What is Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic cancer (also called cancer of the pancreas) is represented by the growth of a malignant tumour within the small pancreas organ. Each year about 31,000 individuals in the...
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Thanks lidlone and sadheart. More info....
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First of all, thank you both for responding to me and for the information you have given. Here are more specifics concerning my dad - it was the weight loss by itself that made them test so thoroughly. He actually was tested approximately 5 months ago and they found nothing. He has no pain anywhere, no sign of jaundice. Maybe he tires more easily, but other than that and the weight loss he is fine.
His biopsy (done at UAB last Friday) showed that the tumor was a carcinoma and therefore malignant, also showed that the tumor was considered inoperable due to its size, its location in his pancreas, and, most of all, because the tumor has several veins and one artery running through it. He does not want to have chemo because he believes it will make him sick and that, ultimately, it will not extend his life that much longer. He has agreed to radiation, but nothing else. Does any of this help you give me any other information? I am sorry for each of your own experiences with this horrible disease. I pray for you both. Thanks again and to anyone else out there - any info or shared stories are GREATLY appreciated. Posted on 10/22/09, 08:10 pm |
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I forgot to include this above - my dad is 62 - will turn 63 in February. Thanks again. 
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My husband turned 61 the day after his diagnosis, so I know all too well how young this brutal disease can attack. And he's one of the older ones, too.
As to chemotherapy: He was given Gemzar because it has very few and relatively mild side effects. He has not lost any (more) hair and is almost never nauseous; just when his anxiety is higher. Because he's relatively young, they also give him Tarceva (a pill he takes every morning), a supplementary form of chemotherapy, which can have rashes and mouth sores as side effects but again has had no reaction in him. He is having success with the dual treatment and no loss whatsoever of quality of life due to the chemo. Please ask about this option. It was developed because it's both gentle and effective. There's a good chance that your father won't experience any side effects at all and the treatment could help with his pain and can prolong his life somewhat. Maybe if you read more about these drugs and can talk to him, he'll reconsider. Sorry for what you're dealing with. There's no words that can take it away.
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MY DAD HAD A TRAIL WHERE THEY SENT RADIATION DIRECTLY INTO THE PACREAS AND THAT HELPED FOR A WHILE BUT THEN THEY SWITCHED HIM TO GEMZAR THAT JUST KEPT HIM ALIVE THE TUMOR DIDN'T GROW BUT IT WASN'T SHRINKING. THE LAST DITCH EFFORT WAS GEMZAR MIXED WITH ABRAXANE. AND THAT IS A BREAST CANCER DRUG BUT IT MADE HIM EXTREMELY SICK AND HE LOST HIS HAIR. BUT HE WAS THE LONGEST LIVING PATIENT IN HIS TRIAL GROUPS AND AT HIS ONCOLOGISTS OFFFICE. HE LIVED A YEAR AND ELEVEN MONTHS. HE PASSED JUST RECENTLY ON NOV 20TH BUT HE LASTED A MONTH AND 2 WEEKS OFF OF CHEMO AND RADIATION. THERE IS A VITAMIN THOUGHT TO DECREASE THE SIZE OF THE TUMOR BUT I HAVE FORGOTTON THE NAME BUT YOU CAN BUT IT AT NY VITAMIIN STORE LIKE GNC OR WHAT NOT.
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OH YEAH I FORGOT MY DAD HAD JUST TURNED 52 IN OCTOBER
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