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Follow-up procedures for Pancreatic cancer after all treatment stopped

SaschaSue
Posts: 3
Joined: Apr 2009

Hi everyone,

I just want to share others experiences of follow-up care for pancreatic cancer. I was diagnosed 18 months ago with stage IIB, had surgery followed by 6 months of Gemzar. Since surgery all tests have come back normal. Whoopee!!

Now my onc is seeing me every 3-4 months but without any tests being done - no scan, no bloods. He seems to think that while I look & feel fine then all is good & I shouldn't have the worry of waitin for the test results. Plus, he said, that should they find mets, there won't be much they can do for me anyway long term.

What experiences have others got?

Thanks

jcandler
Posts: 7
Joined: Jun 2009

I was diagnosed on 12/28/2004. I went through radiation and oral chemotherapy for 6 weeks, followed by surgery and than 6 months of Gemzar. I am also seeing my onc every 6 months now, with only 2 visits left, but I have blood work done every visit. There is no way your onc can know what is going on by the way you feel. To make a statement that it wouldn't make a difference anyway because there is nothing they could do borders on being criminal. All of the people in this forum are miracles. This is a disease that kills almost everyone it touches and for an onc to say something like this is unreal. Even though my tumor was inoperable at the beginning, no doctor ever said anything except that we were going to do everything possible to beat this disease. I was never told it was hopeless or that I only had so much time to live. As a matter of fact, each doctor told me that they would use the talents God gave them to the best of their ability and then it was up to Him. I know that you are well into treatment, but I would either talk to your onc, or find a new one.

Joe

gus111z
Posts: 11
Joined: Jan 2011

Could not agree more with you Joe. Well said.