Started chemo for pancreatic cancer and already want to quit

I can see that her treatments are hard on you and likely harder on her. What does SHE want to do? It sounds like her quality of life is very hard to live with. Has she, and you, considered palliative care?

thanks Susan this helps a lot, every 2 weeks would be so much better and I'm sure give her at least a glimmer of hope,I guess I didn't realize she could do it every other week rather than once a week, I will certainly mention this to her oncologist on Tuesday, thank you bunches!

thank you so much for your words of encouragement, we do have an excellent place where she is getting treated it's mayo clinic in Rochester, very nice people doctors and nurses, to all the staff, we are always treated great from the time we walk in the door. even security are extremely pleasant, just hope we can get all this sorted out with her doctor , we have a couple appointments on the 7th and 8th one of those being the 2nd treatment if she decides to go through with it , I have noticed on here that it seems like everyone on here has at least 2 years since being diagnosed,which is also encouraging because we thought she only had 6-9 months (median survival average) thank you for chatting with me and keep up the fight!

It is so difficult to find information on stage 4 pancreatic cancer numbers. I will be receiving my 41st gemcitabine/Abraxane treatment on Thursday. At first, I got it 2 weeks on and one week off. Now I am receiving it one week off, one week on which is a bit easier on me. I recommend trying protein shakes. We use the Walmart protein powder & mix in milk which I have one glass per day. The worst part is of the treatments for me has always been the peripheral neuropathy, especially to my feet and lower legs. I do use pain pills for that. I have been blessed with only occasional nausea & do use the Compazine or Zofran if I get the slightest feeling of nausea. When someone wants to know how they can help, I always ask for prayers. I truly feel that helps me. I could not have made it this far without them. I have been on the same meds since July 2022 and am almost afraid to change up anything after the next CT in December. I will include you & your sister in my prayers.

Hi, @tnt69. I don't know whether this will help, but:

Between 4-4-23 and 8-2-23, I had 8 rounds of Folfirinox (like all pancan chemo regimens, it's n-a-s-t-y) at 14-day intervals. In the beginning, I had five good days, two so-so days, five not-good days, and two awful days. Chemo can be cumulative, and by the 7th round, I had zero good days. Four days after the 8th infusion, I passed out briefly at home, alone. When my side effects were at their worst, I thought, "I don't care if I die."

But. I made it through, and I felt good from 8-18-23 thru 10-5-23 (when I had my surgery). I'm past the worst of the surgical pain, and I'm gearing up for additional treatment (possibly more IV chemo). Not thrilled about that, but I know I can withstand it.

I want to be one of the people who beats the odds, and I want that for *everyone* on this board -- I want it for *everyone* with cancer (which would mean rewriting the odds). So I hope that the appt. tomorrow helps her team figure out how to adjust her chemo such that she isn't hit quite as hard, and I hope that these posts from people who've gone through something similar, if not quite as bad, might help her realize that the worst of chemo *does* pass, tho it's hard to accept that while one is suffering.

Also, some ideas about dealing with nausea:
-- My Rx were generic Zofran and generic Phenergan, alternated. Other people have mentioned Compazine and olanzapine.
-- Having a little something in my stomach 1st thing, and throughout the day, often helped: two bites of plain white bread, saltines, or matzoh.
-- Eating a bite of candied ginger helped, as did sucking on a wintergreen-flavored Lifesaver.
-- Ensure Clear is like juice with added protein; I find it too sweet, so I dilute it. I preferred the apple flavor, which is hard to find (CVS and Walgreens sell the mixed-fruit variety, which I haven't tried). Adding water reduces the amt of protein per serving, of course, but for me they're just too sweet.
-- The protein shake I prefer is made by Bolthouse Farms (in the refrig. section of my grocery store); it has fewer lab chemicals than Ensure et al., and I feel strongly that lab chemicals make us sick / keep us sick. I find these too sweet, too, so I dilute them with dairy milk, soy milk, or both (soy milk has a little less protein per ounce than does dairy milk; pre-illness I avoided dairy, but my diet has changed since diagnosis, in part bc my tastebuds have changed and in part bc I'm eager to get protein from anything that appeals to me).
-- The dietician at my cancer center recommended that I boost my protein intake by adding powdered milk whenever possible (to mashed potatoes, to my protein shakes, to anything with a compatible flavor).

Hi, @amyjom. I hope that your mother tolerates treatment well, and that the entire family does well during this stressful time.

Some ideas about dealing with nausea, and about diet:
— My Rx were generic Zofran and generic Phenergan, alternated. Other people have mentioned Compazine and olanzapine.
— Having a little something in my stomach 1st thing, and throughout the day, often helped: two bites of plain white bread, saltines, or matzoh.
— Eating a bite of candied ginger helped, as did sucking on a wintergreen-flavored Lifesaver.
— Ensure Clear is like juice with added protein; I find it too sweet, so I dilute it. I preferred the apple flavor, which is hard to find (CVS and Walgreens sell the mixed-fruit variety, which I haven't tried). Adding water reduces the amt of protein per serving, of course, but for me they're just too sweet.
— The protein shake I prefer is made by Bolthouse Farms (in the refrig. section of my grocery store); it has fewer lab chemicals than Ensure et al., and I feel strongly that lab chemicals make us sick / keep us sick. I find these too sweet, too, so I dilute them with dairy milk, soy milk, or both (soy milk has a little less protein per ounce than does dairy milk; pre-illness I avoided dairy, but my diet has changed since diagnosis, in part bc my tastebuds have changed and in part bc I'm eager to get protein from anything that appeals to me).
— The dietician at my cancer center recommended that I boost my protein intake by adding powdered milk whenever possible (to mashed potatoes, to my protein shakes, to anything with a compatible flavor).
-- I craved mild foods, mostly starchy: mashed potatoes, pasta with a little butter, toasted white bread with a little butter, mild cheeses, grilled-cheese sandwiches, scrambled eggs, roast chicken (with minimal seasoning), sliced deli turkey, roasted sweet potatoes, grits (sometimes with corn, peas, and carrots), and occasionally mild lasagna. It might help to make batches of these things and divide them into single-portion stackable freezer containers (my supermarket sells own-brand rectangular stacking containers that hold 9 ounces -- they're perfect for me). If your mother doesn't want these foods now, she might want them when chemo ends and her appetite increases but she's not up to cooking. Or your father might want them now, given that he's probably not going to feel like cooking.

thank you, I appreciate everyone's recommendations.

hello I had gemzar and abraxane combo and ended up later in hospital so my doctor dropped it. I've been on 2 drug trials and other chemos now on 5FU lower dose. I've had PC since Sept 2017 with almost three years NED but returned may 2020with lung mets. I feel lucky to have lived this long and wish your sister the best. Abraxane works but that doesn't mean you can tolerate it of course. Good Luck and God Bless you both, Leigh

thank you for your input godbless

How did the appointments go, @tnt69? How’s your sister doing? How are YOU doing?