New high-risk pancreatic cancer screening program a lifesaver for Chesterfield woman

Catching pancreatic cancer early is rare, yet for those fortunate enough to receive an early diagnosis, the odds of survival dramatically improve. This critical window of opportunity is precisely what saved Brenda Minor, a 37-year-old Chesterfield resident, thanks to the pioneering High-Risk Pancreas Center at Sarah Cannon Cancer Network at HCA Virginia.

When Brenda suffered her third bout of presumed pancreatitis, each episode coinciding with a seemingly innocuous cold — she resolved to take her health more seriously.

In November, persistent, sharp pain when drinking prompted yet another ER visit and a CT scan, which yielded no clear answers.

Determined to uncover the root cause, she sought care from Richmond Gastroenterology Associates. Comprehensive lab testing and a genetic analysis led to a referral to Dr. Matthew Fasullo, medical director of a newly establish High-Risk Pancreas Center at Sarah Cannon Cancer Network at HCA Virginia.

Dr. Fasullo immediately recognized that despite a normal-appearing pancreas on a CT scan and the absence of typical symptoms, Brenda’s unique combination of a genetic mutation and a positive family history of pancreatic cancer placed her in a high-risk category.

“I just explained to her what pancreatic screening was, that she was at risk and that CT scans were not sufficient to perform a careful inspection of the pancreas for small cancerous and precancerous lesions,” Dr. Fasullo said.

Pancreatic cancer is often diagnosed in its advanced stages, making effective treatment challenging. The American Cancer Society reports that the 5-year survival rate for localized pancreatic cancer (when the cancer has not spread outside the pancreas) is 44%. However, if the cancer has spread regionally, the rate drops to 15%, and if it has spread to distant parts of the body, it's a grim 3%. Early detection is vital.

Wisely bypassing reliance on the CT scan, Dr. Fasullo performed an endoscopic ultrasound that revealed a subtle lesion in the pancreas, later identified as a high-grade precancerous tumor.

“Of course, with my age, everyone is thinking it shouldn’t be anything,” Minor recalled. “But waiting for the results was traumatizing - I was just emotionally drained.”

“The minute he called me back and told me, ‘Let me start by saying this is not pancreatic cancer,’ I just started wailing and let it all out,” Minor said. “He said, ‘This is a lifesaving moment.’”

Dr. Fasullo sent Minor to Dr. Michael Rose with the Virginia Surgical Institute at Johnston-Willis Hospital who successfully removed the tumor.

“Within just a couple weeks of my procedure, she had the entire tumor removed with clean margins indicating a complete cure,” Dr. Fasullo said.

Dr. Fasullo officially launched the high-risk pancreatic screening program almost a year ago after collaborating closely with Henrico Doctors’ Hospital’s high-risk breast clinic to get the center up and running. There is significant overlap between the two programs as they relate to genetic mutations and family history.

Before coming to HCA Virginia, Dr. Fasullo had spent a year completing a fellowship in advanced endoscopy at New York University, helmed by world-renowned physician Dr. Gregory Haber. There, he witnessed firsthand the value of high-risk pancreatic cancer screening.

“I thought the Richmond market had an incredible need for this type of program,” he said, noting that HCA Virginia was a natural fit. “Building on the tremendous success of our existing high-risk cancer screening programs, expanding into pancreatic screening was a natural and necessary progression.”

Dr. Fasullo’s program is the only one like it in the region, and Brenda, as an asymptomatic young patient whose potential cancer was caught and cured, is the perfect example of its life-saving impact. Her outcome highlights the program's ability to identify precancerous lesions or early-stage cancers when they are most treatable, dramatically improving survival chances.

“This is the reason I wanted to start this program,” Dr. Fasullo said. “Early detection is such a powerful tool in all areas of medicine when employed correctly for those at risk.”

Brenda is thankful she followed her instincts and that they led her to Dr. Fasullo.

“He is the most understanding, empathetic doctor I have ever comes across,” she said.

As for what she hopes others will take from her story, the lesson is simple:

“Listen to yourself, listen to what your body is telling you and advocate for yourself,” she said. “You know your body better than anyone else. If you have something that’s happening and you know it’s not supposed to be happening, that’s not right. Don’t push it to the side.”

Optimal candidates for pancreatic cancer screening include individuals with a family history of the disease or known pathogenic variants in genes such as BRCA, ATM, and PALB2, which are among the most commonly associated with increased risk. To schedule a consultation please contact Dr Fasullo at (804) 560-9849.