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@susan2018

@marvinjsturing I think we may have communicated in the past. I just reviewed your posts. I’m wondering how you’re doing, whether there is any news. My husband had his stage IIA pancreatic cancer diagnosis after a Whipple at Mayo for IPMN pancreatic cysts the end of August last year. He then had 6 months of Folfirinox chemo. We’re going back to Mayo the end of this month after a locally done CT and PET scan evidently shows something that is worrisome at the surgical bed. His CA-19 and CEA labs are within normal range but we haven’t met with our local oncologist yet to be briefed on the PET results. We don’t know much yet, only that Mayo has already called us and scheduled him for multiple appointments, EUS, surgeon, oncologist and with a radiation oncologist. So any insight anyone can share about Radiation after Whipple and Chemo would be appreciated. I obviously don’t know much at this point. I’m wondering what Mayo recommends, regular radiation vs proton, and on what basis. Hope you are managing and thanks!

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Good luck... we're not there yet but am interested in replies.

@susan2018 At this the plan is to check .CA 19-9 monthly. In February at Mayo it was 164. In Sioux Falls in June it was 86. At Mayo in July it was 126. The jump from 86 to 126 sounds like too much just to be a difference in labs. It will be interesting to see what it is in Sioux Falls next month. My understanding is that typical treatment for recurrence is radiation and chemo. I was told that radiation alone has a 30% success rate and radiation and chemo together have a 40% success rate. With my kidney problems, if I did chemo I would also have to do dialysis. To me, the added benefit of chemo was not worth the extra requirement of dialysis. I will be going back to Mayo for another PET/MRI scan in October. We will have a better idea of future treatment after that. Last February, I had an EUS/biopsy done and I consumed with a surgeon who told me that surgery was not an option for me.

Is there usually radiation and chemo after whipple too? Hubby did it on the front end and we are praying he's eligible for surgery now.