Pre-Pancreatic Cancer, what path to follow
Today I am 65 years old and possess a dozen Pancreatic neoplasms with 1 or more being an IPMN with CEA at 3,193 and two gene mutations, GNAS and KRAS.
History, short version - More than two decades ago the first neoplasm was found while tracking adenomas on my adrenal glands, which stopped growing a decade ago. When the biggest pancreatic in the tail reached 3cm it was needle biopsied during EUS and the CEA was 44,172, more than 100 x the concern limit. A spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy later, it (MCN) was gone and I went on daily meds to keep my blood sugar in a decent place. At that point in time there were three smaller 1½cm ones in the body and two ½cm ones in the head. The growth rates of the others and newer ones seem to be the same as the growth rate of the first and subsequent ones. The prediction three years ago was a pancreatic body removal, with a couple of tumors, next year and then consider the head a few years after that.
The reality, today, is they are talking complete pancreas removal in the near term. So,,, I'm actually looking at this as a decision-point. I AM ALL ABOUT QUALITY LIFE, NOT FOCUSED ON QUANTITY. The way I see it I can have a total pancreatectomy and live a while with the consequences of that or look at the last 6 years as living on borrowed time, live great quality for the next 3 years, and let god take me this time. It's a heck of a decision, especially without much information.
I am not looking for votes, just specific information. My gastroenterologist who knows me tells me that life after a total pancreatectomy is not a quality life compared to the one I've lived. My endocrinologist tells me that he has several patients that are living good lives without a pancreas. I asked him to please see if he could find me a few to converse with and hear how it really is. It's been two months and he has not.
What I am specifically looking for is the following -
1. What is life like after a total pancreatectomy?
2. What is dying like from pancreatic cancer?
3. No votes.
Decisions, decisions.
Thank you in advance.
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Thanks again @mcharlesfrancis.
Thank you @rmlrml for this information. I'm still compiling information. My endocrinologist it definitely a longer life vote. He is the one looking for someone for me to speak with. He has not come forward with someone for me that supports his vote, yet. I am a year-ish away from having to decide. Thanks again,
John
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