Does anyone else have pancreatic cancer mets to their stomach?

Posted by klblvsalf @kmbori, Aug 27 7:06am

My husband has stage 4 with mets to his stomach and spleen and they say possibly a very tiny one in his liver. The tumors in his stomach cause him alot of pain. This past Friday he completed 5 radiation treatments to his stomach for pain control. The verdict is still out. Praying it helps. Does anyone else have mets to their stomach? How are they dealing with the pain and eating? My husband has lost 100lbs and has zero muscle tone left. It completely breaks my heart.

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

Profile picture for marymichaels @marymichaels

This is tough.
Remember that Hospice is NOT a one and done decision. You can go off hospice and then pursue a medical procedure, such as a stent.
Hospice will be there again for you if you wish. This is a big decision and only you and your husband know what the right path will be. I will pray for you.

Jump to this post

@marymichaels check into a celiac plexus block. It is done by an interventional radiologist. It is an injection that numbs the nerves in the stomach and reduces pain and lasts for 3-6 months. Ask your oncologist.

REPLY

I am so very sorry about the pain your husband is experiencing. Have you looked into HIPEC for the mets in the stomach? I know Mayo Clinic has a current trial for HIPEC. https://www.mayo.edu/research/clinical-trials/tests-procedures/hyperthermic-intraperitoneal-chemotherapy-(hipec)

I have a friend who is currently at Mayo in Rochester for her first surgery and scans for the trial. I hope you are able to find some options and pain relief for our husband.

REPLY
Profile picture for klblvsalf @kmbori

@tomrennie
Im trying to hold it together for him and our 17 year old son.
It gets so hard at times. All I want to do is cry.
He has lost so much weight - he is just bones.
So depressing.

Jump to this post

@kmbori When was your Husband diagnosed ? Has he had Chemo ? My husband is also all bones. We have 3 Sons and it has been so hard on the entire Family. My husband was always
a big, strong man and took so much pride in being strong.

REPLY
Profile picture for suelannon @suelannon

@kmbori When was your Husband diagnosed ? Has he had Chemo ? My husband is also all bones. We have 3 Sons and it has been so hard on the entire Family. My husband was always
a big, strong man and took so much pride in being strong.

Jump to this post

@suelannon
My husband was diagnosed Jan of this year. He completed 12 rounds of folfirinox but the tumors in his stomach grew - the tumor on his pancreas stayed the same. He is retired military - he was so strong and solid muscle. Now he is just bones. I can literally feel all his bones - it completely breaks my heart and soul. We have a 17 year old son who is trying to stay strong for his dad. We are still waiting to receive the daraxonrasib. Its been 4 weeks since it was ordered. Does your husband have pancreatic cancer? what stage? Im so sorry you and your family are going thru this. Its horrible!!

REPLY
Profile picture for klblvsalf @kmbori

@suelannon
My husband was diagnosed Jan of this year. He completed 12 rounds of folfirinox but the tumors in his stomach grew - the tumor on his pancreas stayed the same. He is retired military - he was so strong and solid muscle. Now he is just bones. I can literally feel all his bones - it completely breaks my heart and soul. We have a 17 year old son who is trying to stay strong for his dad. We are still waiting to receive the daraxonrasib. Its been 4 weeks since it was ordered. Does your husband have pancreatic cancer? what stage? Im so sorry you and your family are going thru this. Its horrible!!

Jump to this post

@kmbori Yes, My husband was diagnosed in July 2024 . He had surgery and they removed the Body and Tail of the Pancreas and 20 lymph nodes . Cancer was in 14 of the lymph nodes. They also did x-rays of his lungs and then a biopsy and confirmed it was in his lungs also. He had so many complications from the Surgery ( Abscesses with tubes for 6 Months, a Collapsed Lung and Pneumonia. He never really recovered from the Surgery so the Oncologist would not put him on Chemo. She said it would kill him. Cancer is now in his stomach and most probably in his Liver. It has been a little over two years and like your Husband, my Husband was big and strong. He now looks like a skeleton with skin covering him. It has been so hard to watch all of this and my Sons are having a really hard time dealing with it. My husband has
coached them all in Baseball and Soccer and taught them how to ski. He has been a hugh part of their lives. Unfortunately, we are now down to weeks. He stopped eating and drinking 3 days ago and is now just sleeping. Just trying to keep him as comfortable as possible.
I really hope that the Chemo works for your Husband and that he is able to put the weight
back on. I will keep him in my prayers.

