Pancreatic Cancer Survivors

StageIVSurvivor

Chemo was clearly my best shot after having a Whipple performed and measurable metastatic disease less than 5 months later. After a change in the chemo regimen of Folfirinox administered over 22 months and a clinical trial, I achieved NED status in 2016 and remain that way.

With pancreatic cancer being one of the toughest to treat, it is important to seek treatment at a large medical facility-preferably one with a pancreas center using a multidisciplinary team approach. Both of the institutions where I received treatment required travel which was worth the investment in cost and time. The care I received going to large, academically affiliated medical institutions with oncologists specializing in pancreatic cancer and familiarity with clinical trials contributed to my 9.5 year overall survival and NED of over 5.5 years.

LouC

Bartrip_Devon

Oct 3, 2009

Current Pain
I think My husband had the same surgery as you. He didn't get the whipple either, his surgery time only lasted an hour and a half. This was 5-7-08. He has some sort of pain almost everyday. He takes morphine pills 3 times a day and also hydrocordone (sp) in between. Do you have the same discomfort everyday? He is 51. Thanks and prayers to all.

Pancreatic cancer
I am amazed to read the stories about survival rates for pancreatic cancer.

My husband (47 at time) was diagnosed last year with pancreatic cancer. He was a fit and well man, never had a day off work. He woke up one morning rather yellow, ended up going to the local hospital for a check with on duty doctor who sent him to the main hospital for tests etc. He ended up having about 4 various operations (major one was to re-plumb his insides) - he has a cancerous tumour in his pancreas at the bottom of the bile duct which cannot be operated on as it is too dangerous and near too many major vessels/organs etc.

He was given 6-12 months to live (so bloody unfair as he has a 6 year old daughter). He has (i think) chosen to be bloody minded about it and really got on with his life, he is out every day, even though he cannot work any more, this, i think, is his way of coping with it. He didn't bat an eyelid when Patrick Swayze died of the same thing. He is having chemo and the consultant is absolutely fantastic and so is the specialist nurse, we couldn't wish for anyone better.


Does anybody out there have any stories of survival of more than 6 months?

I was diagnosed with PDAC Feb 2021. I am not a whipple candidate due to ductal tumor. HAD mets to liver however been doing folfirinox almost a year now and happy to say I remain mets free and pc tumor is grossly stable. Treatment and side effects are manageable albeit gross/disturbing/annoying. I was initially told I had 3-5 month survival without whipple... and look at us now. Life IS good. Wishing everyone health & happiness. 🙏

StageIVSurvivor

An update on longest Whipple procedure survivors for pancreatic cancer:

It Starts with Someone: Robert Harris

https://csn.cancer.org/home/leaving?allowTrusted=1&target=https%3A%2F%2Fpancan.org%2Fstories%2Fsurvivors%2Fit-starts-with-someone-robert-harris%2F

Read about long-term pancreatic cancer survivors who share their personal stories of hope as part of PanCAN’s ongoing “It Starts with Someone” blog series.It all started with my gallbladder attacks in 1964. Over four years, I had six attacks and was hospitalized three times. Finally my doctor said, “You’ve been fighting this long enough – let’s take out your gallbladder.”

As of this post (5/7/23), Kay Kay’s is a 29 year survivor who went on to have a total pancreatacoduodenectomy and has surpassed 29 years. Her story is featured on SeenaMagowitzFoundation.org web site. I have reached 11 years becoming NED in 2014 and in 2022 was told by a number of oncologists I am considered cured.

Fryed2aCrisp

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/560471#Comment_560471

Mine is there, also. One chemo treatment dine, and feeling great. Ampullary cancer- just wondering if it is worth all the upcoming grief….whipple procedure and all.

geepster

Newly diagnosed woman here! There does not seem to be much current conversation. My cancer is on the tail of pancreas, and was found when I was hospitalized with unrelated anemia and internal bleeding. PET scan lit up a mixed tumor on pancreas tail and also a dot on my thyroid. I have had no pancreatic or thyroid symptoms. Sure wouldn't mind hearing from other patients at any stage of this process!