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Pancreatic cancer recurrence: Anyone else?
Hi, my name is Trish, I had pancreatic cancer 7 years ago. This reoccurrence was a surprise since I had a CT on March 9th, with no sign of anything to a .5mm stricture of small intestine caused by a mass that is malignant. Just had a stent put in to on Monday to open the intestine and I am feeling much better. Will see my oncologist on May 6th, and maybe find out what stage it is. Because I haven’t eaten very well for the past few weeks and have lost almost 20 lbs, it’s left me feeling weak and tired.
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Hello @leighs2011
It is good to hear from you. I'm glad to hear that the cancer in your lungs has been stable for so long.
How long will your drug trial last? Are you having any ill effects from the drugs or do you feel better since they are boosting the immune system?
I look forward to hearing from you.
After my wife underwent 10 Gemcitibine-Abraxane-Cisplaten sessions, the Cisplaten was stopped due to the extensive side effects. Treatments 11 and 12 without the Cisplaten only dropped the CA19-9 by 20 points where previous drops were 100 points or more. After 12 treatments her CA19-9 had bottomed out at 173.1 and one week later it is 260.2. We spoke to the oncologist about substituting parbendazole for the cisplaten which is supposed to have lower side effects and have efficacy for pancan. He told us that would require getting her into a clinical trial but only after her treatments have "failed". I'm not a clinician, but it appears to me that her treatment is already failing. She has a CT scan on the 12th and I suspect he'll see the proof of failure then. We don't want to wait and are starting an off-the-grid treatment with a similar drug. Wish us luck and prayers are welcome.
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1 ReactionHi, I’m sorry it’s been so long, but I was super busy. I decided to sell my home and move in with my son. The house sold the first day after 19 offers, all over asking price, so that was a blessing. The buyer paid cash but allowed us the time we needed to move and I in turn was able to bless him and his family by leaving furniture and household goods, including a riding lawn mower. He was coming from South Korea and all they brought was their clothes. I later found out he was a Christian pastor and just like me, God was taking him in a different direction.
I moved in with my son on September 1st and got settled into my new home with him and my 16 yr old cat.
Everything was going well at first, but last Sunday I started running a temperature with no other symptoms. And have run a temp in the evening for the past week. I take 2 Tylenol at bedtime and temp is normal the next morning and stays that way all day until the next evening. Since there are no other symptoms and no pain, hospice has just asked me to keep track of it and I’ll know more next week. The fevers are annoying and range from 99.9 to 102. So it’s been hard to eat since the temps kill my appetite. But I’m still able to get out and do errands, go to church and meet friend for lunch. So life is still good.
I’ve accomplished most everything I wanted to get done and I know a lot of people do not have that chance.
I realize each extra day is a gift and I am making the most of them.
God has not only met my needs, but my desires also. He is so good! ❤️🙏🤗
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2 ReactionsI so appreciate your update, @sadiegrace. You have accomplished a lot. So nice that you were able to sell your house and furnishings to someone who really needed it.
I hope that as you recover from the activity of the move, that your temp will go back to normal. I'm sure you (and your cat) are enjoying being with your son. That is great that he could have you stay with him.
I, once again, appreciate your uplifting post. This just made my day!
So MRi or Cat scan better to diagnose pancreatic cancer
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1 ReactionHello @rexsan20
That is a good question. I'm not a medical professional, so I can't determine the correct answer to your question as to which is the best test for the pancreas. I did find some information, however, on the National Institute of Health's website, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6284179/
As you read this publication, you will see Table 1. It does comparative values for three different tests, CT, MRI as well as EUS. It appears from the Table that MRI is slightly better than a CT scan and that EUS is better than both. Here is a link from Mayo Clinic's website that describes the EUS, https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/endoscopic-ultrasound/about/pac-20385171
Have you had the EUS?
What is the EUS?
Here is the description of the EUS that I posted earlier https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/endoscopic-ultrasound/about/pac-20385171. This is generally an out patient procedure.
no not yet........Thank you SO MUCH!!!!!!!! I appreciate the help!
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1 ReactionHello @sadiegrace
Just thinking about you. As it has been about a month ago, when you last posted about your move and the new symptom of night-time fever, I was wondering how you were doing.
I hope that the fever has abated by now and that you have a better appetite.
I would enjoy hearing from you.