Project Purple Podcast Project Purple Podcast

In 2024, we launched Project Purple Sports to create team activities that support our mission of a world without pancreatic cancer. Our initial focus was on streaming and reporting on local sports to raise awareness and connect sports with Project Purple. We started at Seymour High School, where we streamed basketball and softball games for the Seymour Wildcats.

With the school year wrapped up, and the 2024 Olympics in full swing, we wanted to take all of the highlights from the sports we covered to compile them in this week's episode of the Project Purple Podcast. These are the Top 10 Moments from this past school year, we hope you enjoy our list and if you are interested in getting involved in Project Purple Sports, we discuss how you can get involved in the episode. We also tease upcoming collaboration for the upcoming school year for more Project Purple Sports content!

If you’d like to donate to Project Purple’s mission of a world without pancreatic cancer, please visit https://www.projectpurple.org/.

If you are interested in becoming involved in our Project Purple Sport Streaming or to partake in a team activity, visit: https://www.projectpurple.org/teamactivities/

To learn more about Project Purple, visit https://www.projectpurple.org/ or follow us on social media at these links: https://www.facebook.com/Run4ProjectPurple
https://www.instagram.com/projectpurple/
https://twitter.com/Run4Purple
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgA8nVhUY6_MLj5z3rnDQZQ
https://www.youtube.com/@ProjectPurpleSports

Meet Dr. Paul Grippo, an Associate Professor of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the University of Illinois College of Medicine in the Chicago area. Dr. Grippo has been awarded the Rick Carone Pancreatic Cancer Research Grant by Project Purple. This grant is given annually to honor Rick Carone, a late member of the Project Purple family who was a runner and athlete in Illinois.

After completing his undergraduate studies, Dr. Grippo pursued a master’s degree in biochemistry and focused on researching pancreatic cancer during his graduate school experience. He continued this research throughout his PhD program and has dedicated nearly 30 years to studying pancreatic cancer. Dr. Grippo believes that his path into pancreatic cancer research was driven by a divine force. He emphasizes the importance of passion, skillset, and opportunity in his field, and for him, pancreatic cancer research fulfills all of these criteria.
x
Dr. Grippo discusses some of the recent studies conducted by his team, focusing on how they can potentially identify dietary causes of pancreatic cancer and diets that could benefit pancreatic cancer patients. He also elaborates on newer methods of creating pancreatic cancer models to more accurately study the disease. Additionally, Dr. Grippo and his colleagues have been examining data from stool studies to gain insights into the body's healthy waste disposal. Furthermore, he mentions recent studies that suggest stress may be as significant as dietary factors in cancer.

Tune in to the Project Purple Podcast to learn more about the grant and the groundbreaking research Dr. Grippo has conducted to support the mission of eradicating pancreatic cancer.


If you’d like to donate to Project Purple’s mission of a world without pancreatic cancer, please visit https://www.projectpurple.org/.

For more on Dr. Grippo and the work he does at the University of Illinois Cancer Center, visit this site: cancer.uillinois.edu/member/paul-grippo-phd/

To learn more about Project Purple, visit https://www.projectpurple.org/ or follow us on social media at these links: https://www.facebook.com/Run4ProjectPurple
https://www.instagram.com/projectpurple/
https://twitter.com/Run4Purple
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgA8nVhUY6_MLj5z3rnDQZQ

Meet Dr. Emily Britton of Bristol, UK. She is currently undergoing advanced training in surgery at Bristol University, focusing on diseases of the pancreas and liver, including pancreatic cancer. Dr. Britton reveals that her initial interest in the medical field was due to her family's history of breast cancer. However, as she progressed through medical school and training, she developed a strong passion for treating pancreatic and liver conditions.

She gives insight into the standard of care in the UK public healthcare system, highlighting its pros and cons. Dr. Britton emphasizes the uniqueness of each patient's case, advocating for individualized treatment. She also discusses the healthcare system's tendency to be slow to adopt new and innovative medical techniques and medications due to standard care protocols.

Dr. Britton expresses the rewarding nature of working in this medical space, particularly in finding treatments for complex and challenging organs. She and Dino delve into the advancements made in the pancreatic cancer field by clinicians like herself, as well as the future of the space.

Join us for this week’s episode of the Project Purple Podcast to gain insight into the U.K.’s healthcare system as well as perspective from a clinician on the front lines of pancreatic cancer.

If you’d like to donate to Project Purple’s mission of a world without pancreatic cancer, please visit https://www.projectpurple.org/.

If you’d like to connect with Dr. Britton, you can follow her on Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/emilyjbritton

You can also email her directly at emily.britton@bristol.ac.uk


To learn more about Project Purple, visit https://www.projectpurple.org/ or follow us on social media at these links: https://www.facebook.com/Run4ProjectPurple
https://www.instagram.com/projectpurple/
https://twitter.com/Run4Purple
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgA8nVhUY6_MLj5z3rnDQZQ

Meet Dan McNamee, who is originally from Cleveland but now resides in beautiful Paris. He was going about his life, starting a new family with his wife when he started experiencing pain in his left leg. This led him to visit the emergency department, where they discovered a blood clot.

Further testing revealed a tumor on Daniel’s pancreas. Although he was living in Paris at the time, he wanted to be with his family, especially since all of his siblings have careers in the medical world. He decided to undergo treatment in his hometown of Cleveland, where he and his young family lived with his mother and had the support of his family. He discussed the importance of having that support system during his treatment, recalling the times people around him stepped up to care for his children. He also credited his sister with helping him find the clinical trials that ultimately helped him beat pancreatic cancer. Daniel was able to receive clinical trials at Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York City, so he commuted from both Ohio and later Paris to receive his clinical trial medications.

