Meet Carlos “Charlie” Morales of El Paso, Texas. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in January of this year. Charlie shares the challenges he faced in getting a diagnosis and the difficulties he encountered afterward.
Charlie began feeling ill in September of 2023, experiencing severe stomach aches and pains after eating. His inability to eat caused him to lose 80 pounds from September to November of 2023. When he visited the local emergency department, the only cause for concern was that his lipase numbers were elevated. Despite his worsening condition, he was referred to a specialist, but the appointment was months away. As Charlie’s condition continued to deteriorate, he had more blood work done, which showed further elevation in his lipase count. Concerned about his health, he paid out of pocket for scans, which eventually led to the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.
Following his diagnosis, Charlie faced additional challenges related to his digestive system. To relieve his pain and maintain a healthy weight, he underwent the installation of a biliary drainage catheter in his bile duct to drain bile from his liver. However, the tube caused numerous issues, including infection, sepsis, and the need for repositioning several times. Charlie also had to have a urine catheter and an arm tube installed to flush harmful toxins resulting from the mishaps with the bile tube.
Despite these challenges, Charlie finds motivation in his family and remains optimistic. He views pancreatic cancer as another obstacle that he will overcome, drawing strength from overcoming difficult experiences in his life, such as being bullied as a child and coping with the loss of his first infant child.
Join us for this week’s episode of the Project Purple Podcast to hear Charlie’s inspiring and motivating outlook on battling pancreatic cancer.
