In 2025, more than 67,000 Americans are expected to be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, which amounts to more than 184 people diagnosed every day. But for UPMC grateful patient and cancer survivor Andy Lyons, one diagnosis in particular changed his outlook on the silent but aggressive form of cancer: his older brother, Steve.
Although the brothers were close growing up, Lyons, who worked as a commercial photographer for more than 40 years, explains that by their adult years, they had drifted apart due to physical distance. With his brother working in Hong Kong, and Lyons himself set up in Des Moines, Iowa, it was a struggle to even spend holidays together.
In 2002, Lyons recalls getting a call from his brother, and the two finally planned to meet in Chicago to celebrate Thanksgiving together. When they reunited at a hotel, Steve revealed the real reason he was in Chicago: He had been diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer and given fewer than nine weeks to live.
“My brother told me, ‘Don’t let this happen to you,’” said Lyons. “So, I went home to Des Moines and began screening for cancer.”
In addition to his brother, who passed away just seven weeks after their Thanksgiving in Chicago, Lyons has survived his grandmother, several great-aunts, his mother, her twin sister, and their brother, all of whom died from pancreatic cancer. After a few routine computed tomography scans, Lyons felt there had to a better way and decided to get a second opinion from a physician who specialized in pancreatic cancer and genetic risk—a decision which ultimately led him to UPMC gastroenterologist Randall Brand, MD.
At the time, Dr. Brand had relocated to Chicago and was looking for participants for a familial pancreatic cancer research program—exactly the sort of trial Lyons was looking to join. Lyons was quickly accepted into the research study and began regular testing with Dr. Brand and team.
“[Dr. Brand] discussed the importance of early detection. It was then I knew that I was right where I needed to be,” said Lyons. “I knew I was in good hands and would later learn they were the best hands.”
When Brand joined the UPMC clinical team, Lyons decided to continue their therapeutic relationship and has made the trip to Pittsburgh regularly for nearly 20 years.
In 2021, Lyons received the news he’d dreaded for decades: A tumor had been detected in his pancreas. According to Lyons, he received his diagnosis on a Wednesday, and by Friday he was back in Pittsburgh meeting with a surgeon to discuss options. Just 10 days later, Lyons underwent laparoscopic surgery at UPMC to remove the small growth, then received one round of chemotherapy as a preventative measure to ensure all vestiges of the cancer were eradicated.
Today, Lyons continues to visit Pittsburgh every fall to continue surveillance of the remaining portion of his pancreas and to donate blood as part of Dr. Brand’s research study, which is helping in efforts to develop blood biomarker tests that could potentially assist in the early detection of pancreatic cancer. His DNA is also being studied to determine if it is possible to identify a specific gene responsible for causing pancreatic cancer in his family. Beyond participation in the study, Lyons and his family have also begun investing in Dr. Brand’s research financially.
“My goal in being part of Dr. Brand’s study is two-fold. First, after seeing what pancreatic cancer does, I didn’t want to die. Secondly, there’s a gene in me that may just unlock the mystery of pancreatic cancer and help to put an end to this disease,” said Lyons. “So, until it is discovered, we’ll be coming back to Pittsburgh every fall. It’s become our second home. I never thought my wife and I would ever say, ‘Go Steelers!’ Now we don’t say anything else, which can be rather problematic at our home in Iowa—right in the middle of Kansas City Chiefs territory. We get booed a lot.”
After talking with a financial advisor about ways to make a bigger impact, Lyons set up a donor-advised fund, which will disburse funds to priority areas as identified by Lyons and Dr. Brand. And when Lyons eventually passe —many years from now!—his philanthropic support will continue in perpetuity thanks to a planned estate gift.
“Dr. Brand’s research is making big inroads into the fight against pancreatic cancer that frankly saves lives. It did mine,” said Lyons. “It can be hard to commit to contributions because money is finite, but the need was obvious to me.”
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