Cancer Survivor Finds New Appreciation for Simple Things
Allen's Story
March 17, 2026
“Dr. Molina saved my life.”
Allen Townsend is the classic man of few, well-chosen words. “Dr. Molina saved my life,” he says.
In July 2025, Allen went to the emergency room with what he believed was gallbladder pain. Instead, a CT scan showed a tumor in his pancreas. “The ER doctor said I needed to follow up with an oncologist,” he says matter-of-factly.
“My sister-in-law works at Lakeland Regional and told me Dr. Molina was the best. So, I went to see him, and he said, ‘We need to get this taken care of immediately.’”
Allen, 52, was diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumor. Neuroendocrine tumors are rare, and although they can occur anywhere in the body, most occur in the lungs, appendix, small intestine, rectum, and pancreas.
Dr. Manuel Molina-Vega, a surgical oncologist at LRH’s Hollis Cancer Center specializes in surgeries of the hepatobiliary system, which includes the pancreas, and he also is among a small group of surgeons in Florida who perform the robotic Whipple procedure.
The Whipple procedure is a surgery specifically designed to remove tumors in the head of the pancreas, distal bile duct, gallbladder, regional lymph nodes, and a portion of the small intestine. LRH is the only hospital in the area to offer the robotic Whipple, which revolutionized the Whipple procedure by adding the benefits of minimally invasive surgery: reduced recovery time, higher accuracy, and better outcomes.
Allen liked Dr. Molina and his straightforward style right away.
“He is extremely smart, but he doesn’t talk down to people or use words you don’t understand,” he says. “And if it’s bad news, he’ll tell you. He doesn’t sugarcoat anything. That’s what my wife and I love about him.”
On November 6, Dr. Molina performed a robotic Whipple procedure to remove Allen’s tumor completely and safely. The robotic procedure meant Allen could expect a quicker return to normal life.
After the surgery, Allen’s 7-year-old daughter made Dr. Molina a card with a few, well-chosen words of her own: “Thank you for saving my daddy,” it says. The card hangs over Dr. Molina’s desk.
Allen recommends Dr. Molina and Hollis Cancer Center to others in similar situations.
“He is like a family member to me now,” he says. “I’ve sent messages through the portal about an issue, and Dr. Molina or his nurse practitioner called me right back. They are just amazing.”
Three months after his surgery, Allen was back to work and grateful for time with his family doing things they enjoy, such as going to Disney.
“Some days are good, and some are bad. I’m still recovering, but I’m here.”
So far, he has had no chemo or radiation. Only one of the 14 lymph nodes removed were positive for cancer, and he is awaiting bloodwork to see if any additional treatments will be necessary.
Whatever the tests show, he is confident Dr. Molina will be straight with him about the next step, and he is hopeful about the future.
Manuel Molina-Vega, MD
Surgical Oncology
ABOUT DR. MOLINA
Dr. Manuel Molina has practiced Surgical Oncology since 2007. He specializes in surgical treatment for benign and malignant processes in the esophagus, stomach, liver, pancreas, bile ducts, colon and rectum, thyroid and parathyroid, adrenal gland, and melanoma and sarcoma surgery.
“Medicine and surgery have always been my passion since the day I decided to get into this career,” Dr. Molina said. “I don’t see myself doing anything else if I had the opportunity to do it again. I like to transmit that passion to my patients by always feeling happy for what I do and by always looking to give the best care possible.”
Surgical Oncology at Hollis Cancer Center
At Hollis Cancer Center, our surgical oncology team offers leading-edge procedures designed to deliver precision, faster recovery, and better outcomes.
When it matters most, world-class care is close to home.
