They have been the best 17 months of my life — relationships, a clear sense of priorities – John Morris
SALT LAKE CITY — In late 2013, John Morris, chief general counsel at the University of Utah, thought he had appendicitis, but a CT scan revealed the truth.
It was a cancerous mass in his pancreas.
Though it was a devastating diagnosis, Morris was determined to fight and raise awareness about this cancer.
Morris recently read from his blog in his spacious, sun-lit office at the University of Utah.
"I learned my wife (and) my kids were going to love and support me no matter what. I learned I have more real friends than I ever imagined," Morris said, his voice trembling as he choked back tears.
The chief general counsel at the U. learned 17 months ago that he had pancreatic cancer.
"It's a terrible disease. It has the poorest survival of any major cancer," Morris said. "Two percent of people with my diagnosis live five years; half of the people with that diagnosis die within the first five months."
The disease can be in the body for 10 years before any symptoms, doctors said. The only way to cure it is by removing the mass. For most people, including Morris, by the time it's discovered, it's too late.
Morris is beating the odds through chemotherapy, advocacy and savoring the unexpected upside of cancer, he said.
"They have been the best 17 months of my life — relationships, a clear sense of priorities," he said.
He's spending time with family and friends, with greater intimacy, and without worries and tasks that aren't necessary. "The gift of cancer is that you actually do that," he said.
Morris said a simple blood test beginning with those at the highest risk and then being routine for everyone would be a game changer. He's devoting the precious time he has left to making sure that happens.
"It would flip the odds of survival on their head, from only a few people surviving five years to most people surviving," he said.
Dr. Sunil Sharma, chief of medical oncology at the Huntsman Cancer Institute, said researchers question how early is early enough for detecting the cancer since it's so highly aggressive.
"We have to have a test that is very sensitive and very specific," Sharma said. "People are working on it, but it's not there yet."
According to Johns Hopkins Pathology, K-ras mutations occur in more than 90 percent of pancreatic carcinomas. The gene would show up in a blood test, a telltale sign of the disease.
"The gene mutation would only be present from the cancer," Sharma said. "Normal cells don't have the K-ras mutation."
Morris has become an advocate for his children and grandchildren, and for everyone. Morris' foundation is called Skew Right, which means, "to survive longer." He's raising money and awareness for early detection. For more information, visit skewright.org.
"There is no guarantee," he said. "Every day is precious by itself."
Email: hsimonsen@deseretnews.com