Shuli Maimon Discovered Pancreatic Cancer Due to Lucky Circumstances

Former Israeli journalist and politician Shuli Maimon, who recently revealed her battle with pancreatic cancer, shared further details about her diagnosis. She explained that a fortunate combination of factors led to the early detection of her tumor, before it had a chance to metastasize, a rarity for this often-undetected disease.

Maimon recounted that the tumor's location, pressing against the pancreas and bile ducts, caused inflammation and abdominal pain. This symptom prompted her to seek medical attention. Her doctors insisted she go to the emergency room, where an ultrasound initially identified the inflammation, followed by a CT scan that revealed the tumor. "I discovered it quite by luck," Maimon stated, emphasizing that this early discovery, when the tumor was still operable and had not spread, dramatically improved her treatment options.

Pancreatic cancer is notoriously difficult to detect early because the pancreas is located deep within the abdomen, and small tumors often cause no symptoms or vague ones that can be mistaken for other conditions. Unlike some other cancers, there is no routine screening test for the general population. In most cases, the cancer is diagnosed only after it has spread to nearby tissues or distant organs, with over 80 percent of diagnoses occurring at this advanced stage.

Maimon is currently undergoing chemotherapy every two weeks to reduce the risk of recurrence, following surgery to remove the tumor. She expressed gratitude for the overwhelming public support she has received since sharing her diagnosis. She also clarified that a new targeted drug recently approved in the US is not suitable for her current condition, as it is intended for metastatic cancer, not for patients whose tumors have been surgically removed without evidence of spread.