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metastatic neuroendocrine carcinoma of pancreas

Unknown
Unknown
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
My mom (75 yrs old) was recently diagnosed with a metastatic neuroendocrine carcinoma (high grade)on the middle of her pancreas. She had colorectal cancer two years ago identified as adenocarcinoma and carcinoid carcinoma mixed in the tumor (only after the tumor was removed and biopsied - her initial biopsies only showed carcinoid, but the surgeon was convinced by the size of the tumor that there was adenocarcinoma lurking). She underwent radiation and a bowel resection. She was feeling fine until three weeks ago she developed a pain across the top of her abdomen. She developed pancreatitis and a CT scan showed a mass on her pancreas with an enlarged adrenal gland and retroperitoneal adenopathy. A fine needle biopsy revealed that the mass was poorly differentiated and neuroendocrine in nature. Her oncologist is not convinced that the tumor is actually in the body of the pancreas, but might be in lymph nodes associated with the pancreas based on the comments about the retroperitoneum, the fact that colorectal cancers don't usually metastesize to the pancreas, and the fact that the mass is not at the head or the tail of the pancreas. Her pain is under control at the moment and her oncologist is recommending chemotherapy to try to shrink the tumor and relieve the pain. She wants to try, but is not sure how much more fight she has left in her.
Cisplatin and etopiside have been mentioned as the drugs to be used. Any information on these drugs as well as controlling side effects would be helpful. Also, does anyone else have any information on this type of unusual metastesis? Let me tell you that from the beginning of the colorectal cancer that all test results have had the doctors scratching their heads! Maybe she will continue to be atypical and have a dramatic response to the chemotherapy!
Thanks
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Comments

  • rejoyous
    rejoyous CSN Member Posts: 259
    #2
    I don't have anything to say about the technical questions here, but I did just want to wish you and your mother all the best in confronting these challenges. I like your last line and I know that in bringing that positive energy to your mom, you're doing her some good. I get a lot of help just hearing my husband assume that healing is possible.
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  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #3
    rejoyous said:

    I don't have anything to say about the technical questions here, but I did just want to wish you and your mother all the best in confronting these challenges. I like your last line and I know that in bringing that positive energy to your mom, you're doing her some good. I get a lot of help just hearing my husband assume that healing is possible.

    Thanks for your thoughts. My mom starts chemo on Friday. Hope your husband is doing well. Hang in there and think positively!
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