A grandfather struggled with treatment for late-stage pancreatic cancer - until a clinical trial helped him beat the odds

Hernando Salcedo was surprised when he noticed his stomach swelling in May 2025. The 83-year-old grandfather had always been healthy and active. He'd had some hip pain recently, but thought it was his age. The swelling came out of nowhere and didn't have a clear cause. He visited his doctor, but an endoscopic ultrasound wasn't able to identify the cause of his pain and swelling. He was referred to a gastroenterologist, who ordered an MRI. Two days later, he received a devastating diagnosis: Stage III pancreatic cancer. "It was very hard" to hear that diagnosis, Salcedo told CBS News. Most Stage III pancreatic cancer patients survive just months after being diagnosed, with a five-year survival rate of just 15%, according to the American Cancer Society. Surgery can be effective in removing the cancer, but Salcedo wasn't a candidate for such a procedure.