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Editor’s note: Robb Lamont passed away in May 2018, but his legacy lives on in part through his personal story. We hope it inspires others to Demand Better for everyone affected by pancreatic cancer.
Robb Lamont with wife Lori and sons Ryan and John at PurpleStride Tampa Bay 2015.
It wasn’t the news Robb Lamont expected to hear.
But in 2009, after months of being shuffled from doctor to doctor for periodic stomach pain, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
He was only 36.
Now 42, Lamont’s disease has recurred four times, despite a Whipple procedure in 2009 that removed 1/3 of his pancreas.
But according to Lamont, with each recurrence, a vaccine-based clinical trial has kicked his cancer back into remission.
“I believe that without this clinical trial, I wouldn’t be here today,” said Lamont, a general counsel lawyer from Tampa, Fla., who has continued to work throughout his diagnosis.
Clinical trials are a critical step in the path to medical breakthroughs for pancreatic cancer. In fact, every standard treatment available to patients today was once part of a clinical trial.
“Pancreatic cancer clinical trials give patients early access to cutting-edge treatments that can lead to progress in research, more options and better outcomes,” said Julie Fleshman, JD, MBA, president and CEO of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.
Patients can search for clinical trials using the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network’s Clinical Trial Finder, a free tool that accesses the most comprehensive and up-to-date database of pancreatic cancer clinical trials available in the United States. Patients can search for trials based on geographic location, stage of disease, line of treatment and more.
When asked what clinical trials mean to Lamont, he responded with “hope.”
“Clinical trials give you your best chance to survive,” added Lamont.
A Pancreatic Cancer Action Network PanCAN Patient Services Case Manager can conduct a free, personalized clinical trial search for patients and provide comprehensive disease information, specialists in pancreatic cancer, access to personalized medicine services, educational events, support resources and more.
“The more patients who enroll in clinical trials, the more strides we can make toward our 2020 goal to double survival and a cure for this disease,” said Fleshman. “Patients who enroll at any stage in their diagnosis are not only helping themselves, but furthering advances in treatments needed to help countless others.”
PanCAN Patient Services Case Managers helped more than 100,000 pancreatic cancer contacts – more than any other organization in the world. They are available Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. PST at 877-272-6226 or by completing our contact form.
