Pancreatic Cancer Group: Introduce yourself and connect with others

Hello @pierre59
Are you receiving chemotherapy and/or scheduled for a distal surgery? I had my distal surgery 2 years ago. It’s so amazing that this forum connects us all over the world! How are you feeling now?

@gisele1976
Sometimes or usually the surgeon starts with laparoscopy before surgery. This is where they make a few cuts into the lower abdominal area to see if there are any vessels wrapped around the tumor and if so, then they must abort the original intended surgery. Is this what happened in your case? There are centers of pancreatic excellence that deal with this delicate type of surgery. Which state or country are you located?

Hello everyone,
I am a Vietnam Veteran and am no stranger to cancer. I receive a CT scan every 6 months because of other forms of cancer. The CT scans have come back as "no change" for the last 2 years. Except for the last, (December 6, 2024). The results came back with a 5.0 x 1.9 x 1.5 cm lesion on the tail of the pancreas. I am scheduled for an MRI on January 20, 2024. I guess I'll go from there.

Hello, @lkat01, and welcome to the Pancreatic Cancer support group on Mayo Connect. I'm glad that you found this forum. We have many members who have many years of experience with this cancer and who have found good treatments.

I am inviting some of them to discuss their experiences with you including @mnewland99, @markymarkfl, and @gamaryanne.

How are you feeling,@lkat01? Were you having any new symptoms before this was discovered on the CT?

Hello everyone,
I am a Vietnam Veteran and am no stranger to cancer. I receive a CT scan every 6 months because of other forms of cancer. The CT scans have come back as "no change" for the last 2 years. Except for the last, (December 6, 2024). The results came back with a 5.0 x 1.9 x 1.5 cm lesion on the tail of the pancreas. I am scheduled for an MRI on January 20, 2024. I guess I'll go from there.

So sorry for your husbands’ situation! Wishing you both good results & happy holidays!

In 2023, I went to the internal medicine department, then the gastroenterology department, then the MRI, CT scan, then the bitter truth, I was told that I had stage 4 pancreatic cancer. a piece of the liver was taken again to be sure, and it was confirmed. first I dreamed, I dreamed, I started to finish my work that had to be finished without telling my family, I started the cleaning operation of bank accounts, my car, etc. other trinkets in order not to leave problematic events to my wife and child, I told my closest friends about the situation (please tell them too, even tell them all the developments), I asked them not to make emotional speeches, if there is anything I can do, I will do your transportation, there is a taxi etc. If I need anything, of course I will let you know, and I asked them not to inform other people about my situation without my permission. of course I told my apartment neighbors to help me if I had a problem day and night. maybe I panicked, it turned out that I was doing the right thing (I even wanted to leave a letter to my siblings and relatives, then I gave up)
I started my new job in oncology department:) 6 heavy chemo (4 hours in the hospital, 48 hours at home) then mr, pad shooting, pancreas tumor shrunk a lot, liver only shrunk. 6 more heavy chemo, mr, pet scan. After 12 chemo was over, We met with my dr, the pancreas was completely cleaned, and there was a shrinkage in the liver (1.1 mm). the council will be convened and it will be decided whether the piece in the liver will be burned or reduced chemo will be done. i hope everyone will overcome this bad disease. maybe the liver will be burned with an interventional surgical intervention (i learned from mayo clinic)
What I experienced during the chemo period;
First, I made my hair (already small) number zero, the effects of the chemotherapy I experienced were hair, nails, bad taste in the mouth, decreased blood values, skin problems, weakness, cold allergy.
If you ask how I got over it, since I couldn't drink water, I drank everything without sugar (soda, cola, soda, fruit juice made at home). as for the lack of appetite, I took care of it by looking at food pictures, thanks to my wife, she made whatever I wanted. I consumed everything in moderation, including sugary foods except pomegranate and grapefruit. there is no information about sugar, on the contrary, consume in moderation, normal cells need sugar.
-I had extreme diarrhea, but I often ate whatever I could find, (apple is very good) I lost 25 kilos.

-I put Vaseline on my toes and fingers, it was very good, my nails shone a little.
-the nerves of the toes and fingers are damaged as in diabetics and there is no pain, but there is a burning sensation and tingling sensation when walking. I take vitamins for this, but they say that improvement can only be achieved in 1 year.

-Conclusion for chemotherapy: If chemotherapy responds to the treatment of the disease, do it, if not, resort to other scientific means, do not turn to unscientific remedies.
-in private hospitals -beware that some drs want overseas tests, sometimes these tests may not work for you, and they are expensive, investigate thoroughly.
- Without the support of my friends and family, this chemo work is unbearable. after each chemo, I went out with my friends.
After 12 chemotherapy, the council convened, it was decided that there was no need for incineration operation, it was decided to continue with mild chemotherapy in pill form.
I said I don't want to go through chemotherapy.
There is a famous clinic in Antalya called varisso that does these burning works, I went directly to that clinic from the hospital, they immediately made an appointment with the teacher Saim Bey. the teacher said briefly; you do not need a burning operation. The burning operation is done when the drugs do not respond to the treatment or when the tumor is larger, you continue the treatment in pill form (not a smart drug, the name is: capecitabine - chemotherapy drug in pill form) as the teacher said. I reluctantly started chemotherapy again, albeit light. for a few days I ate whatever I wanted, I gained a little weight (including dubai chocolate).

As of today, I am taking chemo in pill form at home, it will last for 3 months, then mr, pad extraction. I did not have a problem, sometimes diarrhea, and of course

For me this treatment is nothing. I do what I want, but there is a fatigue, although not as much as before, because it always lowers blood values, and the natural gas works at the highest temperature, I am lucky, I live in antalya.
My treatment continues in antalya training research hospital, the dr is a really good physician, prof. dr. The only problem with the training research hospital is that it is very crowded, but I think the treatment is good in this hospital.

I registered to the discussion and information exchange section of cancer patients in mayo clinic (the largest cancer hospital in the usa). my advice to cancer patients is to register in that section, there is really good information. don't misunderstand, no cure has been found, but patients give good advice to each other. for example, burning cancer tumors, I suggested some drugs to my dr (krea etc.) and he accepted, and the following;
hair loss and numbness of the fingers and toes, which are side effects of chemotherapy, nervous pains were a form of treatment for this. do not do without consulting your doctor.
https://letswinpc.org/...ment/ice-prevent-neuropathy/
nutrition guide for people undergoing chemotherapy and cancer treatment;
https://www.cookforyourlife.org/
For example; my friends could not find the mushroom that is touted to be used in the treatment of cancer, which is currently the most circulated mushroom, in Japan and it is only sold on the internet, (we even have it on trendyol), because there is no proven study, according to statistics, the cancer rate in Japan is higher than our country.
Stay connected to life, of course there are emotional crises in between, spend time, do hobbies etc. that you love, this is life, do not get stuck in the question of why me.
Now I only have a fart problem, I gained 8 kilos, my treatment continues at home. At the end of January, MR will be taken and the final situation will be clear. I wish everyone good health. Turkey/Antalya

I apologize for spelling mistakes.

Translate deepL

I don't think the cancer rate is higher in Japan than the US - if you believe it is from some research, please post the citation.

I have no idea what mushroom can be used to treat cancer - this does not sound correct, either.