JUPITER — In recognition of World Pancreatic Cancer Day, Jupiter Medical Center (JMC) welcomed survivors, families, and care teams for a special reunion highlighting hope, resilience, and the power of advanced cancer care.

The event brought together seven pancreatic cancer survivors, including Wellington resident Lydia Krause, who shared her journey from diagnosis to recovery. “So far, I’ve survived and I’ve beaten the odds. I am very blessed that my cancer did not spread. Everyone at Jupiter Medical Center, the specialists, the nurses, the chemotherapy technicians, the receptionists, were wonderful,” said Krause, who now serves as Survivor Outreach Co‑Chair for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network in Broward and Palm Beach counties.

Unable to attend, but sharing his story in advance was Daniel Pelham, 49, a fabricator welder from Okeechobee. After experiencing over 11 days of unusual abdominal pain, Daniel was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and began chemotherapy before being referred to Dr. Shanel Bhagwandin at JMC.

On July 3, Dr. Bhagwandin performed a complex, fully robotic Whipple procedure, the first of its kind by the surgeon at Jupiter and in the region, which involved removing one-third of Daniel’s pancreas and a portion of his intestine. Remarkably, Daniel was walking a mile a day within two days of surgery and was released from the hospital just four days later to continue chemotherapy and recovery.

In Daniel’s words: “Other than being sore, I’m doing really good. Everyone at JMC was really great, really awesome, from the staff members who brought me my food to the nurses and the entire surgical team. They’re really on the ball at that hospital, and I couldn’t have asked for better care. My advice to people facing serious symptoms like mine is to go to a good hospital. If I’d have stayed where I was, I’d probably still have cancer.”

Dr. Shanel Bhagwandin, DO, FACS, MPH, Medical Director of the Gastrointestinal Surgical Oncology Program and Program Director of the National Pancreas Foundation Pancreatic Cancer Center Program at JMC, led the care team. “Our mission is to provide the most advanced, compassionate care possible. Seeing our patients return, thriving and full of life, is the greatest reward for our team,” he said.

Pancreatic cancer accounts for about 3.3 percent of all new cancer cases, but nearly 8 percent of cancer-related deaths, making it one of the deadliest cancers. Events like this reunion shine a light on the importance of early detection, innovative treatment, and the unwavering support of a dedicated medical team.

For more information about Jupiter Medical Center, visit jupitermed.com, call 561-263-2234, or follow Jupiter Medical Center on Facebook and Instagram @jupitermedicalcenter or on ‘X’ @JupiterMedCtr.