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Pancreatic Cancer Group: Introduce yourself and connect with others
Pancreatic Cancer | Last Active: Jul 3 6:01pm | Replies (1298)Comment receiving replies
Hi beachdog, thanks for your thoughts and prayers, they are so appreciated. My husband’s tumor is in the tail and body of his pancreas. It was already 10cm when it was discovered and he had no symptoms other than vague abdominal pain. He also has several smaller lesions on his liver making it stage IV. He had his second round of Folfirinox today and oxalyplaten is included in the cocktail. A liver lesion was biopsied for genetic testing, but we haven’t received the results yet. Most doctors we’ve spoken to say he’s not a candidate for surgery, but I wonder why at Stage 3 your wife was. I hope she’s doing well, that sounds like so much to overcome. We’re in San Francisco, so maybe another region of the country has different ideas. I’m a labor and delivery nurse and everything I know about oncology I’ve learned in the last eight weeks. I’m not sure what I’m looking for on this platform other than hearing how others navigate this difficult course. I have hope for my husband because he’s otherwise healthy. He works as a residential building contractor and we had to stop Home Depot on our way home from the six hour infusion treatment this afternoon. We try to stay positive, we’re surrounded by our kids, a beautiful family and so much to look forward to.
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It's good that your husband is feeling well while getting his infusions. Folfirinox is a tough regimen. I should have also asked if his treatment includes the wear-home 48 hour infusion of 5FU?
My wife was initially diagnosed as borderline resectable but the chemo and sbrt shrank the tumor so much that resection was able to be done. Your question of "where" is possibly the most important in pancan treatment. We are in Orlando FL and we got a local diagnosis but went to Johns Hopkins for second opinion. Her infusions were delivered locally under the direction of JH . Her sbrt and surgery were also at JH.
SF is a major city and your husband should see a surgeon who has performed hundreds of pancan surgeries. It's not a procedure for anyone who's read about the procedure but doesn't have tons of experience. Don't be embarrassed to ask your surgeon how many pancan procedures he and his staff and the hospital have performed and assistance in a second opinion referral. Also the success rates of the surgeries. We also spoke to surgeons at MD Anderson in TX and Moffet in Tampa.
Also contact pancan.org They have a referral service as well as support groups if you need one.
Best wishes.