Rachel V Thomas

Health and Me

US Woman’s Pancreatic Cancer Spotted On Routine Heart Scan: How It Saved Her Life

A routine <span>heart scan</span> helped doctors detect <span>pancreatic cancer</span> in a 72-year-old US woman before it was too late. Vicky Titcomb, a Cape Cod bookstore owner and great-grandmother, underwent the scan at Mass General Brigham in March 2025, before traveling to New York City to visit her son. 

Although she felt healthy, the scan revealed an abnormality on her pancreas. Further testing confirmed pancreatic cancer, one of the deadliest forms of cancer, CBS News reported. 

 “I felt like my life just switched in that moment,” Titcomb said. “It was a very weird feeling.” 

 Titcomb had undergone treatment for <span><a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health/breast-cancer">breast cancer</a></span> in 2012. 

In 2025, she was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer as well as pancreatic cancer. Doctors also found a mass on her ovary, which proved benign after the ovary was removed. 

<h2>Why Early Detection Matters In Pancreatic Cancer </h2>

Pancreatic cancer is often diagnosed after it has spread to other organs. Its five-year overall survival rate is 13%.

The American Association for Cancer Research noted in its 2026 Cancer Progress Report that pancreatic cancer survival rates have shown little improvement despite advances in cancer care. 

Doctors at Mass General Brigham planned <span>chemotherapy</span> and radiation to shrink Titcomb’s pancreatic tumor before surgery. 

“I was told the size of the (pancreatic) cancer was about the size of a grape. The goal, to me, was trying to make this cancer a raisin,” she said. “That's the way I visualized it.”

The plan was to perform a Whipple procedure, a complex operation that removes the head of the pancreas, part of the small intestine, the gallbladder and the bile duct. Only about one in five pancreatic cancer patients is eligible for this surgery. 

Titcomb’s early diagnosis made the operation possible. 

“If I had not had that scan when I did, the outcome would have been bad,” she said. 

<h2>Chemotherapy, Radiation And Surgery</h2> 

Titcomb began chemotherapy in June 2025, receiving eight doses over four months. She then underwent three weeks of radiation and additional chemotherapy.

Surgical oncologist Dr. Thomas Clancy said she tolerated the treatment “very well.” The therapy shrank the pancreatic tumor enough for surgery. 

On November 4, Titcomb underwent surgery to treat her breast cancer. Just over two weeks later, Clancy performed a robotic Whipple procedure to remove the affected part of her pancreas and other structures. 

The operation was successful, and Titcomb said she was walking that night. She returned home after several days in the hospital. 

Although she was recovering well, Clancy recommended two more months of chemotherapy because pancreatic cancer can be aggressive. 

“There was a lot going on,” Titcomb said. “I just tried to cope with the day-to-day.” 

<h2>No Evidence Of Cancer After Treatment</h2>

In March 2026, after further treatment, Clancy told Titcomb she had no evidence of cancer. She will continue to undergo scans every three months.

“She’s living her life. I generally tell patients at this point, ‘You’re done with therapy ... you go about your days,’” Clancy said. “The goal is to not be thinking about it all the time.” 

Titcomb is returning to running her bookstore, which family members helped manage during her treatment. She is also spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, keeping in touch with those who live far away through photos, videos and phone calls.

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A routine heart scan helped doctors detect pancreatic cancer in a 72-year-old US woman before it was too late. Vicky Titcomb, a Cape Cod bookstore owner and great-grandmother, underwent the scan at Mass General Brigham in March 2025, before traveling to New York City to visit her son.  Although she felt healthy, the scan revealed an abnormality on her pancreas. Further testing confirmed pancreatic cancer, one of the deadliest forms of cancer, CBS News reported.   “I felt like my life just switched in that moment,” Titcomb said. “It was a very weird feeling.”   Titcomb had undergone treatment for breast cancer in 2012.  In 2025, she was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer as well as pancreatic cancer. Doctors also found a mass on her ovary, which proved benign after the ovary was removed.  Why Early Detection Matters In Pancreatic Cancer  Pancreatic cancer is often diagnosed after it has spread to other organs. Its five-year overall survival rate is 13%. The American Association for Cancer Research noted in its 2026 Cancer Progress Report that pancreatic cancer survival rates have shown little improvement despite advances in cancer care. Doctors at Mass General Brigham planned chemotherapy and radiation to shrink Titcomb’s pancreatic tumor before surgery.  “I was told the size of the (pancreatic) cancer was about the size of a grape. The goal, to me, was trying to make this cancer a raisin,” she said. “That's the way I visualized it.” The plan was to perform a Whipple procedure, a complex operation that removes the head of the pancreas, part of the small intestine, the gallbladder and the bile duct. Only about one in five pancreatic cancer patients is eligible for this surgery. Titcomb’s early diagnosis made the operation possible. “If I had not had that scan when I did, the outcome would have been bad,” she said.  Chemotherapy, Radiation And Surgery Titcomb began chemotherapy in June 2025, receiving eight doses over four months. She then underwent three weeks of radiation and additional chemotherapy. Surgical oncologist Dr. Thomas Clancy said she tolerated the treatment “very well.” The therapy shrank the pancreatic tumor enough for surgery. On November 4, Titcomb underwent surgery to treat her breast cancer. Just over two weeks later, Clancy performed a robotic Whipple procedure to remove the affected part of her pancreas and other structures. The operation was successful, and Titcomb said she was walking that night. She returned home after several days in the hospital.  Although she was recovering well, Clancy recommended two more months of chemotherapy because pancreatic cancer can be aggressive. “There was a lot going on,” Titcomb said. “I just tried to cope with the day-to-day.”  No Evidence Of Cancer After Treatment In March 2026, after further treatment, Clancy told Titcomb she had no evidence of cancer. She will continue to undergo scans every three months. “She’s living her life. I generally tell patients at this point, ‘You’re done with therapy ... you go about your days,’” Clancy said. “The goal is to not be thinking about it all the time.” Titcomb is returning to running her bookstore, which family members helped manage during her treatment. She is also spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, keeping in touch with those who live far away through photos, videos and phone calls.

us woman’s pancreatic cancer spotted on routine heart scan: how it saved her life

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