“I kept after him, and finally we found it," Rose Black told WXYZ
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NEED TO KNOW
- Rose Black is a two-time pancreatic cancer survivor raising awareness for the disease
- The Michigan woman claims her doctor dismissed her symptoms twice before her diagnosis
- “I had a bloating in my stomach, and I was starting to lose weight,” she said of her symptoms
A two-time pancreatic cancer survivor is raising awareness within her Michigan community and beyond after her doctor initially dismissed her symptoms.
Rose Black, of St. Clair Shores, hopes women never stop advocating for themselves and shared how her persistence led to a cancer diagnosis in an interview with Detroit news station WXYZ, published on Friday, April 10.
"I had a bloating in my stomach, and I was starting to lose weight," Black said of her symptoms.
When she went to her healthcare provider, she claims, her concerns were brushed off twice before her doctor ordered a CT scan that showed a tumor.
“I kept after him, and finally we found it," she told the news station.
Symptoms of pancreatic cancer are often not detected until after they spread to other organs, which means it is difficult to find at an early stage, when the chances of curing it are at its greatest, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Reflecting on life after her diagnosis, Black told WXYZ, “It was nerve-racking because at that time, pancreatic cancer meant a death sentence to most people."
Her first surgery was in 2009.
In 2011, Black and her husband Ron got involved with Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN), working as volunteers. Each year, the non-profit organization hosts PurpleStride, described as “the ultimate walk to end pancreatic cancer.” PanCAN also calls upon its members to “speak up, stand together [and] contact congress” to aid in finding a cure for the disease.
Black’s pancreatic cancer came back in 2016, and it was treated with both chemotherapy and a second surgery.
During her interview with WXYZ, Black wore a gift that PanCAN presented her for being a double survivor. She said she wears it often.
"An important part of this is to be able to share your story and realize that you're not alone out there," she added of her journey.
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Renee Clearman, chairwoman of Purplestride, told WXYZ that the organization’s mission is to “increase the five-year survival rate." She lost her mother to pancreatic cancer in January 2018 after her mother was diagnosed in 2016.
"I've met and seen many survivors with many different stories, and the one common theme on those that really keep going and fighting is just that they're positive, they're advocating, they're looking for trials, they are looking for options,” Clearman said. “And, so, really just fight for yourself."
PanCAN PurpleStride 2026 is Saturday, April 26. There are events scheduled across the country.
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