1. < Pancreatic Cancer

No treatment or surgery?

Posted by asutton0144 @asutton0144, Aug 9 11:21am

I’m 60 years old and have lived a good life up to now. I have been living with Lupus SLE since my 20’s…… I’m in pain 80% of the time.
I have decided to take Palliative Care for comfort measures.
Lost my son on same day as my diagnosis - he is who I lived for.
I’m completely comfortable with my decision
Has anyone else or know of anyone who made same decision?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Pancreatic Cancer Support Group.

marienewland | @mnewland99 | Aug 24 3:17pm
In reply to @199 "Prayers & positivity do help. Although I am 74 now, I was diagnosed at the end..." + (show)
@199

Prayers & positivity do help. Although I am 74 now, I was diagnosed at the end of June 2022 and told I had 2-4 months without maybe 11 months with treatment. I did choose to get chemo & am still here at 26 months. Chemo is not easy, but things could be worse. I am hating the peripheral neuropathy and weight gain. Palliative care is my only option as the cancer metastasized from my pancreas to my lungs. Hopefully my CA19-9 will be back within normal limits & my Sept CT will continue with no new evidence of disease. I admire your choice. Each of us has to make the decision as to what and how we want to fight. I believe you can fight with prayer & positivity! Wishing you the best!

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It’s now in my lungs, also. What chemo regime are you on?

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199 | @199 | Aug 24 3:43pm
In reply to @mnewland99 "It’s now in my lungs, also. What chemo regime are you on?" + (show)
@mnewland99

It’s now in my lungs, also. What chemo regime are you on?

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Gemcitabine and Abraxane every other week. I started 2 weeks on and one off but had to go to every other week due to increased fatigue. The lung nodules have been stable with no new ones for over a year :). I had a 4-month break but had to get back on due to elevated CA 19-9. CT was still @ NED.

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marienewland | @mnewland99 | Aug 24 3:54pm
In reply to @199 "Gemcitabine and Abraxane every other week. I started 2 weeks on and one off but had..." + (show)
@199

Gemcitabine and Abraxane every other week. I started 2 weeks on and one off but had to go to every other week due to increased fatigue. The lung nodules have been stable with no new ones for over a year :). I had a 4-month break but had to get back on due to elevated CA 19-9. CT was still @ NED.

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@199,Thank you so much for the quick reply! I’ve been back to back chemo since last week in July and with exception for 1 week that is I saw the medical oncologist. The GAC is difficult yes and I would keep on it until some other treatment is offered, but my CA19-9 keeps rising exponentially, so I’m not sure it’s working on my lung 0.9 cm lung nodule. Your year of its stability gives me hope!!

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199 | @199 | Aug 24 4:23pm
In reply to @mnewland99 "@199,Thank you so much for the quick reply! I’ve been back to back chemo since last..." + (show)
@mnewland99

@199,Thank you so much for the quick reply! I’ve been back to back chemo since last week in July and with exception for 1 week that is I saw the medical oncologist. The GAC is difficult yes and I would keep on it until some other treatment is offered, but my CA19-9 keeps rising exponentially, so I’m not sure it’s working on my lung 0.9 cm lung nodule. Your year of its stability gives me hope!!

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My CA 19-9 was at a low of 8 in February of 2023 but gradually increased and when I took a break it increased dramatically to almost 400 and then with chemo restarted it is down to 44.7 with only 6 chemos! 🙂

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marienewland | @mnewland99 | Aug 24 5:00pm

Ok! Hoping mine just taking some time to correct itself since 3chemo sessions. So glad for you and all who can get ahead of this ugly beast!

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justme54 | @justme54 | Aug 25 8:57am

I too have chosen not to have treatment and there was no option for surgery. I was on Palliative care for a short time but changed to hospice because it was much easier to get equipment, supplies and medications. I know God is in control and that we all have a date to leave this world.

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asutton0144 | @asutton0144 | Aug 25 10:42am
In reply to @justme54 "I too have chosen not to have treatment and there was no option for surgery. I..." + (show)
@justme54

I too have chosen not to have treatment and there was no option for surgery. I was on Palliative care for a short time but changed to hospice because it was much easier to get equipment, supplies and medications. I know God is in control and that we all have a date to leave this world.

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Praying for you and your strength.

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