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Pancreatic Cancer Group: Introduce yourself and connect with others
Pancreatic Cancer | Last Active: 16 hours ago | Replies (1851)Comment receiving replies
Hello, my name is Jim. I'm 78yo and was diagnosed with stage 2 PC in May 2023. My treatment plan called for 8 chemo treatments (every other week) then Whipple followed by 2 more chemo's. After the 2nd treatment my CA 19-9 levels were below normal so my oncologist recommended we stop chemo and go directly to surgery. After 7 hours the surgeon declared, "We got it. We got it all!" Followup chemo was canceled. Naturally I was overjoyed.
Then in May of this year a routine CT uncovered PC in my lungs. Devastating. What's more, after 4 rescheduled chemo treatments my oncologist spaced my treatments 7 weeks apart claiming it's to improve quality of life. I don't handle treatments well but I can certainly handle it monthly. So we'll see. Having said that I feel fine. No pain, have a good appetite and no weight loss. Lost all hair, have a severe cough and extremely fatigued. In short, I don't know where I stand. I think my oncologist considers me doomed and offers nothing in alternative treatments. Looking for answers.
Replies to "Hello, my name is Jim. I'm 78yo and was diagnosed with stage 2 PC in May..."
Did they remove any of your Lymph Nodes and if so, how many had PC ? My Husband had
Surgery in July 2024. Tumor was in Body & Tail of Pancreas. They removed 20 Lymph Nodes and PC was in 14 of the Lymph Nodes.
He had thee same experience with Surgeon coming in and declaring they got it all. He was ecstatic and I was very critical. Knowing that the Lymph Node System is like a Highway with many Exits, how could they know that it was not in any other parts of the body.
The plan was to do Chemo right after the Surgery but he ended up developing a large abscess
in his chest a week after surgery and had to be rushed to the hospital where they inserted Drains. While in the hospital, his lung collapsed. He went home 5 days later and he developed Pneumonia even though he was on very strong antibiotics. They put him on a Third antibiotic. He ended up losing 50 lbs and was extremely weak. Drains ended up being in for 6 Months. After all of this time, we saw the Oncologist and we were told, he was much too weak for any kind of treatment.
The next CT Scan he had, showed multiple nodules in his lungs so we went back in for a Lung Biopsy and sure enough he has PC Cancer all through his lungs. He is now stage 4 .
His CA-19 levels keep going up and in June it was nearly at 11,000.
He decided No more tests or Doctors until September. He wanted to enjoy the Summer with his Family and go fishing and just enjoy Life. He has honestly had a really good Summer so far. He does get pain in his back, his side and his abdomen but it comes and goes and does not stop him from doing anything.
We go back on September 12th for a PET Scan and all of the Blood Work. I am very nervous about this visit but it was so nice to just not think about all of this for a while. He say right now that he does not want any chemo but he could change his mind and I have told him I would support any decision he makes. We are 71 and celebrated our 50th Wedding Anniversary in July. We are each others Best Friend and I can't imagine my Life without him.
After those 6 Months of him being so sick after Surgery, I thought I was going to lose him then. Now that he is doing so well even though he is stage 4, I feel like he will be here for a long time. I wish someone would tell me what I can expect for the future but I always feel like
we are completely in the dark. Up till now, Oncologist has not even suggested Chemo or any other Treatment. I once asked the Oncologist what I should be on the lookout for and she told me nothing, just go home and enjoy each other and help him get stronger.
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So sorry to read this. I am of the same mindset that once your oncologist writes you off they just do the standard protocol. My original diagnosis was promising stage 2 and no Mets with surgery after chemo. Given what I had heard about PC I was thrilled I may have 3-5 years after chemo and surgery. Bad on my part to not inquire as to the possibilities of this not working. Now none of this is an option and my years turned into months. A real gut punch to say the least. I wasn’t even told about my mutation being nonresistant to chemo. I read that online after research. Praying for all those fighting this beast!