NC Runner Beats Rare Pancreatic Cancer, Runs Marathons at 42

Kristy Shafer crosses finish lines most people never attempt, all while missing her stomach and gallbladder.

The 42-year-old North Carolina runner received a stage 4 pancreatic cancer diagnosis in 2019, one of the most aggressive forms of the disease. Doctors removed her entire stomach and gallbladder in 2021 to save her life.

Today, she's training for a "Dopey Challenge" at Disney World, where she'll run a 5K, 10K, half marathon, and full marathon on four consecutive days. It's a feat that would challenge even the healthiest athletes.

"I am running way more now than I ever did," Shafer said. "There's just something about it. Life is too short."

Her survival is part of a broader success story in cancer care. North Carolina's five-year survival rate for all cancers now stands at 65.5%, reflecting major advances in early detection and treatment options that didn't exist a decade ago.

Shafer's daily reality still includes monthly shots, quarterly oncologist visits, regular endocrinologist appointments, and periodic scans. At 42, radiation exposure remains a concern, making every medical decision more complex.

Why This Inspires

Shafer embodies what modern cancer survivorship looks like. The finish line isn't when treatment ends but when you choose to keep moving forward despite permanent changes to your body.

She found that running gave her something cancer couldn't take away: control over her own momentum. Every mile became proof that her diagnosis didn't get the final word.

National Cancer Survivors Month in June celebrates this kind of resilience, the daily choice to focus on what remains possible rather than what was lost. Shafer's training schedule keeps her thinking about her next destination, not her last diagnosis.

"It helps keep me positive, it helps keep me motivated," she said. "It helps keep me thinking about the next things."

For Shafer, the next thing is 48.6 miles in four days, proving that survival isn't about returning to normal but creating something better.