A Strike Against Pancreatic Cancer

For years, Danny Boitano faced Major League Baseball’s (MLB) toughest hitters, relying on grit, perseverance and an unwavering refusal to quit. Little did he know those same qualities would fuel his fight against an even tougher opponent: pancreatic cancer.

The former pitcher, who played for four MLB teams under iconic managers like Don Zimmer and Joe Torre, had always understood resilience. “I couldn’t give up when I was pitching,” he said. “So when I was diagnosed with cancer, I knew I couldn’t give up. It’s just who I am.”

His journey began March 22, 2022, after a birthday celebration left him feeling unusually ill. “My stomach was turning,” he recalled. He’d had prior issues — trouble with bowel movements and weight loss — but that night, everything escalated. The next morning, his wife insisted he see their local doctor in his hometown of Clovis, Calif., who promptly ordered tests. Days later, the diagnosis was clear: pancreatic cancer.

Knowing his family’s cancer history, Boitano sought the best care. He met with several specialists, but none felt right. His son-in-law, who works in pharmaceuticals, recommended UC San Diego Health. “That’s where I finally felt I found the care I was looking for,” he said.

His daughter helped secure an appointment with Gregory Botta, MD, PhD, a medical oncologist at UC San Diego Health who specializes in gastrointestinal cancers. “From the first meeting, I knew he was different,” the pitcher said. “He made me feel like I was his only patient.”

The true test came when a surgical “wash” — a standard procedure where surgeons flush the area surrounding the surgical site — revealed a speck on his liver, suggesting the cancer had spread. His case was nearly disqualified from surgery. “Most places don’t operate if cancer has spread,” Boitano said. “But Botta told me, ‘Why can’t it be you?’ He said it so many times that I started believing it myself.”

The tumor board, a team of multidisciplinary specialists, reviewed his case and supported surgery. “Their collaboration made all the difference,” Boitano said. “They brought their best ideas together, and I felt confident in their decision.” Determined, he pressed on. His son-in-law, a pilot, flew him every Wednesday from Clovis to San Diego for treatment. “We’d fly down, I’d get my treatment, and he’d fly me back home. It was tough, but I felt like I had an entire team backing me up.”

Treatment was intense. It began with chemotherapy in Clovis, under the care of his local oncologist, then continued at Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health. After several months, Botta recommended a clinical trial. “I’m a baseball player — I’m used to taking chances,” Boitano said. But after four months, severe leg swelling in reaction to the trial drug forced him to stop. Next came five weeks of radiation. “They did scans after that, and for the first time, there was hope. The tumor might have shrunk.”

On Sept. 8, 2023, he underwent surgery with Rebekah White, MD, a surgical oncologist, using irreversible electroporation. This leading-edge approach uses electrical pulses to kill tumors that cannot be completely removed due to involvement of local blood vessels.

“It was my unwavering faith in God that provided me with a deep well of strength during such an incredibly challenging time throughout my cancer journey and during my chemo and radiation — that was the driving force to keep going forward with treatments and, finally, to having the Whipple surgery,” Boitano shared. Despite the intensity of the surgery, he was impressed by the exceptional team. Just a week after the procedure to remove the tumor from his pancreas, he was discharged and, two months later, was back hunting deer in Colorado.

Now in remission, he continues regular scans and bloodwork, staying in close contact with his medical team. “Every time I go back to San Diego, it feels like coming home,” Boitano said.

Reflecting on his journey, he sees parallels with baseball. “In baseball, you’re always one pitch away from a home run or a strikeout,” he said. “Cancer’s the same. You just have to keep going. Keep believing. Keep fighting.”