Daniel also discussed the differences between the two different healthcare systems he dealt with during his battle with pancreatic cancer. Living in Paris upon diagnosis and then coming back to the U.S., he noticed the significant increases in the prices of medications and the improved access to clinical trials and newer methods of treatment. He has a unique perspective on the healthcare side of things.

During a stay at a hotel in New York City for his treatment, he was in town during the New York City Marathon, where he ran into people in purple singlets, Project Purple runners. He asked them about their cause and was surprised to learn of the organization as he was currently battling pancreatic cancer. He decided to run as part of Project Purple’s NYC Marathon team after he completed his treatments. As of a month ago, he received news that he was in complete remission, with clean scans a year after stopping all treatments. He discussed his choice to run for Project Purple and his training cycle as someone who is not a seasoned marathon competitor.

Join us for this optimistic and informative episode of the Project Purple Podcast to learn more about Dan’s fight against pancreatic cancer.

If you’d like to donate to Project Purple’s mission of a world without pancreatic cancer, please visit https://www.projectpurple.org/.

To connect with Daniel, you can follow him on Instagram: instagram.com/danmcnamee1
Or you could reach out to him directly via email: danmcnamee@gmail.com


To learn more about Project Purple, visit https://www.projectpurple.org/ or follow us on social media at these links: https://www.facebook.com/Run4ProjectPurple
https://www.instagram.com/projectpurple/
https://twitter.com/Run4Purple
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgA8nVhUY6_MLj5z3rnDQZQ

Kimberly Brockman is a 57-year-old pancreatic cancer survivor from Iowa. She had a history of preventative care, including a breast lumpectomy in her thirties and keeping up with regular screenings due to her family's extensive history of cancer. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, she experienced symptoms such as difficulty swallowing, heartburn, and bowel issues, but felt her symptoms were being put on hold due to overwhelmed medical facilities. With her background in oncology, she sought medical attention and was diagnosed with Barrett's esophagus.

Her genetic test results revealed that she had Lynch Syndrome, specifically MSH2 and MHS6, which prompted further preventative measures including a hysterectomy and regular scans. During one of these scans, an irregular signal led to the discovery of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Despite the grim diagnosis, Kimberly's mother, who also had the same genetic mutation, had overcome inoperable pancreatic cancer and was in remission for nearly a decade at the time of Kimberly's diagnosis.

Kimberly underwent immunotherapy and folfirinox chemotherapy simultaneously, responding well to the treatment. When it came time to undergo the Whipple Procedure, Kimberly’s doctors found that her tumor had disappeared, and she instead underwent a pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy procedure. Additional treatment followed, leading to her being declared cancer-free as of this past April.

In an episode, Kimberly discusses her experience with Lynch Syndrome and stresses the importance of advocacy and understanding genetic risk factors. She credits her positive outlook and the support from her mother's experience as significant factors in overcoming pancreatic cancer. Join us for this episode of the Project Purple Podcast to learn more about genetics and the power of a positive mindset while battling pancreatic cancer.


If you’d like to donate to Project Purple’s mission of a world without pancreatic cancer, please visit https://www.projectpurple.org/.

Connect with Kimberly on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/barefoot.boutiki


To learn more about Project Purple, visit https://www.projectpurple.org/ or follow us on social media at these links: https://www.facebook.com/Run4ProjectPurple
https://www.instagram.com/projectpurple/
https://twitter.com/Run4Purple
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgA8nVhUY6_MLj5z3rnDQZ

Camille Moses, originally from New York but now residing in Florida, is a stage 4 pancreatic cancer survivor who was diagnosed nearly 12 years ago.

Camille was diagnosed in March 2012 at the age of 53. She led an active lifestyle, often taking her three large dogs hiking, walking, and swimming. Despite experiencing back pain, breathlessness, and fatigue, she initially attributed them to her active routine and ignored them. When rest and over-the-counter pain relief didn't help, she sought a proper diagnosis.

Initially, her symptoms were attributed to menopause due to her age, but she advocated for herself and sought further evaluation. An emergency room visit revealed spots on her pancreas, liver, and other organs, and she was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. Despite being advised to prepare for the worst, she sought out another opinion at the University of Miami, where she began chemotherapy treatments.

Camille underwent 34 rounds of chemotherapy in just 17 months, followed by a "chemo holiday" as per her doctor's recommendation. Twelve years later, she has not resumed her treatment, making her one of the most notable stage 4 pancreatic cancer survivors. In her story, Camille emphasizes that statistics are not definitive, as every case is unique and outcomes vary. Camille also shares her insights on relying on faith in times of crisis. She provides examples of times when she felt miracles were present.

Putting her full trust in her oncology team, she refuses to let numbers or others' opinions affect her positive outlook. She maintains a close relationship with her medical team and finds comfort in the term "stable" during her regular scans, expressing confidence and trust in her doctors. Despite her mother's 1984 death from pancreatic cancer, genetic testing revealed that Camille does not have any genetic mutations herself.

Throughout her almost 12-year journey, Camille has had many opportunities to share her story on live television and other major outlets, bringing awareness to the disease and meeting several celebrities to whom she spreads her story.

Tune in for this week’s episode of the Project Purple Podcast to hear more about Camille’s unique and optimistic journey with pancreatic cancer.


If you’d like to donate to Project Purple’s mission of a world without pancreatic cancer, please visit https://www.projectpurple.org/.


To learn more about Project Purple, visit https://www.projectpurple.org/ or follow us on social media at these links: https://www.facebook.com/Run4ProjectPurple
https://www.instagram.com/projectpurple/
https://twitter.com/Run4Purple
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgA8nVhUY6_MLj5z3rnDQZQ