Welcome, @srhyne. Things look like your moving in the fast lane right now. This must be so much to take in and at the same time to keep up with appointments and everything you're being told or need to do.

That all takes an emotional toll for sure. I know that fellow members like @marvinjsturing @stageivsurvivor @jdjabara @beachdog @tpl @bede @thebobk @helenar @lfitz know exactly what you're going through. Some of them, like you, have been recently diagnosed and others have been living with pancreatic cancer for a while or caring for someone living with pancreatic cancer.

srhyne, as you're in the info gathering stage, ask questions, ask questions, ask questions, both of your care team and here.

How are you feeling today? Any questions about this week's upcoming CT scan and meeting with the oncologist?

Hi @srhyne! I’m new to the group although I was diagnosed in October 2021. I had treatment locally but am now at Mayo heading for a complete pancreatectomy— a word I don’t know until about 6 months ago. If there is one thing that has stood me in good stead as a mantra of sorts, it’s this: You are not a statistic. Statistics say you should be terrified of pancreas cancer. But statistics don’t acknowledge all the many exceptions—and there’s no reason you can’t be one of the better outcomes! So focus on learning from those stories
That said, there’s a lot to learn. Take control of the things you can, like diet, exercise and sleep. The common“mindset“ advice is a two-edged sword. It can turn into blaming the victim if things seem not to go right (“You weren’t thinking positively enough!” That’s nonsense, IMO)
One more thought: Don’t give up if at some point down the road your local team says they can’t help. I was being treated at one of the best cancer centers in the country in Boston, which thinks of itself as a medical Mecca. After 12 rounds of chemo my local surgeon said he thought surgery was too risky, end of story, basically. I had my scans sent to Mayo and they told me, to the contrary, I’m an ideal candidate for a very complicated surgery that they do more of than anyone else. So here I am, doing “prehab” to get prepared.
Keep plugging and putting one foot in front of the other, but let people help you.
Good luck!

@srhyne I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer earlier this year - in NC and currently being treated at Duke. I decided to record my experiences and thoughts that I hoped would be of some use to the newly diagnosed patient and their families. My notes are now available in e-book and paperback format and you can read a sample at the following link to help determine if it might be right for you - https://www.amazon.com/One-Path-Among-Many-experiences-ebook/dp/B0BBD5ZVTG Best,