Obesity and Pancreatic Cancer

My grandmother, Florence Smith was the healthiest of my four grandparents, or so I thought. My other three grandparents lived to be in their eighties. She and my grandfather Harry were dairy farmers in the Poconos. She milked cows, had a wonderful vegetable garden, canned peaches and cooked. She especially enjoyed fried foods-catfish, eels, green tomatoes and homemade doughnuts. As long as I remember, she was always overweight, but not morbidly obese. She didn't smoke, or drink. Her family migrated from Ireland during the potato famine. In the summer, both she and my grandfather worked at the camp across the road. He was a caretaker and she cleaned rooms. The cooks loved her and would give her fried chicken to bring home. In the winter, my grandfather would supplement his income with a trap line. He caught muskrats, raccoons, mink and ermine. Then, he skinned them and sold the pelts in Scranton, PA.

When she was 69 years old (1974), she developed abdominal pains. Her primary care physician couldn't diagnose the problem, so she underwent an exploratory laparotomy, which revealed pancreatic cancer. My mother read a news report that hydrazine sulfate (an ingredient in German missiles) was being tried on an experimental basis to relieve abdominal pain associated with pancreatic cancer; so, she traveled to the hospital in upstate New York where it was being tested and obtained the drug, which helped a little. My grandmother died at home within six months of the operation.

Now, research from MD Anderson Hospital in Houston, Texas reports a link to obesity early in life and pancreatic cancer later in life. This may explain what happened to my grandmother. It will be interesting to follow this research, especially if it can result in earlier treatment for this very deadly cancer.

I miss my grandmother. She bought me fishing licenses, lures, and bait (hellgrammites). She was an avid fisherman and was thrilled when I caught smallmouth bass, or pickerel. My grandfather taught me to shoot a 22 caliber rifle; I was able to bring home squirrels and rabbits, which we ate. She took me to "penny socials" where you could by tickets and bid on an item. If your number was picked in a drawing you won that item. She also liked playing dominoes and teaching her cat to jump through a hoop. She enjoyed watching "I Love Lucy and "Amos and Andy" in the 1950's. She had a very simple life, but a very full and happy one. Happier than many other people I know who are much better off financially.