional Patients,” a New York Times bestseller by Bernie S. Siegel, M.D. The book discusses, among other pertinent topics, how releasing stress and taking control of one’s illness can lead to better outcomes for patients.
Tim also urges anyone with cancer to take a OneOme RightMed test, which helps predict how an individual will respond and react to specific medications. In Tim’s case, the test showed that Irinotecan, which was part of his chemotherapy plan, could cause him severe abdominal distress, so his care team reduced the dose and administered it over 90, rather than 60, minutes, to minimize side effects.
While insurance may cover the cost, the test is also available for about $300 without insurance, a price Tim believes is well worth paying for what it provides. Tim has also found relief through more affordable methods, finding that Trader Joe’s 100% ginger juice drink was highly effective at helping him manage his nausea during chemo.
Tim also advocates for genetic testing, which can provide information about whether one has genetic predispositions to cancer. After his mother’s cancer battle, and then his own, Tim suspected there might be a genetic component, but tests didn’t show any clear links.
Tim has also connected with other cancer patients through his work leading the New England chapter of Man Up to Cancer, a support group started by Trevor Maxwell of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, that gives men facing cancer a safe space to vent and exchange info and tips.
“When men know there’s a place they can unload – a place where other guys are unloading, you won’t believe how many times you hear, ‘I love you, brother,’” Tim said. “How often do you hear men say that?”
He also thinks that, while quality medical care is critical to managing cancer so, too, is maintaining a positive attitude.
“How do you want to be remembered if you die? As an angry, bitter man, or a guy that had a positive attitude right until the end?” he asked. “I’m going to continue to be positive. There are always changes in medicine, and maintaining a positive attitude can only help you. The only time I really think about cancer is when someone asks me.”