REPLY
Profile picture for suelannon @suelannon

@tomrennie He has fought this so hard over the last 2 Years . We spent so much time with our Sons and their Families and we were able to get 2 good trips in but we are in the final phase now. He is sleeping all of the time and has stopped eating and drinking. Last week he was having a tremendous amount of anxiety so Hospice has put him on Lorazepam which has helped keep him very peaceful. You don't think about it but I think the anxiety for him was almost worse than the pain. His pain has been managed very well.
After 55 years together, I cannot imagine Life without him .

Thank you for asking. You are such a kind person and you are helping so many people while dealing with all of this yourself. I will continue to pray for you and hoping one day they find a cure for this . It really is a terrible disease and takes so much from everyone involved.

Jump to this post

@suelannon It isn't easy for anyone. But battling cancer has taught me some things about myself and people. One thing that I learned is that you fight for your life the way you lived it. During your husband's and your fight, you two still found a way to spend time with your sons and their families. That's what is really important to you folks. You two stuck together during this cancer battle. You fought together with everything that you have, because that's who you are. I am pretty sure that's how you lived your lives together too? He might not physically look the same, but he is the same man. He is the man that you were fortunate enough to spend 55 years with. I bet he feels the same way about you. I hope that you can find some peace in the fact that you two fought together with everything that you have, with your sons and families by your sides, the same way you lived. Please be proud of that. It's special.

Thank you for the kind words and prayers. I will take all of the help that I can get!!!

REPLY
Profile picture for klblvsalf @kmbori

@tomrennie
Im trying to hold it together for him and our 17 year old son.
It gets so hard at times. All I want to do is cry.
He has lost so much weight - he is just bones.
So depressing.

Jump to this post

@kmbori I recommend that you go find a quiet place and cry. Personally, I have to let it out or it just gets worse. I also beat the crap out of my pillows sometimes while crying. I do them both until I am completely exhausted and out of breath. I need to get out all of the anger, frustration, and emotions. I always feel so much better, when I am done. Have you tried anything like that yet?

REPLY
Profile picture for Turkey, Volunteer Mentor @tomrennie

@kmbori I recommend that you go find a quiet place and cry. Personally, I have to let it out or it just gets worse. I also beat the crap out of my pillows sometimes while crying. I do them both until I am completely exhausted and out of breath. I need to get out all of the anger, frustration, and emotions. I always feel so much better, when I am done. Have you tried anything like that yet?

Jump to this post

@tomrennie
Thank you. I def take some away time and cry it out here and there. In the beginning I couldnt stop crying - but now I just remove myself and get it out by myself so my husband doesnt have to see me. Punching the pillows is def a good idea as well. Thank you. I appreciate your words.

REPLY
Profile picture for suelannon @suelannon

@kmbori Yes, My husband was diagnosed in July 2024 . He had surgery and they removed the Body and Tail of the Pancreas and 20 lymph nodes . Cancer was in 14 of the lymph nodes. They also did x-rays of his lungs and then a biopsy and confirmed it was in his lungs also. He had so many complications from the Surgery ( Abscesses with tubes for 6 Months, a Collapsed Lung and Pneumonia. He never really recovered from the Surgery so the Oncologist would not put him on Chemo. She said it would kill him. Cancer is now in his stomach and most probably in his Liver. It has been a little over two years and like your Husband, my Husband was big and strong. He now looks like a skeleton with skin covering him. It has been so hard to watch all of this and my Sons are having a really hard time dealing with it. My husband has
coached them all in Baseball and Soccer and taught them how to ski. He has been a hugh part of their lives. Unfortunately, we are now down to weeks. He stopped eating and drinking 3 days ago and is now just sleeping. Just trying to keep him as comfortable as possible.
I really hope that the Chemo works for your Husband and that he is able to put the weight
back on. I will keep him in my prayers.

Jump to this post

@suelannon
Im so very sorry to hear what is going on with your husband. You are all in my prayers. Ive wondered what the end looks like and what I should look out for. But I just figured it would be when he stopped eating all together. The weight loss is one of the hardest parts of this. Its a daily visual reminder of whats going on. So scary and sad how quickly things can change in our lives. I just keep praying for the best and researching and talking to people to see what they are doing to combat this. Sending hugs to you and your family.

REPLY
Profile picture for klblvsalf @kmbori

@tomrennie
Thank you. I def take some away time and cry it out here and there. In the beginning I couldnt stop crying - but now I just remove myself and get it out by myself so my husband doesnt have to see me. Punching the pillows is def a good idea as well. Thank you. I appreciate your words.

Jump to this post

@kmbori I have had a similar crying journey but from the patient's side of things. I think both patients and caregivers need to let everything out sometimes with a good cry. We are only human after all. You are welcome.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.