mayoconnectuser1,
“Don’t be lulled into sense of being cancer free” is terrific advice and one if the best to be given and it’s not about being negative. I’ve learned a lot from this site, but mostly that pancreatic cancer is an extremely aggressive cancer and different from breast cancer and prostate cancer. There are 3-4 DNA mutations associated with it and FOR NOW it’s very difficult to beat. Very rare cases it becomes undetectable, but it’s not the norm at all so be vigilant and top of your testing. That’s the mistake I made with my first care at Hoag Pancan oncology team. They kept telling me I was cancer free and would get upset with me because I wouldn’t buy their deceitful mantra at first. When I finally did after 4 months of completing chemo my cancer came back and I’m in stage 4. I see many posts of variations of maintenance chemo and sometimes radiation that can keep your tumor(s) and/or lesions under check; but it’s a fight of what you personally can tolerate. This sounds glum, but I’m so happy to be alive now through chemo with its harsh side effects of nausea, weakness, and neuropathy. 23 years ago I saw my father suffer (for only a few months until he succumbed) immensely from pancreatic cancer especially as he was under the direct care between my husband and me. We’ve come a long way since then but we still have much more to go and we all are part of tomorrow’s success stories for future generations through clinical trials and varying schedules and types of chemotherapy. I do believe that one day scientists will figure out a way to mitigate the ill effects of the mutations we have. If you believe in prayers I pray for everyone of us, and if you don’t, then I wish you good will and luck.