In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Tricia Hanna, a stenographer and ultrasound technologist whose own expertise played a pivotal role in her pancreatic cancer diagnosis. Tricia shares her incredible journey, which began in 2021 when she was demonstrating an ultrasound for a student and discovered uterine abnormalities. This led to additional monitoring and testing, during which her CA-19 markers tripled which was cause for alarm.
Initially thought to be a splenic rest, her condition was discovered to be pancreatic cancer through a biopsy, leading to a distal pancreatectomy and the removal of her spleen in October 2023. During surgery, it was discovered that her cancer had spread to two of 13 lymph nodes, classifying it as Stage 2b pancreatic cancer.
Tricia opens up about the complications she faced during recovery, the impact of her professional background on her approach to her diagnosis and treatment, and the importance of early detection—especially since she experienced no symptoms at all. After finishing chemotherapy in June, she underwent genetic testing to further understand her health journey.
Join us for this candid conversation about resilience, the power of early detection, and how Tricia’s experience underscores the importance of advocacy in healthcare.
