Pat shook his head. "Things don't look good, Sir. It's growing very rapidly—the CA199 count is positively skyrocketing, considering that it's just been three months."

Hank wiped the sweat off his brow as he asked, "Well, what's the plan for treatment?"

"That's why I'm here," Pat replied. "To tell you that the sooner we operate to remove your pancreas, the better."

"Remove it?!" Hank blurted. "How long am I expected to survive after that? Five years?"

"There's no telling," Pat sighed, shakin