Help Me Beat Pancreatic Cancer

Family, friends, colleagues, and supporters,

Towards the beginning of May, I began having simultaneous stomach and back pain on random nights as I would try to sleep. I didn't notice any patterns like what I ate or the time of bed that would affect these pains. These were random pains on random nights. The only consistency was when it happened, it would be throughout the night, and I couldn't sleep. Not extreme pain, but enough discomfort to keep me up. It would pass around 6 AM, and I would sleep some in the morning.

I thought I had pulled something in my back, although I had no recent injuries. My next conclusion was an ulcer as I have been very stressed since March 25th when I had submitted a plan and proposal to Kentucky for the infrastructure of Industrial Hemp in the Bluegrass state. 4 decades of research, 6 months in 2 states putting together the project, and now going on 6 months with not a word from Kentucky. It's easy to see why I'm so stressed over 40 years of work with no audience.

In June, the pain began to increase in frequency and intensity. I began to burp during every meal, and my appetite was slowly shrinking. I remember saying, "Too much food!" no matter what plate I had. I went to a clinic, and X-rays showed nothing. Days later, I had an ultrasound that showed some fat around my liver, but nothing conclusive. I then was scheduled for a CAT scan on the 20th for a deeper look. In the days leading up to the 20th, the pain became more frequent, although mostly contained to bedtime.

On June 18th, Father's Day, I had a wonderful morning, then lunch with my girlfriend at an Argentine bakery (El Rinconcito Argentino Bakery) in Miami. I love that place, and my girlfriend bought me the Messi World Cup jersey I've been wanting (see pic). We arrived at her home around 2 PM, and I took a nap as I wasn't sleeping much at night. I had a good rest until about 4 and felt OK. As the evening approached, I began having severe stomach and back pain again, and my girlfriend looked concerned. I eventually said, "I don't feel good, honey." She said, "That's it, we are going to emergency!"

I thought the Cat scan coming up on the 20th would give us answers, but instead, on Father's Day, the 18th would reveal the mystery. After a CAT scan and within 2 hours, the doc on duty walked in to give us the results. I knew it the second I saw the doctor, that look in his eyes. "Mr. Campos, you have pancreatic cancer."

As the doctor told us what would happen next, my girlfriend's forehead landed on my leg as she listened. When the doc finished, she looked at me and asked, "Why you?" All I could say was, "God's plan, honey. He always tests his strongest the hardest. It will be OK."

From the emergency room, I was transported by ambulance to the cancer center for Mt. Sinai in south Miami, where I would spend the week. After several tests, an MRI, a PET scan, a lot of pain medication, and several visits from doctors and nurses, I was discharged.

I was diagnosed with stage 2 or 3 pancreatic cancer. The doctors told me it probably has been growing for the past 5 to 10 years. Fortunately, the cancer has not spread and is only in my pancreas. The issue is that the head of my pancreas (where the tumor is) is bulging, which makes surgery more dangerous. So, I now have to undergo several months of chemo and try to shrink the tumor for surgery. I'm looking at 6 months to a year of chemo, surgery, and recovery.

Pancreatic surgery is complicated and dangerous. Your pancreas is in your very core, between your stomach and spine. To operate, the surgeon will have to move my stomach aside, then 6 hours of carefully trying to remove any tumor, looking through cameras. As the head of my pancreas is bulged, that is where the stomach and back pain came from as it is pushing against both. The specific reason the surgeon wants to shrink the tumor is my pancreas is pushing directly against an artery in front of my spine. Veins are easy to repair, cut an artery and it could be curtains.

I now have a chemo treatment every other Thursday. Each treatment lasts several hours, and I am then sent home with a portable pump that administers more chemo slowly over 2 more days. These 2 days are the worst! I get very sick, vomit often, and can't even keep down water. The moment the portable pump gets disconnected on Saturday, I instantly begin to feel better. However, it takes a week before I start to feel a bit back to normal.

During this week of recovery, I barely eat as I have no appetite, I would throw it up anyway. I can only eat what I am craving. The thought, smell, mention, or sight of something else instantly ruins my appetite and makes me nauseous.

I have now completed 4 chemo treatments, and they just took another CAT scan to see where everything is. On September 7th, I go back to speak with the Oncologist and discuss how we will proceed. Adjusting the chemo strength and or adding radiation are 2 possibilities we will discuss.

I'm often sick and or weak. Most of my days consist of resting or sleeping in bed. I'm too weak to work or even be out for too long. I'm sensitive to cold and heat. When you have cancer, you lose your appetite. This is greatly intensified when you undergo chemo. Now triple down with the fact that my tumor is pushing on my stomach. Pain, pressure, and upset stomach all the time.

All of this is terrible, but the worst part is the burden it places on my friends and family. I can see the pain in their eyes and hear it in their voices.

This is serious and could take my life, but I'm not scared. The only fear I have is not completing all the things I want to do in this life. All the plans I have for Industrial Hemp, Hemp clothing, and aid to children around the world.

With all this said, I am in very good spirits and optimistic about the outcome. Those that know me well, know that I am a fighter and that I will beat this!

My only concern is that I have no idea how I will pay for all of this. The first month cost over 15K, and I have several months of rent, food, gas, prescriptions, and hospital bills ahead of me. The surgery alone will cost around 100K. I can't work, I have no savings, and I'm naturally stressed over the finances. Cancer is costly!

All my life I have done my best to help others, now I humbly ask for your help in my fight against this terrible disease. Kind words and prayers are greatly appreciated, but every penny helps get me through this difficult time.

Thank you, and God bless,

Hernan