AUSTIN (KXAN) -- When Manuel Ruiz first started developing stomach pains -- a needle-like pressure that would come and go -- his wife encouraged him to go to a doctor and get it checked out. That stomach pain was a symptom of pancreatic cancer. Ruiz underwent surgery to remove tumors from his pancreas and liver last June and is now cancer free. It's an especially rare situation, his doctor said, as pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest in the U.S. Dr. Shaun McKenzie at St. David's Medical Center performed the surgery on Ruiz last June. The two joined KXAN News' midday team Tuesday to highlight Ruiz's story during Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month. McKenzie said one of the most challenging aspects of diagnosing pancreatic cancer are its vague symptoms. Some people might experience unexplained weight loss and get full quickly; others will develop diabetes late in life without any previous concerns or risks detected. One of the most telling symptoms, McKenzie said, are the yellowing of eyes as a result of jaundice. McKenzie credited Ruiz's strength and spirit with recovering quickly from his surgery, leaving the hospital only days after the intense procedure. That tenacity is inspiring others in Ruiz's life to advocate for their health. Ruiz shared with KXAN that a close friend frequently skipped going to the doctor, but eventually had a colonoscopy done. They detected early-stage cancer, and were able to successfully treat it. McKenzie said stories like these are critical to help people put names and faces to the disease. By 2030, he said pancreatic cancer is expected to be the second-leading cause of cancer death. The full conversation is available in the video above.