Niki Wight
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health@armywifemagazine.com
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Three days after his homecoming, while Rob was visiting some friends, he suffered a massive stroke. He was rushed to Samaritan Hospital in Watertown, where the doctors there said they had found legions that were more than likely cancerous. It was decided the best course of action was to have him brought to Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C. for more tests. It was after a biopsy there that Rob, a 37-year-old war veteran, was diagnosed with end-stage Pancreatic Cancer.
On February 21, 2010, just 37 days after his diagnosis, Rob passed away, peacefully. He had been a soldier for eighteen and a half years.
It has only been a short time since Rob’s passing, but Jill has now made it her personal mission to help create awareness about Pancreatic Cancer. She now has to help her family readjust to life without Rob around, and they hope to eventually buy a home to help things return to “normal.” She also hopes to become an advocate for other soldiers that seem to get a “band aid” diagnosis while serving overseas, so that something like what happened to her husband does not happen to someone else.
According to statistics that were provided by the American Cancer Society© for 2009, about 42,470 people (21,050 men and 21,420 women) were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and 35,240 people (18,030 men and 17,210 women) died of this disease. Over the past 15 to 25 years, rates of pancreatic cancer have dropped slightly in men and women. Still, this form of cancer remains to be the fourth leading cause of cancer death overall. What is more unfortunate is due to the fact that the pancreas is located so deep inside the body, early tumors cannot be seen or felt by healthcare providers during routine physical exams, of which Rob had gone through prior to his deployment. Patients usually have no symptoms until the cancer has spread to the organs. As of now, there are no blood tests to find early cancers of the pancreas. However, doctors work vigorously to try and find a way to help with screening patients who may be at high risk of this deadly disease.
There are many different risks that are involved with a possible contraction of pancreatic cancer. Studies done by the American Cancer Society© have brought to light that factors such as heavy tobacco use, over-consumption of alcohol, obesity, diabetes and family history can all increase your chances of contracting this disease. But it is because of these known risks that we also know some preventative measures that may help to lower your chances as well:
- Decrease your intake of too many red meats, fatty foods, and processed meats, such as bacon and sausage, etc.
- Know your family history. Finding out if there are close family members who have had this form of cancer, and making your health care provider aware of this can be extremely proactive.
- About 20% -30% of exocrine pancreatic cancer cases are thought to be caused by smoking cigarettes. This also holds true for people who use smokeless tobacco products. For more information on how to quit smoking, visit www.cancer.org.
The American Cancer Society© also recommends that maintaining a healthy weight, eating well, and exercising are also very important changes that you can make in your life to help prevent, not just pancreatic cancer, but all cancers.
If you think you might have pancreatic cancer, there are some telltale early symptoms that can usually be overlooked by family members, friends, and sometimes-even doctors. The first sign is usually Jaundice. Jaundice is a yellowing of the eyes and skin and usually occurs in at least half of all people with pancreatic cancer. However, cancer is not the most common cause of jaundice, so if you think you may have it, see your health care provider so that the appropriate steps can be taken, and do not self-diagnose.
Some other early signs that can be overlooked as something simple are abdominal or back pain, weight loss, digestive problems or loss of appetite, diabetes, blood clots, and gallbladder enlargement. Rob was not a smoker and only drank occasionally. Some symptoms that he experienced were having swollen extremities and blood clots-which were attributed to a prior back surgery, pre-deployment. In Afghanistan, he had also lost about fifty pounds in about five months. Most of these things could be brushed off as general problems soldiers have while deployed to war. Unfortunately, for Rob, this was not the case at all.
While Rob was at Walter Reed, he had a biopsy of his liver, as it was easier to access than his pancreas, to confirm his diagnosis. The Cheever’s had hoped that once they moved Rob to a hospital closer to his family in Minnesota, that he would overcome the stroke enough to receive chemotherapy. Sadly, Rob’s conditioned only worsened, and it was no longer an option. However, that did not stop Rob from fighting until the very end.
While pancreatic cancer is one of the most silent and deadliest forms of cancer, people have had it and survived. People in remission of pancreatic cancer usually have a long history of follow-up care with their doctors, and must keep appointments for regular checkups and screenings, such as PET Scans, and MRI’s. Survivors are encouraged to keep a healthy lifestyle that includes eating well, regular exercise and rest. Some even see a therapist to help with the many different emotions that can come from this type of life altering experience.
While it is too late to save SFC Cheever, Jill’s hope is that his life and fight with this horrible disease will create awareness amongst anyone that hears of their heartbreaking story. Rob Cheever was an incredible husband, father, and soldier in our U.S. Army; and it is because of his final battle fought, that may the rest of us find a way to have his legacy live forever.
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Jill Cheever was just like most Army wives at Fort Drum. She and her two children, Madison, 10, and Jacob, 8, were all waiting for the date of their husband and father, SFC Rob Cheever, to come home from a long deployment to Afghanistan. Rob was the type of person that would do anything for anyone. He was the neighbor that would snow blow the driveways of all the other wives who had husbands overseas. He was the man who would spend hours woodworking-making bowls and cutting boards. Rob had a huge heart, loved having a great time, and his friends would tell you that he always cracked the first joke. As dates were thrown around for many weeks, finally on January 12, 2010, Rob arrived home to the arms of his loved ones.
Pancreatic Cancer: One Army Wife’s Tale of
Heartbreak and Loss
by Niki Wight posted April 2010
Rob Cheever, American Soldier
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Comments (9)
April 14, 2010
Thank you so much for sharing this heartbreaking story with us.
Laura Rodriguez
April 14, 2010
I want Jill to know how sorry I am for the loss of her dear husband and the
father of their children. What a shock for his loved ones who were so anxious to
have him home with them again. Thank you for writing this article and for
sharing a brave soldier's story with us. I wish Jill and her family the Lord's
comfort and strength as they face life without Rob.
Peg Peterson
April 15, 2010
So sorry for your loss and America's loss of someone who served his country so well. God bless and be with all of you.
Ron Smithberg
April 15, 2010
It was a pleasure to serve with Rob in Afghanistan. He helped make my last two months of deployment a bit more bearable. It hurts me to think that,as a medic,could I have done more to have helped him. Being deployed though makes things even harder on all. May God continue to bless Jill and her family and know that Rob was a great friend and Soldier. I am very privileged to have worked with him.
SPC Romanowski, Frank
April 19, 2010
My heart breaks for Jill and her children, but I find inspiration in their strength and determination on making the world aware of this evil disease. SFC Cheever, thank you for being my hero, and Jill, you are an inspiration. You are in my prayers.
Marianke Phillips
May 5, 2010
That is sooo sad reading this brought tears to my eyes...God Bless this soldier and his family ...my thoughts and prayers go out to his family esp his wigfe and kids. I am at loss of her husband.. I could only imagine what she is going through... esp those kids... poor babies:(
Aymee W
May 10, 2010
What a hero Rob is! He was fighting a battle while his body was going through its own battle. How sad yet how brave! I will keep this family in my prayers and pray that our military soldiers will get better care instead of the "band-aide' care that goes on so often. Jill, stay strong and keep fighting for this
awareness! As an Army wife this is what makes you also so brave! God bless you!
Cindy Lopez
May 10, 2010
Jill you are so strong and you are a wonderful Person. Glad I can say you are a friend of mine and I'm glad I had the privage of knowing him. He is a great soldier and always will be rembered!!!
May 10, 2010
Jill, your husband would be so proud of you. You are an amazing woman. Think of you and the kids often. Hope things get easier. Take care and love and hugs!!!
Sue Leach
