Royersford Resident to Speak at PurpleStride Philadelphia

The following press release and photos was sent in by Robin Warshaw of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, Philadelphia Affiliate:

ROYERSFORD, PA - At 36, Nan Moyer had two young children and was taking college courses. When she developed a backache, her doctor said it was from stress and the rigors of being in school. She started exercising, but the backache persisted. Further exams finally turned up the cause: Moyer had pancreatic cancer, the fourth leading cancer killer in the U.S.

That was in 1991. Initially, Moyer had two surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation treatments. A year later, the cancer returned and she had a third surgery. After that, recalls the Royersford woman, “I had different consults that said, ‘There’s nothing more we can do for you.’”

Pancreatic cancer has the lowest survival rate of all cancers tracked by the American Cancer Society and National Cancer Institute. Most patients—74 percent—die within a year of diagnosis. Only six percent survive for five years.

When she heard the doctors’ opinions, Moyer says, “I returned to college.” She graduated from Alvernia University Nursing School in 1995 and from Kutztown University in 2000 with a B.S. in psychology and professional writing. 

Remarkably, she has survived pancreatic cancer for 20 years. Moyer takes special enzymes to help digest food, but is not in any other treatment.

She is now the Parish Nurse for St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Boyertown, where she provides health education, counseling, patient advocacy and other services. “Because I went to college after experiencing what it was like to be a patient, I wanted to address the psychosocial aspects of cancer patients. That’s how I became the nurse I am today,” says Moyer.

Her perspective as a pancreatic cancer survivor helps many of the patients she sees. “Just to have someone say, ‘I understand,’ is healing,” she says.

Moyer will be speaking from that perspective at PurpleStride Philadelphia, a 5K walk and timed run, to be held on Saturday, November 5, at Memorial Hall, Fairmount Park, in Philadelphia. The event benefits the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, a national organization creating hope in a comprehensive way through research, patient support, community outreach and advocacy for a cure.  

Moyer is happy to have the chance to speak at the event. She believes in helping herself by exercising regularly and eating healthfully. “I am the picture of health,” she says. “I have chronic pain from the (surgical) incision, but I don’t let that stop me.”

Ian Laperriere, of the Philadelphia Flyers, also will be on the stage at PurpleStride Philadelphia. The event, planned entirely by local volunteers from the Philadelphia area affiliate, features music, refreshments and a children’s play zone. For more information, visit www.purplestride.org.

To learn more about the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and the Philadelphia Affiliate, visit www.pancan.org.