Looking for Pancreatic Cancer Survivors

sekim65

My family will find out on Friday (2/20) the exact source of my mother's pain. The doctor has suspected pancreatic cancer and reading up on the different information I obtained, her symptoms are aligned with PC.

I am scared but I will fight for her also. Howeer, the literature I have read about PC has been discouraging and I need people to help me with specific information about increasing the survival rates.

I know that wihtout providing specific information about her condition, these hopeful stories can be an illusion for my mother. But I will continue to pray and pray and pray for her . She needs to be with me longer and I am not ready to lose her.

She is only 54 years old.

digitalnut

I will also pray for your mother. I will have been free of pc for 18 years on the 27th of this month. I was 34 when I got it. Your Mom needs to fight with all her heart and be positive that she will be OK. It will not be an easy thing to go thru for either one of you. She needs to focus on her family and not the disease to pull herself thru this. My doctors told me that it was because of my family and my will to not leave them, that I made it.
I am hear to listen and to help in any way I can.

GOD BLESS
Tim

sekim65

digitalnut said:

I will also pray for your mother. I will have been free of pc for 18 years on the 27th of this month. I was 34 when I got it. Your Mom needs to fight with all her heart and be positive that she will be OK. It will not be an easy thing to go thru for either one of you. She needs to focus on her family and not the disease to pull herself thru this. My doctors told me that it was because of my family and my will to not leave them, that I made it.
I am hear to listen and to help in any way I can.

GOD BLESS
Tim

Thank you so much... her name is Sue... and I am scared and hopeful at times, but not hopeful at othe times.

God works miracles I know... and I see that God worked in you. 18 years of free of PC? I must thank God, even though I have never met you.

redox

I am Carlos, 42. My mother, 65, has been diagnosed with PC, 4 cm tumor the bigger one, body and tail and has spread to the liver. Started with back ache and diahrrea.
NOBODY is ready for loosing his mother and we just have to fight...and fight and pray and behave as well as we can and give her our love as we never did before. By the way,I am from Peru.We just came back from the Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. She is trying everything, different herbs from Peru, from Ecuador, Philipines, etc. The only advise I can give is be strong and take care of her as you never did before.

SueJ

My Mom passed away last week from PC, we had 5 weeks from the time of diagnosis until she was gone. I have read and learned so much about this monster.It is a fast moving disease. If pain becomes too much, consider a morphine pump,it was a blessing. But the best advice I have for you is to hold your loved one close and never let 1 day go by without saying I love you.

RJillJ

digitalnut said:

I will also pray for your mother. I will have been free of pc for 18 years on the 27th of this month. I was 34 when I got it. Your Mom needs to fight with all her heart and be positive that she will be OK. It will not be an easy thing to go thru for either one of you. She needs to focus on her family and not the disease to pull herself thru this. My doctors told me that it was because of my family and my will to not leave them, that I made it.
I am hear to listen and to help in any way I can.

GOD BLESS
Tim

Sorry, I hit the wrong button. We tried to use nutrients, vitamins, and juiced vegetables and fruits and we tried about everything, glyco-nutrients, etc. What did you do Tim? I was just wondering. I miss him so much.
Thank you,
Robin

RJillJ

SueJ said:

My Mom passed away last week from PC, we had 5 weeks from the time of diagnosis until she was gone. I have read and learned so much about this monster.It is a fast moving disease. If pain becomes too much, consider a morphine pump,it was a blessing. But the best advice I have for you is to hold your loved one close and never let 1 day go by without saying I love you.

My husband was 49 and he passed away Dec. 17th, 2003 of PC. He lasted 4 months and 5 days. We were married 28 years and 4 months to the day of his passing. We did everything. Glyco-nutrients, vitamins, juiced vegetables and fruits, and he had 11 chemotherapies of Gemzar. He just grew weak and got so thin. He had to have a G-tube and a J-tube put in his stomach. The G-tube had a suction machine attached to it to suction the stomach bile, gases and juices, the J-tube had his feeding formula running through it to give him nourishment. It didn't work. He developed a fistula from his small intestines to his stomach. He bled from his bowels. They said there was nothing more they could do for him and sent him to hospice to live his last days. Please, don't let anyone tell you or anyone else that they are needing mental health., because that is what they told my Hsband, but he really did have PC, and they didn't want to help him at first because his blood tests turned out fine. Yet he was in the 4 th stages already. How does that happen?

