Ruschell Boone, an Emmy Award-winning journalist and beloved anchor for New York City TV station NY1, faced a formidable opponent in pancreatic cancer. Her journey, marked by both personal loss and professional success, became an inspiring story of hope, resilience, and the importance of early detection. While Boone tragically passed away from the disease on September 3 at the age of 48, her efforts to raise awareness continue to resonate.
A Year of Trials and Triumphs
The years leading up to her diagnosis were a mix of personal hardships and career milestones. In November 2021, Boone lost her mother to COVID-19, followed by the passing of her stepsister from multiple myeloma in April. Despite these heartbreaks, her career was flourishing. After two decades at NY1, she was given her own show, "News All Day," in 2021 and celebrated her 20-year anniversary at the station in June 2022.
The Onset of Symptoms
Around January 2022, Boone began experiencing vague symptoms that she initially dismissed. She had a nagging pain in her torso just below her breasts and a nagging pain on the upper right side of her back, as well as bloating and fatigue, which she masked with antacids. She also experienced unexplained weight loss. Thinking it was time for a lifestyle change, she initially thought she needed to overhaul her diet and lifestyle. "There was something off about it. I just felt weird," she recalled.
However, on June 14, she woke up in the middle of the night with horrible stomach pain and a racing heart. Her husband, Todd, took her to the emergency room, where a CT scan revealed the devastating news: she had pancreatic cancer.
Confronting the Diagnosis
"I just started wailing, crying and looking at my husband, thinking I heard it incorrectly," she told the NY Post. "I thought, 'Oh my god, I'm dead' … My kids [Jackson, 11 and Carter, 9] are going to grow up without a mother."
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Pancreatic cancer is known for its aggressive nature and low survival rates. According to the National Cancer Institute, five-year survival rates are lower than 10%. The disease often remains asymptomatic until it has spread to other organs, making early detection crucial.
The Fight Begins: Chemotherapy and the Whipple Procedure
Boone began chemotherapy in July. Despite the treatment's toll on her body, she strived to maintain normalcy at home, displaying her trademark cheeriness to keep her sons' fears at bay. "In my off weeks, I made it a point to do a lot with them. When I had chemo, I still came home and I cooked and cleaned. And I was always upbeat, which helped a lot and is disarming, especially with children," said Boone. She even took her sons’ teddy bear to chemo.
After seven rounds of chemotherapy, the tumor had shrunk, and Boone received encouraging news: she was eligible for a Whipple procedure. This invasive surgery involves removing the head of the pancreas, the first part of the small intestine, the gallbladder, and the bile duct, then reconnecting the remaining organs to allow for normal digestion.
"The day the surgeon told me, I jumped out of bed. I was like, 'Thank you, thank you.' As far as we know, this the only lifesaving method, so this [news] was overwhelming. There was a sense of, 'I'm going to live,'" she said.
About four weeks later, she had the Whipple surgery. "This was the turning point. All my tests confirmed that [the doctors] got all the cancer and there was no spread to the lymph nodes," she said, adding that she would undergo another round of chemo and then be monitored with scans.
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A Voice for Awareness and Hope
Boone knew she was fortunate, partly because she was proactive in seeking answers, which led to early detection. "Another year, another six months, this could be a very different story. I'm glad my story was one of hope and survival," she said.
She openly shared her journey on social media, providing updates about her cancer treatment and inspiring countless others. "She made it back to the anchor desk and was joined by the mayor on her first day back," Spectrum News NY1 wrote.
NY1 noted that Boone was "devoted to raising awareness about cancer and other health issues" while "facing a constant fight of her own." "Ruschell felt it was important to extend a hand and help others in their time of need," the station continued.
The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network also mourned Boone's death, while praising her efforts to raise awareness about the disease. "Ruschell bravely shared her story and provided hope and inspiration to so many touched by pancreatic cancer," they wrote. "We fondly remember the warmth, joy and light she brought to #PanCANPurpleStride New York City as our emcee on an otherwise cold, rainy day. We’re forever grateful to Ruschell for raising public awareness of the disease and we send our deepest condolences to her family and loved ones."
Returning to Work and Facing Setbacks
Boone's dedication to her career was evident. Despite the challenges of her diagnosis and treatment, she returned to the anchor desk in March. "Unfortunately, my cancer has metastasized in my liver and I’m back in treatment. It’s rough, but the chemo is working. for me. Prayers have carried me through the difficult moments. Thank u for rooting for me.”
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Laurie Ostacher, a social worker at Sutter Bay Medical Foundation, explained the importance of work for some individuals during their cancer journey: "Some women choose to continue working [through cancer] because working is a significant part of their identity, they enjoy the job, and there's flexibility built in."
Legacy of a Beloved Journalist
Ruschell Boone was a respected and admired figure in New York City journalism. She joined NY1 in 2002 as the station’s Queens reporter, covering everything from the COVID pandemic and Hurricane Sandy to political events and the annual West Indian-American Day parade.
"For 21 years, Ruschell was a member of our staff, as well as a friend and mentor to many," staffers from NY1 wrote in a touching tribute. "Ruschell had a unique ability to connect with New Yorkers - through the screen and in person - in a way that made her feel like a trusted friend. Highlighting the city’s diverse communities was always a priority."
In 2018, she was the only television reporter to speak live with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, delivering the news of her underdog victory. Boone received numerous awards throughout her career, including Best Spot News Reporting from the New York Association of Black Journalists, a New York Press Club Award for Best Feature Reporting, and a New York Emmy Award for her series "New York: Unfiltered."
Lessons and Advice from Ruschell Boone
Boone's experience offers valuable insights for others facing a cancer diagnosis. Her advice includes:
- Be proactive: Seek answers and don't dismiss early symptoms. "Another year, another six months, this could be a very different story."
- Find a specialist: "Not every doctor is built the same. I had to seek out a place where they specialized in this. This is my biggest advice."
- Educate yourself: "Make sure you read everything, and you listen to every decision and don't hesitate to second guess it."
- Maintain a positive attitude: Her upbeat demeanor helped her cope and ease her children's fears.
- Lean on your support system: She credited prayers and well-wishes from her community for carrying her through difficult moments.
The Importance of Early Detection and Research
Dr. Anirban Maitra, the Co-Leader of the Pancreatic Cancer Moon Shot at MD Anderson Cancer Center, emphasizes that detecting pancreatic cancer early so as to treat it earlier is crucial. He notes the difficulty of early detection, saying, "Because the pancreas is inside the abdomen, it often doesn't have symptoms that would tell you that something is wrong with your pancreas."
He continues, "By the time individuals walk into the clinic with symptoms like jaundice, weight loss, back pain, or diabetes, it's often very late in the stage of the disease… for most individuals, about 80%, will actually present with what we called advanced disease, which means that the cancer has either spread beyond the pancreas or into other organs like the liver, and so you cannot take it out with surgeries."
The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) is dedicated to raising awareness, providing resources, and funding research to improve outcomes for pancreatic cancer patients.