💜 Surviving Pancreatic Cancer for 3 years and beyond 💜

We are all survivors, filled with courage and determination, just like those who have passed from this cancer. Facing pancreatic cancer is incredibly challenging, a reality that can feel overwhelming. It is a medical crisis.

Yet, within this struggle, there’s also the potential for growth and transformation.

Even when the odds seem daunting, we hold onto hope and draw strength from one another. We can navigate this journey together!

Has anyone else with stage 1/ no spread pancreatic cancer tried radiation instead of chemo? I know there is not research to back it up with any success rates. But it seems logical that it could buy me possibly some more time and maybe less pain. My main concern is how safe it is when done by a doctor that doesn’t have experience in this particular type of cancer. How likely am I to end up with, say, worse gastric problems and wishing I had never done it? Just wondering if anyone else has had any experience with this?

@ardithbjorge I had stage 1/no spread PC, diagnosed Feb. 2025. None of my Drs or surgeon mentioned having radiology, I am wondering why you are posing your question, radiology instead of chemo? I don’t know the exact details for why Drs select one over the other, except that depending on the location of the mass, may not be able to safely deliver radiation with other critical structures in the area. You can maybe illuminate me! I had the Whipple, and just last week finished 12 cycles of Folfirinox. Not a lot of fun, but not that debilitating.

@ardithbjorge

Did you say you are going to get a second opinion at Mayo?

I would recommend asking about all of the options available. Make sure to ask a lot of questions regarding treatment plans and the chemotherapy choices you can consider. Do they offer radiation? If not what’s the reasoning behind it.

In my case, I met with a cancer center and then with Mayo. Neither mentioned radiation.

I did ask the cancer center I consulted with before Mayo about the proton radiation but they said the treatment would be Whipple and chemo. I did not ask why.

For me I would only work with an oncologist specializing in my cancer.

Wishing you the best!

My recommendation is to go to a center that specifies in pancreases cancer. A regular oncologist done not have the experience to handel this complicated disease. I am a survivor of 7 years. You are at the start of a long journey accept it now not later

The Whipple procedure, to remove the tumor, 40% of my pancreas, and my gallbladder, was completed on January 5th, 2007. A revision of pancreatic surgery was done in July 2017...so far so good.🙏

@katieliz I had serious side effects with the 1st and only folfirinox treatment, being hospitalized for 10 days with serious gastric problems leading to dehydration and malnutrition. Therefore, I have told my oncologist no more chemo. And he has not suggested any alternatives in chemo because of it. However, he asked if I would want to explore possible radiation. Now that my body has recovered from the chemo, I still seem to have no symptoms of cancer spread. So it’s real tempting to just live each day feeling as well as I can without any treatment side effects—-until it spreads.

@ardithbjorge

Good to see you again! Hope you are well 💜

@hotelkilo1

Wow, what an incredible journey you’ve been on.

That’s a lot of pancreas removal. I hope your digestive system is adjusting and working okay.

What do you attribute your success of having NED?

I’m really glad to hear that you’re doing well!

I owe my life to my oncologist at the Indiana University Hospital in Indianapolis.