(Pat with her favorite flower, the camellia. Dunnellon, Florida, 2016)

Patricia Theobald

Pat was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2012; she passed away in 2017. Thanks to the clinical trials she participated in and advocated for, Pat was in the 1% of those surviving 5 years with stage IV pancreatic cancer. Pat's mother passed away in 2009, 6 weeks after receiving the same diagnosis.

The last 5 years of her life, Pat dressed only in purple. She was an advocate for clinical trials and research for early detection methods. She attended countless PurpleStride events, was a speaker, and made the most of those years enjoying time with family. She embraced her diagnosis and modeled fearlessness and positivity to everyone around her.

(Pat and Bernie at PurpleStride Orlando, 2014)

Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer has the highest mortality rate of all major cancers. For all stages combined, the 5-year survival rate is 9%. Most individuals with pancreatic cancer are diagnosed at stage IV, which has a 5-year survival rate of just 1%. It is the leading cause of cancer death largely because there are no diagnostic tools or early detection methods. By the time pancreatic cancer is detected, it is often too late to remove or slow its spread; leaving patients with a dismal prognosis and a low survival rate.

Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are research studies that investigate new treatments to determine if they are safe and can be used to help people living with illness. Every cancer treatment available today was approved through clinical trials.

It is because of people like Pat who participated in clinical trials that we have effective treatment options for cancers that were once, but are no longer, considered terminal. It is with hope, more courageous people like PT, and better funding to advance scientific research, that the mortality rate of pancreatic cancer will decrease.

Pat outlived every participant in her clinical trial by several years.