U.S. Air Force Veteran Reflects on a Different Kind of Mission, Battle

Pancreatic cancer survivor Rich Valdes knew when he was facing the world’s toughest cancers, he had to fight back.

​

Rich Valdes, 20-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force and four-year

pancreatic cancer survivor Valdes was diagnosed in 2013 and

has experienced multiple treatments and a reoccurrence.

His cancer spread, but thanks to a new chemotherapy

treatment, 17 tumors throughout his body appear to have been

reduced down to four, according to a recent CT scan.

​

Facing difficult situations is not new to Valdes. He is a veteran

of the U.S. Air Force and is accustomed to difficult missions and challenges.

“After 20 years in the Air Force, pancreatic cancer is just another one of those challenges that you deal with head on,” he said.