Nancy, it sounds like his symptoms were mostly managable, which is a huge blessing. My wife was basically in the same boat. They were able to treat some symptoms (not all), but not the cancer. Given the outlook, maybe that was for the best. I hated watching her suffer. Having that over is a relief, in spite of the obvious downsides.
Chris

My husband was diagnosed March 13, 2009. He was in Stage 4 and it had grown from his pancreas to his liver into his lungs. He also had 2 embolisms (sp?), so they couldn't put a port in him to take the chemo because of the blood thinners. They did get his jaundice under control the first week. I think the Gemzar is what really took it out of him, because it wasn't put through a port, but directly into his veins in his arm. He too, lost his appetite, and the last 2 days was delusional. He slept most of the time, and when he was sitting and awake, he was seeing things. He was only on morphine for about 6 hours before he passed.

My husband was diagnose Dec. 14, 2008 and passed Feb. 2, 2009.
Went to the e.r. because he turned yellow, diagnosed stage IV. Lost his appetite. No pain medicine till 3 days before he died. 18 months and hurts as much as day one.

My husband was diagnosed on June 10,2009 with Stage IV unreceptable Pancreatic Cancer. He was jaundice, loss of appetitie and week. He had 28 radiation treatments along with taking a oral chemo, We took a 4000mile vacation trip to Colorado Springs, Colorado, Yellowstone National Park in Cody Wyoming, and Mount Rushmore South Dakota. He drove all except 5 miles of the trip last August 7,-18, Then he had the port put in and on August 28, he start IV gemzar He had 12 treatments along with Tarciva oral chemo. He had developed Ascitis ( fluid retention) which is common with pancreatic cancer Around THanksgiving 09 he had 25 pounds( 16 litres) removed, then at Christmas time he had 35 pounds removed 3 week later they put a catherter form me to remove fluid at home He had 15 chemo treatments the CT's showed no spread of the cancer but the tumor did grow It had not matasized. He kept losing weight had sever diareha also his blood pressure was getting lower and lower. On Feb 3 we took him to the emergency room because of low blood pressure sever diareha, and being tired. When he was admitted they told me he had 24 hour to live and I had to sign DNR and a DNI Family and friends were called and we had 15 people in the intensive care waiting room. My daughter had to come in from Fort Lauderdaly FL where she is attending Nova Southeastern Medical School studying to be a Doctor of Osteopath/Medical Dr. He passed on Thursday 2/4 at 10:45 am almost 24 hours later I miss him terribly. I hope 1 day they will be able to diagnose this terrible cancer sooner so that the survival rate increases There are always miracles and wonderful research in cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Prayer and hugs to all who are spouses, children and family of a person who has passed on because of the cancer and is surviving because they have beaten the odds.

I'm sorry for your loss, Nancy. My husband was diagnosed on August 17, 2009, and died on February 10, 2010. His earliest symptoms were horrible upper back pain that we couldn't really help and much increased acid reflux. He suffered a lot and I'm so grateful that your husband wasn't really in pain until near the end.

Hugs, Gail

typo....he died April 19, 2010.