Pancreatic Cancer warriors I hope you get great news like me

Posted by thawk32 @thawk32, Apr 10, 2023

I’m feeling a lot better after confirming with my Oncologist yesterday about my MRI. It’s almost to good to be true that my cancerous cells have been reduced so much. My doctor confirmed what radiologist said that there was no discretely measurable mass identified.
I’ve been fighting Pancreatic cancer for two years and have done 42 treatments during this time. I’ll be continuing to have my treatments every two weeks and now know that they worth my time.

I will be having a CT scan on April 17th of my chest and abdomen to see if these areas are clean. At this time this is very encouraging and has my head in a different place from where it’s been for two long years.
I want to post to give all Pancreatic Cancer warriors the strength and knowledge that treatments work. I never thought I’d see theses results and had happy tears as it was surreal.
Sending prayers 🙏🏻 to all my Pancreatic Cancer Warriors. ❤️

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Pancreatic Cancer Support Group.

@thawk32

I’m currently on FOLFIRI which get at the cancer center then I get hooked up with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) at home for 46 hours. My oncologist did mentioned surgery for the first time but didn’t go into details. I meet with him in May to get more details.

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I wish all the best for you. It can be such a roller coaster ride. Keep up the positive outlook. I think the mental/emotional aspect is as important as the actual treatments. Keep pushing yourself to exercise and eat even when you don’t feel like it and I think you will have a better outcome.

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@lfitz

I wish all the best for you. It can be such a roller coaster ride. Keep up the positive outlook. I think the mental/emotional aspect is as important as the actual treatments. Keep pushing yourself to exercise and eat even when you don’t feel like it and I think you will have a better outcome.

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Having a great attitude, definitely helps while fighting Cancer. I’ve been having a good diet during my treatments. I only had to sit back when I got septic after my 12 treatment. Since then I’ve had a great diet that has kept the weight on.

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So happy to hear u r better
All good wishes🙏

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So happy to hear u r better.
Wishes u all the best🙏

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@thawk32

Having a great attitude, definitely helps while fighting Cancer. I’ve been having a good diet during my treatments. I only had to sit back when I got septic after my 12 treatment. Since then I’ve had a great diet that has kept the weight on.

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Hi,
Can you share your diet regimen?

thank you!

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@thawk32

Having a great attitude, definitely helps while fighting Cancer. I’ve been having a good diet during my treatments. I only had to sit back when I got septic after my 12 treatment. Since then I’ve had a great diet that has kept the weight on.

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HI Thawk,
You were on Filfirinox?
What kind of diet you had?
How bad were the side effects of the chemo on you?
All the best!

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I’m currently on Filfirinox and have tolerated it very good. My diet consists of fish and veggies and not too much red meat. I also eat as much fruit as possible. I stayed positive even on some of my worst days is a big part of the fight. Stay strong and prayers to you. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

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Congratulations on your terrific news! I know what a warrior you have been! I was diagnosed Dec. 2021 with stage 3
Pancreatic cancer. I was able to have Whipple right away, followed by 6 months of Gemcitabine and Abraxane. Just had a CT scan that was clean, but my marker is rising alot, so I will have a PET scan asap. I'm scared, but I know I have to keep visualizing myself free of this. Meditation helps.
Thank you for your post.
It gives me hope.

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@lilliejane2

Congratulations on your terrific news! I know what a warrior you have been! I was diagnosed Dec. 2021 with stage 3
Pancreatic cancer. I was able to have Whipple right away, followed by 6 months of Gemcitabine and Abraxane. Just had a CT scan that was clean, but my marker is rising alot, so I will have a PET scan asap. I'm scared, but I know I have to keep visualizing myself free of this. Meditation helps.
Thank you for your post.
It gives me hope.

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When you say marker-do you mean the CA 19-9 marker? My husband (stage 4) has had 7 folfirinox treatments (at Dana Farber Cancer Institute) and is tolerating them well. For the first 6, the bloodwork showed CA 19-9 decreasing, but on this 7th one, there was an increase. Dr. said it is not always meaningful, and not to get dismayed.... but.... we are. She said only a scan can determine whether tumor is shrinking or growing. We have a scan coming up next week. Any thoughts on whether the CA 19-9 markers are accurate/meaningful trends? That's really the only tumor info we get between the scans.....
He too changed his diet based on various research we did--almost no red meat, (3 times in 100 days), only chicken and fish, limiting sugar since that supposedly feeds the cancer, limiting dairy, and increasing fruits and veggies and fiber. He gave up all alcohol. He is 6'1", and was overweight at 240 lbs in Jan. In 90 days, he lost 55 pounds on the new diet, and is now stable at 185, which is where he should be. Still has strong appetite, but is eating the "right stuff" now. He had high blood sugar in Jan when he was diagnosed, and dr said he had diabetes and had to go on insulin. With the new diet, we were able to decrease insulin by 15% a few weeks ago, and his blood pressure and cholesterol are both down too. I am hoping we can get him off the insulin eventually. Has anyone had any experience with being able to eliminate the insulin after changing diet?

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@k13

When you say marker-do you mean the CA 19-9 marker? My husband (stage 4) has had 7 folfirinox treatments (at Dana Farber Cancer Institute) and is tolerating them well. For the first 6, the bloodwork showed CA 19-9 decreasing, but on this 7th one, there was an increase. Dr. said it is not always meaningful, and not to get dismayed.... but.... we are. She said only a scan can determine whether tumor is shrinking or growing. We have a scan coming up next week. Any thoughts on whether the CA 19-9 markers are accurate/meaningful trends? That's really the only tumor info we get between the scans.....
He too changed his diet based on various research we did--almost no red meat, (3 times in 100 days), only chicken and fish, limiting sugar since that supposedly feeds the cancer, limiting dairy, and increasing fruits and veggies and fiber. He gave up all alcohol. He is 6'1", and was overweight at 240 lbs in Jan. In 90 days, he lost 55 pounds on the new diet, and is now stable at 185, which is where he should be. Still has strong appetite, but is eating the "right stuff" now. He had high blood sugar in Jan when he was diagnosed, and dr said he had diabetes and had to go on insulin. With the new diet, we were able to decrease insulin by 15% a few weeks ago, and his blood pressure and cholesterol are both down too. I am hoping we can get him off the insulin eventually. Has anyone had any experience with being able to eliminate the insulin after changing diet?

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Hello!
First I want to say that you and your husband are doing an amazing job in this fight against a really tough diagnosis. I believe we will get to the other side of it.
Yes, i was referring to the CA 19 9 marker. From what i have read, it can increase during treatment in response to dying cancer cells, and perhaps in response to other inflammatory issues.
I was fortunate to be able to have the Whipple procedure, which brought my CA 19 9 down to the normal range. From there, during chemo, it rose and fell. I am 8 months out of chemo now, and it is rising again. My last CT was April 4, and it showed no sign of cancer, so it is dismaying to me that it is rising again. I will be having a PET scan soon in response to the rise.
I have read it can rise in response to inflammatory conditions. My CA 19 9 rose after I had Covid in December.
I try new things to keep cancer away. I have eliminated dairy, gluten and sugar, and only have turkey, eggs and fish.
I am in the process of eliminating most meat as well. Also, started fasting, and using herbal supplements, as well as meditation several times a day to address the worry that comes with this.
I exercise every day, either cardio or weight training.
I wish I could tell you more about CA 19 9 to ease your mind.
Keep doing what you're doing and researching other ways to get through this. 🙏🙏🙏

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