Pancreatic Cancer Survivor: How MRI-Guided Radiation Changed My Life

An Unexpected Diagnosis

“I rode my bike 20 miles a day—until the day I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.”

For Don Myrah, an active lifelong cyclist, the diagnosis was unthinkable. On April 1, 2022, sudden, severe abdominal pain sent him to the emergency room at Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara Medical Center. What he assumed was appendicitis turned out to be something far more serious.

After weeks of tests, physicians suspected pancreatic cancer, but Don’s health had declined so much that doctors had to postpone the biopsy. He had lost weight, his muscles were weakening, and his appetite was gone. Eventually, the biopsy confirmed their fears: pancreatic cancer.

Discovering a New Type of Radiation Therapy

While recovering at home, Don came across an article in the San José State University Alumni Magazine about a new radiation technology called MRIdian SMART Therapy from ViewRay.

“That word—cancer—jumped off the page,” he recalls. “The more I read, the more I knew I had to learn about this treatment.”

Living only minutes from ViewRay’s Sunnyvale office, Don paid them a visit. Through the company’s team, including a specialist named Steve, he learned that MRIdian MRI-guided radiation uses real-time imaging to target tumors precisely while sparing nearby healthy organs. The technology promised less toxicity and fewer side effects—exactly what he needed.

Encouraged, Don set out to find a radiation oncologist offering MRIdian therapy.

Finding the Right Doctor

His search led him to Dr. Kenneth Chao, Director of Radiation Oncology at Gregory Rhodes MD Cancer Center in Walnut Creek, California.

“Dr. Chao wasn’t rushed. He explained everything and answered all my questions,” Don says.

Within five business days of contacting the clinic, Don began treatment. The process was quick and efficient—five sessions over three weeks—and the impact was immediate.

“After the first procedure, I cried—happy tears. For the first time, I felt I had control over my cancer.”

A Positive Outcome and Renewed Hope

Don completed his MRIdian therapy in early 2023 with no adverse effects. The treatment gave him not only effective cancer control but renewed optimism.

“It rid my body of cancer and gave me hope,” he shares. “Now my goal is to get back on my bike—and hit that 20-mile mark again.”

Don’s story underscores how emerging technologies like MRI-guided radiation are redefining what’s possible in cancer treatment—offering precision, safety, and hope to patients facing some of the toughest diagnoses.