He was just a regular guy with an absolutely wonderful life - a supportive, loving wife, Linda; two endearing children, Taylor and Colton; and a exceptionally fulfilling job as the president of a well known consumer goods company.
He enjoyed many of the perks that were the benefits of his hard work: the house, the cars (including the obligatory 50-year-old guy car: a dark red Corvette), and a small group of longtime friends. He and Linda enjoyed cooking and entertaining, dining out with friends, local sports and traveling with their children.
Then, in 2008, at age 50, after a short mysterious illness, he was diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer, and began a frightening, all-consuming journey into the world of this life threatening disease.
He endured months of chemotherapy, followed by radiation supplemented with additional chemo in an attempt to achieve the nearly impossible: become operable before the cancer had spread. After being told that the treatments did not work, he sought additional opinions, and was declared operable in October 2008. His Whipple surgery was long, complicated and led to an extended recovery that lasted months. When the pathology reports indicated that cancer remained in his pancreas and lymph nodes, he again sought additional opinions, which led to many more months of aggressive chemotherapy.
Finally, in June of 2009, after almost 18 months of fighting the battle, he was declared NED (no evidence of disease), and still remains in long-term remission.
Today, in addition to consulting for several consumer product manufacturers, Bob manages a delightful and rewarding children's entertainment business at www.SantaSpeaking.com.
He has been featured as a New York Presbyterian Hospital - Pancreas Center "Story of Hope" and is one of the patient stories in their "Amazing Things Are Happening Here" advertising campaign.
He and Linda (a colon cancer survivor) frequently speak with newly diagnosed cancer patients, offering them guidance, hope, and a compassionate shoulder to lean on.
New York Presbyterian TV Ad - 2011 Dr. Chabot talks treatment
Extended Interview - 2011 Patient Story
Pancreas Awareness Day - 2010 Pancreas Awareness Day - 2011
The Ride Of My Life
A Fight To Survive Pancreatic Cancer
by Bob Brown
Insightful, humorous, and inspiring memoir of self-descibed "regular guy" Bob Brown's courageous battle with pancreatic cancer and his journey through the medical community to save his life. In a conversational tone that feels like you’re chatting with a lifelong friend, Bob shares the play-by-play of his fight to stay alive and make the right treatment decisions, affirms the difference a positive attitude can make, and celebrates the unexpected gift of a new perspective on life.
What would you do upon hearing your doctor utter the words "inoperable pancreatic cancer"? If you or someone you love has been diagnosed, this amazing story of survival will move you, amuse you, and instill hope in your heart.
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