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Tom Arai
Written By: Julia Brabant, Updated December 2025Initially Diagnosed With Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer, 10 Years Later, He Helps Other Survivors.
When doctors diagnosed Southern California’s Tom Arai with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer, they told him surgery was not an option, leaving him with limited other treatments. Now, a decade later, he’s proving that long-term survivorship is possible. He’s also paying his good fortune forward by hosting a support group, participating in advocacy efforts and volunteering for the federal government to help determine which pancreatic cancer research projects move forward.
When told I had Stage 4 metastatic cancer and I found out that the five year survival rate was less than 3%, I didn’t dwell on that. I choose to focus on one day at a time.
An avid cyclist, Tom led an active, healthy lifestyle until persistent mild back and abdominal pain led him to call his doctor. Tests showed advanced pancreatic cancer that had metastasized to Tom’s lungs and liver, taking surgery off the table.
Looking for another perspective, Tom and his wife consulted a chemotherapy oncologist where he learned of a clinical trial involving an experimental drug. While the drug was not approved as a standard-of-care treatment, in Tom’s case, the combination of chemotherapy and the experimental drug resulted in his cancer becoming NED, or “no evidence of disease.”
At the conclusion of chemotherapy, because he had a BRCA2 gene mutation and had undergone metal-based chemotherapy, he entered a phase 3 clinical trial involving Lynparza, an oral targeted therapy used to treat certain types of cancer. Lynparza was later approved by the FDA for treating pancreatic cancer.
Tom continues to take Lynparza – something he’ll do for the remainder of his life. He feels immensely fortunate not to have had any cancer recurrences, especially given his late-stage diagnosis, but he also understands the importance of heavy surveillance and monitoring and will continue to have regular checkups despite surpassing the 10-year survival mark.
That sense of good fortune, coupled with his oncologist, U.C. Irvine’s Dr. Tara Seery’s encouragement to give back, steered Tom into an advocacy role, eventually leading him to establish a weekly Zoom support group for survivors. The frequency of the groups meetings sets it apart from many other similar groups, and it has since served over100 participants, many of whom are newly diagnosed.
In addition to supporting his peers through the virtual group, Tom has also spent the past three years volunteering as a “consumer reviewer” with the Pancreatic Cancer Research Program at the U.S. Department of Defense. There, he participates in deciding where $15 million in annual federal funding for pancreatic cancer research goes, helping identify projects that show promise. Tom notes that a lot of what they have reviewed are already emerging in new treatments and therapies.
Tom’s work on behalf of the Department of Defense and his own experiences with clinical trials have given him unique insights about when patients might consider them. He feels that there are two instances, in particular, when they might do so. The first is right after diagnosis, with many trial administrators seeking out “virgin” participants, or those who have yet to have other treatments. The second instance is when first- and second-line treatments fail, leaving someone with limited options.
“Most of us are diagnosed late – it’s rare that we’re diagnosed at Stage 1 or 2, so there’s very much a sense of urgency to find and start treatment,” he said. “All of it can be overwhelming. It makes a major difference where you’re treated. Newly diagnosed people need to find the most qualified specialists and teaching hospitals or medical centers.”
Working with an oncologist who specializes in pancreatic cancer is also critical, Tom asserts. “It makes a big difference whether you are treated by an oncologist who specializes in pancreatic cancer and sees many cases versus someone who only sees a couple of cases a year,” he said.
Now, as he embarks on his second decade of survivorship, Tom continues to keep a close eye on his health – and he also devotes his time to helping others with pancreatic cancer by sharing resources, listening and offering proof that long-term survival – even at Stage 4 – is possible.
