Woman survives two cancers after surprising diagnosis: "I feel so lucky"

Vicky Titcomb, a 72-year-old Cape Cod bookstore owner and great-grandmother, was surprised to learn she had pancreatic cancer after a routine heart scan in March 2025. The unexpected diagnosis came as she was visiting her son in New York City. Despite the grim prognosis, Titcomb chose to stay positive and avoided researching the often fatal disease.

She also had stage 1 breast cancer and a benign ovarian mass that were addressed first. Titcomb underwent chemotherapy, radiation, and a complex Whipple surgery to remove the head of her pancreas, the first part of the small intestine, the gallbladder, and the bile duct. The success of her treatments led to no evidence of cancer two years after her initial diagnosis in March 2026, and she now aims to live without constantly thinking about her battle with cancer.