Finding Strength Amid Tough Pancreatic Cancer Fight
- Popular YouTube star and reptile expert Brian Barczyk, 54, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last year. He’s since shared his journey with millions of followers he’s amassed online.
- Barczyk underwent numerous tests before his pancreatic cancer was deemed inoperable. This means surgery is no longer a viable option for treatment. Instead, the “Snake Guy” said throughout most of last year he underwent grueling chemotherapy.
- Pancreatic cancer is a type of cancer that forms in the pancreas. It is more challenging to treat because symptoms usually don’t present themselves until the cancer has spread or metastasized. Symptoms may include weight gain, back pain, and jaundice.
- Early-stage pancreatic cancer tumors don’t appear on imaging scans, and people typically don’t experience symptoms until the disease has progressed. The pancreas’ location in the abdomen makes it harder to find tumors.
- Treatment options for pancreatic cancer may include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy.
Popular YouTube star Brian Barczyk, better known as the “Snake Guy,” is in an emotional battle with pancreatic cancer. Barczyk revealed his diagnosis last year and has since shared parts of his cancer journey with his millions of followers on social media while aiming to inspire others.
Barczyk owns Reptarium in Utica, Michigan, and gained popularity through educational videos showcasing various types of reptiles. He appeared frequently on the Discovery Channel’s “Venom Hunters” show in 2016. However, when he was diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer, which means doctors cannot surgically remove the cancer due to its advanced state, the “Snake Guy” shared his situation with his online supporters.
Read MoreAlthough Barczyk admits the odds were stacked against him as he battled late-stage pancreatic cancer, he remains resilient. Nearly a year after his diagnosis, he’s lost some weight and hair amid cancer treatment. In January 2024, he entered hospice care, which focuses on comforting the patient.
The main difference between palliative care and hospice care is that during hospice care, no efforts are made to cure the illness. Meanwhile, palliative care may also provide treatment “intended to cure” the illness.
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Supportive fans also continue to shower him with words of encouragement.
RELATED: Clearing Up Misconceptions About Palliative Care
“Brian, no one uplifts us with their love for life like you. Thank you for all you have done for this world,” Facebook user Melody Barnhart wrote in a comment.
“Sending all the love in the world! Love seeing, watching, and learning from such a genuinely kind-hearted soul,” Facebook user Sabina Aulicino-Mattern commented.
Barczyk added he’s been “deeply touched by the overwhelming love and support” from his army of supporters.
Resilient Pancreatic Cancer Journeys
- “Stay Positive!” Alex Trebek Pens Touching, Private Note to Woman Pancreatic Cancer Survivor Who Worships Him
- ‘You Do Not Have Cancer’: Two-Time Pancreatic Cancer Survivor and Author Remembers the Words That Changed Her Life
- ‘It’s Warmin’ Up!!!’ Maria Menounos, 43, Sunbathes In Barely-There Bikini And Looks FABULOUS After Beating Cancer
The Silent Disease
Pancreatic cancer begins in the pancreas and is known as the “silent disease.”
Symptoms of the disease rarely show up until it has advanced and metastasized (spread) to other parts of the body.
Although pancreatic cancer survival rates have been improving, it’s still considered to be largely incurable. An exception to this is if the tumor is still small enough and localized enough to be operated on.
WATCH: Pancreatic cancer and early detection.
The National Cancer Institute identifies pancreatic cancer symptoms to include:
- Dark urine
- Pain in the abdomen
- Unexplained weight loss
- Light-colored stools
- Loss of appetite and fatigue
Treatment options for pancreatic cancer may include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy.
More Hope for Pancreatic Cancer Treatment
Based on Barczyk’s description of his diagnosis, the cancer was discovered in its later stages, making it more challenging to treat. However, some progress has been made for patients in this situation—one advancement involved PARP inhibitors.
RELATED: How Do PARP Inhibitors Work for Pancreatic Cancer?
PARP inhibitors prevent cancer cells damaged often during chemotherapy from naturally healing themselves and have shown significant promise in treating ovarian and breast cancer. However, a study presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in June revealed that one of these PARP inhibitor drugs, olaparib (Lynparza), may also work for pancreatic cancer.
The drug extended the time that patients with advanced stages of pancreatic cancer who had BRCA gene mutations could live without the cancer worsening (a measurement doctors call “progression-free survival”). The drug was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Immunotherapy Offers Hope
Immunotherapy is the process of activating a patient’s own immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells. These treatment options could be advantageous for patients who manage to catch pancreatic cancer in its early stages. A study funded by the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy combined two immunotherapy drugs with chemotherapy — and found some patients experienced either a shrinking of tumors or a slowing of the progression of tumors.
“Until now, immunotherapy hasn’t had a big role,” Dr. Allyson Ocean, Medical Oncologist at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian, told SurvivorNet. “Now this study combines two immunotherapy drugs with frontline standard chemotherapy, and we’re seeing response rates significantly better than what was published with other chemotherapies alone.”
Immunotherapy does not work for all patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. Still, the advances presented in this study and others throughout 2019 give those facing this disease much hope.
Questions for Your Doctor
If you are facing a pancreatic cancer diagnosis, you may have questions but are unsure how to get the answers you need. SurvivorNet suggests asking your doctor the following to kickstart your journey to more solid answers.
- What type of pancreatic cancer do I have?
- Has my cancer spread beyond my pancreas? If so, where has it spread, and what is the stage of the disease?
- What is my prognosis?
- What are my treatment options?
- What side effects should I expect after undergoing treatment?
- Will insurance cover my recommended treatment?
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.