Metro

A Fighter

Pancreatic cancer survivor rallies for her life and that of others.

Patricia A. Ellis

Special to the Jewish News

S

heila Sky Kasselman of West
Bloomfield didn't feel well in
late 2006. At first, she thought
the feeling would pass. She was in good
shape and took care of herself; but when
she started losing weight for no reason
a few months later, she decided to make
a doctor's appointment. She had several
tests and they all came back negative. But
she persisted. She knew something was
just not right.
In October 2007, Kasselman was diag-
nosed with pancreatic cancer. Life as she
knew it would never be the same. This
vivacious, active mother and grandmother
in her mid-60s was devastated, but still
determined to fight this disease. Due to
her persistence, her cancer was actually
caught in the early stages, which is highly
unusual for this disease.
Kasselman worked with her team of
doctors at the Detroit-based Henry Ford
Health System and decided to have the
Whipple procedure — a major surgery
that impacts the pancreas, small intestine,
bile duct and stomach.
Kasselman's fight and passion to live,
and her tenacity to find a way to detect
pancreatic cancer in the earliest stages,
led to the creation of the Sky Foundation
Inc. Through the foundation, Kasselman
is raising awareness and funds so that
researchers Michael Tainsky, Ph.D., from
the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer
Institute and Wayne State University
School of Medicine, both in Detroit, and
Ann Silverman, M.D., from the Henry Ford
Health System, can collaborate their work
to one day develop a blood test to detect
pancreatic cancer in its early stage.
The project would detect antibodies
that are produced by patients when they
react to proteins expressed in their tumors
and use these antibodies as diagnostic
biomarkers. Biomarkers are biochemical
characteristics that indicate a biological
process. They are one of the only ways to
aid in diagnosing diseases in patients who
do not magnify symptoms.
Those with pancreatic cancer are often
diagnosed in the late stages because the
disease presents very few symptoms in its

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December 18 2008

Ann Silverman, M.D., from the Henry Ford Health System; Shelia Kasselman, found-

er of the Sky Foundation Inc.; Michael Tainsky, Ph.D., from the Karmanos Cancer
Institute and Wayne State University; and Jeffrey Zaslow, reporter for the Wall
Street Journal and co-author of The Last Lecture.

She was so moved by the Randy Pausch
story The Last Lecture that she con-
_tacted co-author Jeffrey Zaslow of West
Bloomfield. Zaslow talked about Pausch's
belief that one day pancreatic cancer will
be a survivable disease. He signed com-
plimentary copies of his book. The books
were donated to the Sky Foundation from
a generous supporter.
Just recently, Kasselman was joined
by members of the Roberta Sanchez
family who presented a check to the
Sky Foundation Inc. for research efforts.
Roberta Sanchez, a registered nurse who
worked in the emergency room at a local
hospital and dedicated her life to helping
others, was diagnosed with stage III pan-
creatic cancer in June 2008. She died just
two months later. Heartbroken, Sanchez's
family reached out to Kasselman and
invited her to a bowling fundraiser in
their sister's memory to raise funds for
research. Sanchez's family, including four
of her sisters and her daughter, were able
to present a $5,700 check to Kasselman
and Tainsky in their sister's memory.
Kasselman has met other families who
have lost loved ones to pancreatic cancer
— some of whom she would probably
never have met if it weren't for her illness.
"I'm fighting for my family, Roberta's
family and everyone who is touched by
pancreatic cancer;' said Kasselman. "We
know the research will take time, but we
are determined to work vigilantly toward
measures that can help diagnose this
deadly disease in its earlier stages!'
Kasselman added, "Although my blood
work is currently clear of the disease,
those of us with pancreatic cancer are
never really 'cancer-free'. We must all work
together to help save lives!' ❑

Patricia A. Ellis is media relations manager for

Sheila Sky Kasselman with grandchildren, left front, Samantha Kasselman, 9, of
Northbrook, Ill.; Sophie Kaplan, 9, of Seattle; Mitchell Kasselman,12, of Northbrook;
and Jillian Kaplan, 12 (in back next to Sheila) of Seattle.

early stages, and those it does demonstrate
are often indistinct. Dr. Tainsky, along with
a team of researchers, aims to apply an
advanced screening technology to pancre-
atic cancer to detect it in its earliest stages,
before symptoms manifest. Early detection
would provide a five-fold improvement in

survival rates.
Through the Sky Foundation,
Kasselman continues to raise the seed
funding necessary for this research. She
held a friend-raiser for 50 guests on
Dec. 7 to let friends know about the Sky
Foundation and to ask for their support.

the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute,
Detroit.

For information on Sky Foundation
Inc., visit www.skyfoundationinc.org .
For information on cancer services,
call 1-(800)-KARMANOS or visit
www.karmanos.org and
www.henryfordhealth.org .