Thanks,
Robin

cbrewer4

I'll help if I can my father in law has just gotton cancer free of PC.

sekim65

cbrewer4 said:

I'll help if I can my father in law has just gotton cancer free of PC.

tahnks.... did he have the whipple?
my mother's cancer has metastasized..she just has chemo (Gemzar) to improve the quality of life. but i'm devastated.

lulululu

cbrewer4 said:

I'll help if I can my father in law has just gotton cancer free of PC.

My husband did not feel well for over a year. He had pain below his ribs and thought it might be an ulcer. Dec 03 he went to the VA and had a ultra sound and CT Scan. January 7, 2004 they told him he had pancreatic cancer in the tail of his pancreas and it had metasticized in his liver. He was told there was nothing they could do. Just go home eat ice cream and call Hospice. They said he has 6-12 months. We went to Mayo Clinic and they said the same thing but said they would suggest gemcitabine. He is to have a serries of 7 chemo treatments once a week for 7 weeks. He is having the 7th treatment tomorrow. Next week he will have his 3rd CT scan and visit with the doctor and decide what the future treatment will be. We are praying for a miracle. My husbands spirits are very high and we have lots of support from our family. The nutritionist we spoke to advised vitamins,and nutrients all from organic sources. An organic diet high in protien and low in carbohydrates. I will let you know how this turns out.
Still Praying.
Louise

Renita

My prayers are with you and your mother. On 3/17/03, I went into the hospital for what I thought was to be a simple gallbladder removal. After removing the gallballdader and follow-up testing during the procedure they found a blockage. I was told that it might be cancer. After being very persistent with all the doctors involved, I had to have another surgery 5/27/03 for exploratory and removal of a mass. They could not pinpoint where/what it was via biospy. I was told that I would possibly have to have a whipple. (I am an ICU nurse x 15 years). I went through the denial phase and did not really accept what was going on even after getting a definitive diagnosis. I remained in denial right through surgery, port-a-cath placement up until I started radiation treatment (61/2 wks). I was on oral chemotherapy (Xeloda 7 wks). I had the pity parties only 4 of them. I wasn't suppose to get this serious illness, I was a caregiver. But it can happen to anyone. I was able to return to work 9/24/03. On 2/18/04, my follow up with the medical oncologist revealed that there are no signs of cancer (CT and lab work). This has been a hard road to travel and understand what all that my body has been through. I appreciate my family for being there for me and helping me to understand that I have to put the nurse in me aside and be a patient, patient. I forgot to mention that my cancer was at the head of the pancreas and was told that I was to young to have this, usually seen in people in late 60's to 70's. I am in a support group, but it is not a pancreatic cancer survior support group. I saw a commercial regarding Cancer Survivor Network and decided to see what it is all about. My prayer is for all who go through this storm find peace, comfort and whatever God or your higher power has in store for you and the strength and wisdom to weather this storm. Family members and caregivers
support, understanding, a little humor and love and not pity goes a long way and means a whole lot to those that are going through this.

mpolletta

lulululu said:

My husband did not feel well for over a year. He had pain below his ribs and thought it might be an ulcer. Dec 03 he went to the VA and had a ultra sound and CT Scan. January 7, 2004 they told him he had pancreatic cancer in the tail of his pancreas and it had metasticized in his liver. He was told there was nothing they could do. Just go home eat ice cream and call Hospice. They said he has 6-12 months. We went to Mayo Clinic and they said the same thing but said they would suggest gemcitabine. He is to have a serries of 7 chemo treatments once a week for 7 weeks. He is having the 7th treatment tomorrow. Next week he will have his 3rd CT scan and visit with the doctor and decide what the future treatment will be. We are praying for a miracle. My husbands spirits are very high and we have lots of support from our family. The nutritionist we spoke to advised vitamins,and nutrients all from organic sources. An organic diet high in protien and low in carbohydrates. I will let you know how this turns out.
Still Praying.
Louise

