Owasso Man Celebrates 20 Years As Pancreatic Cancer Survivor, Gives Back

An Owasso man and his family just celebrated 20 years since he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network says the five-year survival rate is 13%, which is the percentage of people who will be alive five years after their diagnosis.

Leon Schneider says when he was diagnosed at 58 years old he felt at peace because he knew he was going to beat Pancreatic Cancer because his story wasn't finished.

Schneider was on a work trip in Texas 20 years ago when his doctor told him he had Pancreatic Cancer.

His Doctor told Leon's wife, Colleen, about the diagnosis first.

“My first thought was I need to get home, because she doesn't take things that well,” said Leon Schneider.

But to Leon's surprise, Colleen had taken the news better than he had expected.

“I made the decision right then and there that I was going to tackle it, and I was going to win, wasn't going to let the devil take over my family,” said Colleen.

Colleen called friends, family, their church, and surrounding churches and asked everyone to pray for Leon.

He says when he was first diagnosed he didn't know much about it other than it was an aggressive cancer.

“All I can say is the good Lord wasn't finished with me yet,” said Leon

Leon says beating Pancreatic Cancer changed him, and it gave him a desire to help others.

Once able to, Leon started volunteering at Owasso Community Resources by taking people to doctor appointments.

Then for the last 18 years, he's been volunteering at St. John Hospital in Owasso in the surgery waiting room, and the first thing he looks for are people about to have surgery for pancreatic cancer.

“I make it a point to tell them that I was a 10-year, 15-year, now 20-year survivor of pancreatic cancer, that alone and seeing me healthy volunteering, enjoying life, that's a big plus,” said Leon.

To celebrate the milestone of 20 years since being diagnosed Leon's family surprised him at the Schneider family reunion with a party.

“I turned around and there was this sea of purple it was so exciting it was really, really neat,” said Leon.

Leon hopes his story will bring more awareness to Pancreatic Cancer, so people can catch signs of the disease early like weight loss, Jaundice, and back pain to get treatment started as early as possible.