Whitney Goldin

Whitney Goldin was already keenly aware of her family’s health history, but when her father was diagnosed with Stage IV Pancreatic Cancer in 2019, followed by her mother’s Stage 1 diagnosis in 2022, she knew she had to do more.

Whitney’s motivation to raise awareness and funds for Pancreatic Cancer early detection research is clear. “There’s Pancreatic Cancer on my dad’s side, and three generations of Pancreatic Cancer on my mom’s side. I look at my kids, and I think, ‘I want to be there for them. I want to watch them grow up. I want to meet my grandkids. I want to be part of their lives, and if I want to do that, I have to work towards that. We need earlier detection.”

 

Her Father’s Pancreatic Cancer Journey

Whitney’s father, Mark Friedman, had been experiencing stomach pains and weight loss but didn’t know why. The diagnosis that came just three weeks after his retirement came as a shock to everyone. “I’ve read every article possible about detection, and I’ve learned that it can go from Stage I to Stage IV within nine months. He probably had four weeks of true symptoms, so even if it had been detected four weeks earlier, it wouldn’t have made a difference.”

Between rounds of chemotherapy, Whitney, her husband Danny, and their young daughter flew to Los Angeles to be with him, but when COVID hit, Whitney was pregnant with her second child and unable to travel. “My dad lived for his kids and grandkids, so he would come to Chicago when he could, and we would stay outside and try to navigate through it.”

The combined efforts of chemotherapy, clinical trials, and the doctors at Cedar Sinai in Los Angeles gave Mark an additional 19 months before he passed away in 2021. “In a million years I never thought that I would be giving a eulogy via Zoom for my father, who died of Pancreatic Cancer.”

 

Her Mother’s Pancreatic Cancer Journey

Whitney’s mother, Karen Grandon, had been complaining of back pain and made an appointment to see her doctor. Assuming it was nothing more than a strained muscle, she even contemplated canceling the appointment. Tests showed Stage 1 Pancreatic Cancer, which was treated with chemotherapy before and after the Whipple procedure. One year later, her mother remains focused on regaining her strength, muscle mass, and stamina and getting screened every three months. “When we ask the doctor what the chances are it comes back, they said ‘it’s a coin flip’, so we are very cautiously optimistic,” Whitney commented.

Whitney is grateful that her mother was proactive about seeing her doctor. “If we ignore these common symptoms as being normal day-to-day pain, we miss out on a lot of potential early diagnoses,” she noted, adding, “Rolfe does a great job on social media showing the warning signs and symptoms to allow for early detection.

 

Getting Involved with Rolfe

Although Whitney had previously raised funds for Pancreatic Cancer organizations in Los Angeles, she began to look for ways to get involved closer to home. Upon learning more about Rolfe Pancreatic Cancer Foundation and its mission, she knew she was ready to jump in with both feet. Whitney’s energy, passion, and desire to make an impact led to her current role on Rolfe’s Governing Board.

“My dad taught me that the three most important things [in life] are family, giving back to the community, and being a leader in your community. And here I was being presented with this unbelievable opportunity — it was a no-brainer for me. I couldn’t be happier to be part of Rolfe.”

She also benefited directly from Rolfe’s resources, and with their help was able to meet with a genetic counselor. “I’ve had a full panel of genetic testing and am going to be under the watchdog of various doctors, which I wouldn’t have been able to do without Rolfe.”

 

Team Goldin at DASH for Detection

Team Goldin joined DASH for Detection for the first time in 2024. Whitney’s team was comprised of family, friends, law school buddies, work colleagues, and more. Her mom was also there to champion the cause and raise funds for early detection research. “I’m so honored by the people who joined our team, and the many people who couldn’t be there but contributed,” Whitney noted.

In addition to the 5K walk/run along Chicago’s lakefront, Whitney was responsible for planning the kid-friendly activities and family fun that were a part of DASH. “I had these ideas in my head and visions of what DASH would be like, and it was even better than I could have ever imagined. I was so excited to see over a thousand people getting together all in purple for this incredible cause.”

 

Finding a Family in Rolfe 

“When you get this diagnosis, you’re in your darkest hour. There’s no 10-step guide on preparing for a Pancreatic Cancer diagnosis. And then Rolfe comes in, holds your hand, navigates things for you and helps you.”

“The ultimate reason why I joined Rolfe – besides their mission and the patient care support that they offer – is the people,” Whitney reflected, adding, “I wish that no one experienced Pancreatic Cancer. But that’s not the reality, and the only good that has come of this is that we’ve all found each other.”

 

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