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For patients with late-stage cancer and their loved ones, time together can be unpredictable. Thanks to the dedication of Travis Knolhoff’s exceptional caregivers, he and his family were able to spend as much valuable time together as possible during Travis’s final year.

When Travis first began experiencing digestive issues and persistent back pain, he brushed it off. At 33 years old, he had an active life working and chasing after three young daughters. He figured he strained a muscle at work or had a gallbladder flair up.

When the pain became unbearable, his wife, Kourtney, rushed him to the nearest emergency room. Within a few hours, they received the devastating news that Travis had a tumor on his pancreas.

A few days later, oncologists at Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and WashU Medicine performed a biopsy which confirmed the tumor was stage 4 pancreatic cancer — a highly aggressive and terminal disease. Within a week of receiving that diagnosis, Travis met with WashU Medicine oncologist Patrick Grierson, MD, PhD, and had his first chemotherapy treatment.

“Once we got to Siteman, they gave us a clear plan,” Kourtney says. “They never once let us down. They always guided us and never let us feel like we were alone.”

Surrounded by Support

Travis and Kourtney understood the realities of the diagnosis, but they always felt supported by Dr. Grierson, who helped them make the most of their precious time.

“He was truthful, but he always gave Travis hope. With that hope, Travis was able to live another year with pancreatic cancer,” Kourtney says. “He was able to teach our daughter how to ride a bike. He was able to go hunting with me one more time. He was able to do so much.”

To address some of his pain, Travis was referred to Koushik Das, MD, a WashU Medicine gastroenterologist at Barnes-Jewish Hospital specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic disorders. What Dr. Das uncovered through testing impacted the whole family.

“We found out that Travis had a genetic mutation that makes him more susceptible to pancreatic cancer,” Travis’s mom, Brenda, says. “Our family was tested, and his father has the same mutation. Every year now, he sees Dr. Das and has tests done as a preventive measure for early detection of pancreatic cancer.”

Carrying Hope Forward

Pancreatic cancer often goes undetected, staying invisible until it progresses to advanced stages with low survival rates. Dr. Das is part of a multidisciplinary team working to change this by developing a unique diagnostic test to detect pancreatic and gastric cancers earlier when treatments are more effective.

The potential to identify and treat pancreatic cancer earlier means the world to the Knolhoff family.

“I’m just hopeful that one day, even if there’s not a cure, there’s earlier detection for pancreatic cancer — especially for my girls,” Kourtney says.

As the Knolhoffs look forward with confidence in the team at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and hope for the next scientific discovery, they feel grateful for the precious time they had with Travis and the incredible support they’ve received.

“I know it takes a lot to do the research and accomplish what they do at Barnes-Jewish Hospital,” Brenda says. “I’m not sure what we would have done had we not had Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Siteman Cancer Center, and WashU Medicine doctors right at our fingertips.”