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What support groups, resources help you to come to terms with pan ca?
Pancreatic Cancer | Last Active: Nov 10, 2023 | Replies (15)Comment receiving replies
Thank you so much for posting all this information!
I’m 62, live alone, satage 4 with Mets to liver artery, veins and poss lung. I’ve only done 4 gam abraxine infusions. The problem is I live in a small town in Wisconsin and can’t drive any longer because of all the meds I’m on. Getting to be too many to count and @colleenyoung said it so well. Coming to terms with dying before even getting on SS (I’ve been saving like crazy most of my life to travel and now can’t even travel 15 min to grocery shop. Kids live 2 hours away so hard to visit with them.
I pretty much just stay hidden away crying and feeling alone and sorry for myself. Just want to stay in bed with the covers over my head worrying about all the terrible things this cancer brings and scared sh…less about dying. Just about 5 min into I’m running to bathroom so what’s the point in even trying to go out if someone invites me to come out to dinner, etc
I keep wishing I could get it together and try some of these places instead of laying here loosing about 4 lbs a week.
You nice folks that get out there, I have no idea how you manage without friends or family nearby 😭😭
Replies to "Thank you so much for posting all this information! I’m 62, live alone, satage 4 with..."
Hello.
Does your oncologist
Have a nurse line or a palliative care team that you can reach out to? I know it feels like you are so alone. I have often felt that way, with similar bathroom issues. The nausea that I have 2 weeks out of the month keeps me from even really talking to anyone.
Do you like to write?
Or do artwork, or crafts? Especially writing and artwork that may help you with the loneliness going through this.
Are you able to go for a walk, or do any exercise that you can do from home? YouTube has some really good exercise videos ranging from gentle to more rigorous.
Please reach out to someone in your doctors office. Perhaps there is someone in visiting nurses who can come to you? Or are there any community groups or churches where someone could visit you each week?
Good for you for trying to reach out.
If I can offer a bit of hope, keep your head up and try to see yourself after you have recovered from this. Thoughts are with you.
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Might you be able to take your travel savings and use them to move temporarily to one of the great pancan centers (for ex., Mayo in Minnesota, MSK, Hopkins), and seek aggressive treatment? @stageivsurvivor's posts are a reminder that one *can* survive -- but superb treatment is necessary. (If you're not familiar with his story, I encourage you to read his comments; start with the newest and read back for as long as you feel inclined.)
Also, please consider connecting to others via an online support group. And please talk to your doctors about an Rx to counteract depression and/or anxiety -- something that might help you gather your resources and move temporarily for better treatment, or that might at least help you feel better.
I'm so sorry that the challenges of this disease are intensified for you because of your isolation; I wish you well.
ETA: Even if you're apprehensive about going elsewhere because of bathroom issues, *please* find a way to spend time with nearby friends (and, if appropriate, family and farther-flung friends) -- connecting with people who really know you and who care about you makes a huge difference.