Confused, angry and Tired!

CasseyM
CasseyM Member Posts: 2
in Caregivers #1
Hello All. My father was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer on Valentines Day this year. It has been a roller coaster. His surgeon attempted to do a whipple surgery but aborted the surgery. He claimed it was because of lymph nodes. Said he couldn't do anything. He took out his gall bladder (pretty normal from what I've read) left all the cancer in there and sewed him up told me to take him home that there was nothing he could do. Told him that he would probably only live 20months??? I'm so angry that any doctor would give such a definitive time frame. So any how I could not accept that so I began researching. Which in hind sight I wish I would have done first but it happened so fast. My father woke up on 1/24 Jaundice. No other symptons. After tests, tests, and more tests, they finally made diagnosis on 2/14. He had surgery on 2/18.
So I finally got him into Johns Hopkins Hospital with a Surgeon who after seeing him feels he can complete the Whipple and save my fathers life. We live in Denver and Hopkins is in Baltimore, so it has been crazy traveling all that way but the surgeon there is awesome. Of course Insurance is a pain. They will not easily grant me a referral so I am fighting them everyday.
So my dad started Chemo last week and after his first cycle which should be over by last week in May, We will then be heading to Baltimore for the Whipple surgery the first week in June.
I'm saying my prayers daily but would appreciate any advice anyone has.

Thanks,
Cassey

Comments

  • Tina Blondek
    Tina Blondek Member Posts: 1,500 Member
    #2
    Hang in There
    Hello Cassie and welcome to you and your dad to our caregivers discussion board. I was a caregiver for my dad. He passed last March from esophageal cancer which went to his liver. You have both got to count your blessings and praise the Lord that you found a surgeon in Baltimore that is willing to perform the whipple surgery. Wow! You are doing a great job with the research, ins. calls, etc. That is what your dad is counting on you for. You are his right hand girl. I was the same for my dad. The chemo will work to shrink the cancerous tumor before surgery. I will be thinking of you and praying for you both. Mostly in the first week of June! Keep us posted.
    Tina in Va
  • CasseyM
    CasseyM Member Posts: 2
    #3
    Tina Blondek said:

    Hang in There
    Hello Cassie and welcome to you and your dad to our caregivers discussion board. I was a caregiver for my dad. He passed last March from esophageal cancer which went to his liver. You have both got to count your blessings and praise the Lord that you found a surgeon in Baltimore that is willing to perform the whipple surgery. Wow! You are doing a great job with the research, ins. calls, etc. That is what your dad is counting on you for. You are his right hand girl. I was the same for my dad. The chemo will work to shrink the cancerous tumor before surgery. I will be thinking of you and praying for you both. Mostly in the first week of June! Keep us posted.
    Tina in Va

    Tina, thank you so much. It
    Tina, thank you so much. It is so comforting to know that there are others out there that have been through the same things. I am so sorry for the loss of your father. My prayers are with you. And thank you for the positive comments about the chemo. I will keep you posted.
    Cassey in CO
  • mr steve
    mr steve Member Posts: 285
    #4
    CasseyM said:

    Tina, thank you so much. It
    Tina, thank you so much. It is so comforting to know that there are others out there that have been through the same things. I am so sorry for the loss of your father. My prayers are with you. And thank you for the positive comments about the chemo. I will keep you posted.
    Cassey in CO

    travel insurance cancer
    Cassey,

    My wife and I have to travel to OSU for treatment. I have heard good thing about Hopkins. Just try to stay strong take good care of yourself, you cant care for someone if your run down and sick, can you. Be a tuff cupcake.

    Steve
  • grandmafay
    grandmafay Member Posts: 1,633 Member
    #5
    Just Starting
    It sounds like you are just starting your roller coaster ride. Whenever people tell me that a doctor has said someone has a set number of months, etc. to live, I always tell them to get another dr. That's what you did. I'm sure your father appreciates your love and help. I agree that you also need to take care of yourself. I will say a prayer for both you and your dad. Fay
  • ms.sunshine
    ms.sunshine Member Posts: 707 Member
    #6
    grandmafay said:

    Just Starting
    It sounds like you are just starting your roller coaster ride. Whenever people tell me that a doctor has said someone has a set number of months, etc. to live, I always tell them to get another dr. That's what you did. I'm sure your father appreciates your love and help. I agree that you also need to take care of yourself. I will say a prayer for both you and your dad. Fay

    Drs. gotta love them
    When a dr. gives a time frame on someones life, it makes me shudder. I also vote to get another dr. A bad dr. will cause frustration, but when you get a good one, he/she will make you forget about the bad one. You can breathe easier.
    I wish you, dad, and family the best.

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