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Update on my father's issue
From looking at the reports that I was finally given access to, my father (62) now officially 1 year post whipple, the 'spot' they were watching was a soft spot on his pancreas, and they believe it might be an actual infiltrative tumor development near the mesenteric artery, but no official answer on whether it has technically penetrated the artery or spread from that area, aside from slightly enlarged lymph nodes, but no answer on if that is significant.
All other scans, all other parts of the pancreas appear okay. CA19-9 is still within normal range (his CA19-9 numbers never did really spike a lot like most people's appears to have, even pre-whipple.)
Does anyone have any experience with this kind of issue? Still looking through posts. I understand they're probably not going to do another surgery with it being near and/or infiltrating the MA. I'm assuming that if it's not infiltrating that it's probably gonna be chemo again? We got 4-5 more weeks before we find out what the oncologist and cancer board want to do, but just trying to prepare.
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Waiting is the most difficult. Hopefully your treatment is being given at a pancreatic center of excellence. You can always set up a second opinion appointment so that if after you get the opinion you are set up to have another conversation if you still feel like you need more information about what to do.
It's being given at the local hospital oncology department. They've been decent enough, caring folk who I think got a pretty good board to bounce ideas off of.
The surgery was done at st vincent in indy.
It's hard just getting him back and fourth to the local hospital with gas prices and my vehicle situation, it would be too hard on him to get him to any more skilled centers.
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3 ReactionsThere might be a way to at least do a virtual visit. Maybe not quite as good as an in person visit, but could be extremely useful. If it confirms the current treatment, that is reassuring, and if something different is recommended, your local doctors may be open to suggestions. Good luck
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3 ReactionsA small suggestion: maybe you could get rides to hospital from either a church member or from an organization.
Where I live in Pennsylvania, the county "services for the aging" can arrange rides.
You deserve recognition for all that you are doing for your dad. Good for you!
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2 ReactionsMy body does not produce cancer markers even though I unfortunately do have cancer - pancreatic and bile duct. So, we don’t have usable CA19 or other markers. It makes things more complicated. Mayo figured out I don’t make markers.