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@drdoyle

@carrie40 I am 80 years old and my doctor told me I probably have pancreatic cancer. He determined this from the results of CT and MRI, a positive ANA titer and elevated CA199. He scheduled me for a EUS to be done on November 27. I called Mayo Clinic and was given a video/phone appointment on November 20. The interview was with nurse Ashley from Pancreas Clinic Pre-Visit. Ashley told me that Mayo would prefer to do the EUS there rather than at university of Chicago. She also said that it was very expensive and my insurance would not pay for it twice so I canceled my EUS appointment and agreed to have it done at Mayo. Ashley told me it would be one to two weeks before I heard when my onsite appointment at Mayo was scheduled. I did contact Mayo a few times to find out about my pancreatic appointment. I was told each time that test are ordered but not scheduled. Today I learned that I am on a waitlist of 2 to 3 months. I was shocked. I wish someone would’ve told me this sooner. I feel like precious time has been wasted. Pancreatic cancer doesn’t waste time However you have given me. Hope when I read your message I thought wow I can do it too. I just won’t be doing it at Mayo. I guess thank you God bless you.

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Replies to "@carrie40 I am 80 years old and my doctor told me I probably have pancreatic cancer...."

drdoyle, I hope you can get that EUS rescheduled so you can get started. Thank you for your posting--and getting right on this sounds sensible. I dragged my feet--probably some kind of denial--had my diagnostic EUS in November 2022, started chemo in March 2023, quit in April, had the Whipple in May 2023. And things had gotten worse; the mass on the pancreas bigger, but still quite operable. I hope you keep us all up to date on your journey; you sound upbeat and ready for the fight. I'd love to give advice, but most of the people on this website astound me with their knowledge of all the aspects of treatment, drugs, tests, etc. Just so you know there are different ways to handle this diagnosis, especially when we're 80!
The latest discussion has revolved around which should come first: the chemo or the Whipple? I hope you get some of those earlier posts regarding that issue. We are with you, Carrie