Barb Vermeer

Dear Friends and Family,


I'm not someone who is comfortable using social media to talk about myself, but I'm realizing the ease of communication outweighs my own reservations and I think it will help you as well to have a spot where you can go to for updates or communicating.


For those who don't know, after some doctoring earlier this year, I learned at the end of March that I have stage III pancreatic cancer. Good that it is stage III, so it has not spread at this point, but pancreatic cancer is a difficult diagnosis.


I've been receiving chemotherapy for 5 months hoping to shrink the tumor to allow for removal by surgery, but we recently learned, after a scan, that the tumor has not shrunk, so surgery is not an option. The good news is that it hasn't spread or grown in any considerable way.


Beginning in September I will start a new treatment plan which includes daily radiation and chemotherapy five days a week, for a five to seven week period. Approximately four weeks following this treatment I will have a new scan, the results of which will determine appropriate follow up, which may be to continue scans every 2 to 3 months. Of course a lot of unknowns yet but we are hoping this treatment provides a positive outcome.


I've been hearing from so many of you by so many methods and I'm humbled. Receiving thoughtful cards, phone calls, text messages, text messengers, emails, and visits...so many ways to communicate these days, and to each his own I like to say. I've realized that I have many groups of friends and family that I communicate with and so again hope this site provides an easier way to do that.


Lastly for now, I've been getting the best care from Frauenshuh Cancer Center (connected to Methodist Hospital). I’ve been tolerating the treatments better than I expected and couldn't have done this without Steve and my family by my side, who have been the best. I'm happy to have vacationed in Northern MN this summer with family, celebrated Thomas and Jenny's marriage and all the activities that go with it, and many more activities and events with friends and family. So many of you have offered help in any way, which I truly appreciate, and I say we are just two people with few needs, so your support in thoughts, and prayers are what we could use the most at this time.


With love,

Barb