Louise,
My father is 55 yrs old with the exact same diagnosis. He was just diagnosed 8/14/04 He too is at the Mayo clinic following the same chemo treatment. Next Tuesday will be his 4th out of 7 for his first round of 7 weeks. How is your husband doing? My father seems to be doing well with the Gemcitabine. Your husband is in my prayers. Please email me if you get a chance.
Best regards,
Michelle Polletta
michellepolletta@hotmail.com

taylork

God Bless you and your family. My husband has pancreatic cancer and had the whipple procedure done Aug 27, 2004. We are now getting ready for the after treatments chemo and radiation. He came through the surgery great and we feel blessed with the fact they were able to get the tumor and no lymph nodes were involved. My thoughts and prays are with you all.

taylork

God Bless you and your family. My husband has pancreatic cancer and had the whipple procedure done Aug 27, 2004. We are now getting ready for the after treatments chemo and radiation. He came through the surgery great and we feel blessed with the fact they were able to get the tumor and no lymph nodes were involved. My thoughts and prays are with you all.

taylork

Renita said:

My prayers are with you and your mother. On 3/17/03, I went into the hospital for what I thought was to be a simple gallbladder removal. After removing the gallballdader and follow-up testing during the procedure they found a blockage. I was told that it might be cancer. After being very persistent with all the doctors involved, I had to have another surgery 5/27/03 for exploratory and removal of a mass. They could not pinpoint where/what it was via biospy. I was told that I would possibly have to have a whipple. (I am an ICU nurse x 15 years). I went through the denial phase and did not really accept what was going on even after getting a definitive diagnosis. I remained in denial right through surgery, port-a-cath placement up until I started radiation treatment (61/2 wks). I was on oral chemotherapy (Xeloda 7 wks). I had the pity parties only 4 of them. I wasn't suppose to get this serious illness, I was a caregiver. But it can happen to anyone. I was able to return to work 9/24/03. On 2/18/04, my follow up with the medical oncologist revealed that there are no signs of cancer (CT and lab work). This has been a hard road to travel and understand what all that my body has been through. I appreciate my family for being there for me and helping me to understand that I have to put the nurse in me aside and be a patient, patient. I forgot to mention that my cancer was at the head of the pancreas and was told that I was to young to have this, usually seen in people in late 60's to 70's. I am in a support group, but it is not a pancreatic cancer survior support group. I saw a commercial regarding Cancer Survivor Network and decided to see what it is all about. My prayer is for all who go through this storm find peace, comfort and whatever God or your higher power has in store for you and the strength and wisdom to weather this storm. Family members and caregivers
support, understanding, a little humor and love and not pity goes a long way and means a whole lot to those that are going through this.

My husband is 62had the whipple procedure done on Aug 27 and we are waiting to start treatments for after surgery precautions. He had stage 2 with perinewual invasion present grade 3. We are suppose to have 6 weeks of radiation and chemo 24/7 together. They want him to wear a chemo pump which will administer the doage daily for the 6 weeks during which time he gets radiation 5 days a week for 6 weeks. Then after that they want him to do a total of 6 months of chemo all the 5FU type.. Has anyone else had this similar treatments. Sounds like a lot of chemo. He is doing very well after the surgery. The only really bad side effect of the surgery was the muscle cramps in the intestines. Any experience with that? His tumor was at the head of the pancrease and restricted the common bile duct. What a beast PC is. Never realized how many people were diagnosed with this type of cancer until you are affected by it. My prayers to all of you.

becket

I had whipple surgery after being told I had PC with
a second opinion surgeon recom. by PANCAN. A high volume PC surgeon. At 75 I was up the 2nd day walk
and talking and released in 8 days. 2 Gemzar chemo was so powerful that I didn't take the 3rd treatment. Port did not work properly. Have great
surgeon and oncoologist before you start. beclark4@netzero.net.

Unknown

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