Episode 329 - Surviving Pancreatic Cancer with Beth Benedix by Project Purple Podcast

Joining the Project Purple Podcast from Indiana, pancreatic cancer survivor Beth Benedix has a deeply reflective and powerful conversation with host Dino Verrelli. A professor emerita of world literature, religious studies, and community engagement at DePauw University, Beth is also the founder of a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing joy and creativity back into classrooms: an effort that reflects her lifelong passion for education and human connection.

Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in June 2020, Beth recounts her sudden diagnosis in the emergency room after experiencing severe back pain. What followed was an intense journey that included complications from testing, weeks in the hospital with pancreatitis, chemotherapy, and the Whipple procedure. Despite being declared in remission, Beth shares the emotional and physical toll of a recent recurrence, including the frustration of not being heard by medical professionals when new symptoms arose years later.

Beth speaks candidly about advocating for herself within a healthcare system that can often feel dismissive, drawing parallels to the education system and the broader challenge of creating spaces where people truly feel seen and heard. Beyond her medical journey, she also reflects on identity, creativity, and the process of making meaning in the face of illness—through music, relationships, and the ways she stays grounded in connection.

Rejecting the traditional “fight” narrative often associated with cancer, Beth advocates instead for individuality in how people navigate their diagnoses. Grounded in an existentialist perspective and inspired by Friedrich Nietzsche’s idea to “become who you are,” Beth describes pancreatic cancer not only as a hardship, but as a vehicle for deeper self-understanding, connection, and even moments of unexpected beauty.

From confronting fear and uncertainty to embracing joy, humor, and intentional relationships, Beth’s story offers a profound meditation on what it means to live fully in the face of the unknown.

Beth welcomes connection via email at bbenedix@depauw.edu.
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To learn more or donate to Project Purple’s mission of a world without pancreatic cancer, visit projectpurple.org.