Pancreatic Cancer Support Group
Pancreatic cancer is represented by the growth of a malignant tumour within the small pancreas organ. Each year about 31,000 individuals in the United States are diagnosed with this condition, with more than 60,000 in Europe. Join this community to talk to others who have pancreatic cancer or know someone who has. Get advice and the support you need.
I am so heartbroken. I hope someone out there can give me some hope. My 46-year-old brother was having some gastric symptoms and abdominal pain for several months. The pain became greater just before Xmas. He had a CT scan done which showed a 4-cm mass in his pancreas. Biopsy proved it was positive. He has to meet with a surgeon next week to see if it's operable and will probably have more tests done to determine the staging and status. He has 3 young children and was in the middle of the separation from his wife of 13 years who was leaving him for another man. She has now decided to put things on hold and stick by my brother and is pretty distraught over this. He has been on such an awful rollercoaster ride since first finding out about his wife's affair and now this recent cancer dx. How can one person be confronted with such a terrible chain of events. It seems so unfair, but I am trying to keep my faith that he will be helped and treated and that perhaps can live a long life if treatment and surgery is possible. The situation with his wife is awkward for the whole family since we have been estranged from her but now have to stick together to help him through this. We are putting past issues and feelings aside. I just hope and pray that his cancer is not advanced and that it can be treated. God works in strange ways. Maybe things will turn out good in the end with his diagnosis and his marriage. I NEVER stop believing. Any feedback/comments/thoughts would be greatly appreciated. My family is suffering deeply from all of this.
Love,
Jenn
Keeping positive isn't always easy, especiialy if you read too much on the internet!! Best avoided I think.
Don't keep his kids away from anything that might frighten them, even at a young age of three they can cope and understand a lot more than we realise, though of course this is up to their parents.
There isn't anything about this disease that is set in a general timetable, there are so many variables as far as outcomes and aggressiveness of the cancer.
Keep that in mind in a positive way and remind your brother that you love him, tell him so it will give him more strength.
Emotional, mental and physical aspects all need to be cared for in everyone, sick or not.
I pray for your brother and his family that everything will turn out for the better.
God Bless.
I hate to be so darn negitive about this BUT I too had hope, prayed even made deals with the devil to get my Dad better - it did not help! He's gone now and my family is still tore up over the whole thing- we all started blaming each other and then we did the "if only" we would of tried this treatment ..... and then we even got into a fight at his funeral... It was like being in a Jerry Springer show or something - people will forever remember that!
This darn stuff affected all of us( in one way or another). My Brother and his family went one way and left me and my Mom standing alone holding all the bills... He still hasn't spoke a word to us since.... The thing that gets me is even the hollywood stars get this stuff and with all the money and connections they have - Cancer still brings them down too!
Cancer Sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My sister, 52 years of age, was diagnosed in February 2010 with pancreatic cancer- on the head of the pancreas-measured 5.3 x 4.7 cm in size (2.08 inches by 1.85 inches). She and the whole family was devastated-we thought there was no hope. She has a very strong will to live and endured chemo with Gemcidabine and Oxyplatin. She did this over almost 1 year. In that she had the radiation. The tumor slowly diminished in size until February where it had reduced down .51 x .47 inches. They are now planning surgery on May 6, 2011. They are going to do the Whipple procedure plus she developed a narrowing of the mesenteric artery-which is of a grave concern. The doctors are optimistic and so are we.
What she endured with the pain, the sickness from chemo, the weight loss, loss of appetite was hard to watch-but she really never complained that much. She never gave up hope and her will to live was huge and inspiring to all. She is scared to death about the surgery and thinks that she won't survive. She said that she couldn't endure anymore of what she has this year.She told the doctors that if anything happens on the table she is a do not resuscitate. We are all trying very hard to keep her positive and to maintain that fight. Despite that, she is going to tie up any loose ends-just in case.
Please don't let your brother give up-the love, support and encouragement from his family and friends is what he needs the most. Also, the ability of those around him to accept his decisions.
Just let him know your there for him and support whatever decision he makes
I wish him all the best. My thoughts are with him
Phil 4:13
Christine
May 6 has passed. I am very curious about the Whipple Procedure your sister was supposed to undergo. Can you please share the outcome of it?
Thanks,
Rajiv
They had to put it off because her BP was extremely elevated and they were not able to do the stress test. She is scheduled for the stress test and tentatively for surgery on May 13. We're hoping that they will do the surgery as scheduled. Thank you for asking. I'll keep you informed as to whats happening.
My best wishes and prayers for the most favorable outcome to your sister's procedure.
-Rajiv
She passed the stress test and the surgery is scheduled for the13th at 6:45 a.m. at Temple University Hospital in Philly.
Thank you for your good wishes and prayers. I'll let you know how everything turns out. I won't be back in town until Monday or Tuesday depending how everything goes.
Betty
Janeybugs
Barb had her surgery on May 13, 2011 and it turned out to be the luckiest day of her life. Everything went so well. The doctors were able to remove the tumor which he described as less than the size of a walnut from the original size of an orange. He was able to remove less of the pancreas then he originally thought and it all went back together very nicely. SHE IS CANCER FREE. No more chemo, no more radiation-all that is behind her. The blockage is still there in the superior mesenteric vein but they examined her colon very closely and found that she had developed great collateral circulation, however, this came in above the blockage and it was blocked above that from scar tissue. They removed the scar tissue and everything is flowing like it should They didn't have to put any stints in to unblock it which was going to be the worst part of the surgery. The surgery took 5.5 hours and they had 100 pints of blood on hold for the surgery and she did not need one.
She is still in intensive care but is getting stronger by the day. She has a lot of pain but she still has that great sense of humor that she has always shown-saying to all of us "I'm not going to go through this again". They are supposed to get her out of bed today (Monday, May 16th) and move her out of intensive care. Nothing to eat or drink for maybe 7 days and then liquids. She is begging for food which is a good sign but they want the Whipple to heal more before introducing foods. She has an NG tube, numerous IV's, 2 different IV pain meds. They did not put in a feeding tube much to my surprise. She's supposed to be in the hospital 7-10 days barring no complications, ie leakage, pneumonia, infection. Her incision goes from the bottom of the sternum down to the top of the pubis.
This just goes to show-don't give us, don't give up hope and fight as hard as you can-miracles can happen.
Thank you all for your kind words and hope that your loved ones are as lucky as mine was.
Tell me about your loved ones-whats going on?
Thank you, Betty
Thank you all