1. < Pancreatic Cancer

Celebrating Life after Pancreatic Cancer!

Posted by marvinjsturing @marvinjsturing, May 9, 2019

Today is May 9. Five years ago, on May 9, 2014, I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Two days after my diagnosis, my wife and I went to church with our son. On that day the pastor preached a sermon on Romans 8:28. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” As we left church that morning, we did not know what the future held for us, but we were assured that God would be with us. Three weeks after preaching that sermon, the pastor's wife died of pancreatic cancer. When I told my boss that I had pancreatic cancer, he was concerned because his father died 6 months after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. My Whipple procedure was done on June 5, 2014. On that day, my brother-in-law was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He lived for another 20 months before the cancer took him. Two years ago, my cousin was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He died 10 days later. My grandpa died before I was born, but last year I found out that he died of heart failure a few days after having surgery for pancreatic cancer. When I was diagnosed, the 5-year survival rate was 5%. Now it is 9%. Today, by God's grace and because of the help I received from the doctors and nurses at Mayo, I am alive and celebrating life!

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

carrie40 | @carrie40 | 1 hour ago
In reply to @jymurawski "I was diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer on March 15, 2024. I was jaundiced and fatigued. The..." + (show)
@jymurawski

I was diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer on March 15, 2024. I was jaundiced and fatigued. The doctors performed surgery to put a stint in the bile duct and discovered a small tumor in the head of the pancreas.
I had 7 sessions of chemo, Whipple surgery, and 5 more rounds of chemo. Rang the bell and was ready to get back to a normal life.
Three months later, I had my first CT scan which showed the cancer returned with a vengeance. My CA 19-9 was in the thousands. I was told by my doctor if the chemo worked, I’d have no longer than a year to live. She dashed away all hope and optimism for a future. My family and I are devastated, sad, and angry.
It is so very difficult to dig our way out of this hole of despair and darkness to find joy but we must. I will not and cannot live with whatever time I have left in sorrow and pity. Even though this was the worst year of my life, it was also my best. I have been enveloped by an amazing support group of family and friends who have shown me so much love and compassion.
Having a death sentence is both good and bad. I can get legal things in order and help my love ones prepare for my passing. It’s the insidious things that hit me in the face. The realization I don’t need to renew my subscriptions, or wondering what will happen on my favorite shows, things so minor that seem so unfair. I’m angry I’ll be missing out on life that will go on without me.
When I fall back into my hole, I will come to this site to help me get through my grief. What I’m hoping to find are people who are going through the same emotions and experiences I’m going through. Misery does love company on this journey of life and death.

Jump to this post

Get a new doctor. There are so many survivors that I have read about with situations similar to yours. Please don't give up. I am reading a book now that presents attitude, exercise, meditation, and other helps that YOU have control over. (Ian Gawler, "You Can Conquer Cancer"). It has helped me immensely (peritoneal carcinomatosis), both with prolonging life and enjoying life. But I know how you feel--it has been 2 1/2 years since my diagnosis with pancreatic cancer (now metastasized), some chemo and the Whipple. I repeat to myself--"I am so fortunate to have a profound sense of wellbeing." I'm so glad you are appreciative of what you have--that will make a huge difference in your survival--please hope. Courage, Carrie

REPLY
jymurawski | @jymurawski | 12 hours ago
In reply to @markymarkfl ""I was told by my doctor if the chemo worked, I’d have no longer than a..." + (show)
@markymarkfl

"I was told by my doctor if the chemo worked, I’d have no longer than a year to live. She dashed away all hope and optimism for a future. My family and I are devastated, sad, and angry."

Don't let that prognosis be your benchmark! My tumor also returned with a vengeance 4 months after Whipple, but then remained quite stable for 2 years on chemo.

It grew again with a vengeance during my 4-month break for a clinical trial, but stabilized again for another 6 months or so before my CA19-9 started climbing again. It seems to be a sign of drug resistance at this point, but I won't know for sure until the next ctDNA test and scans next month.

Your condition (and mine) obviously change a perspective and help put priorities in order, but don't define an actual endpoint. I was in pretty bad shape last October, but now have the time and energy to resume my search for better drugs and clinical trials, as well as buying tickets to some future events that I want to live long enough to attend. 🙂

I wish you all the best in finding joy and good treatment, as well as for tolerating your chemo.

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Thank you for your words of encouragement and support. Where have you gone to find clinical trials?

REPLY
markymarkfl | @markymarkfl | 20 hours ago
In reply to @jymurawski "I was diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer on March 15, 2024. I was jaundiced and fatigued. The..." + (show)
@jymurawski

I was diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer on March 15, 2024. I was jaundiced and fatigued. The doctors performed surgery to put a stint in the bile duct and discovered a small tumor in the head of the pancreas.
I had 7 sessions of chemo, Whipple surgery, and 5 more rounds of chemo. Rang the bell and was ready to get back to a normal life.
Three months later, I had my first CT scan which showed the cancer returned with a vengeance. My CA 19-9 was in the thousands. I was told by my doctor if the chemo worked, I’d have no longer than a year to live. She dashed away all hope and optimism for a future. My family and I are devastated, sad, and angry.
It is so very difficult to dig our way out of this hole of despair and darkness to find joy but we must. I will not and cannot live with whatever time I have left in sorrow and pity. Even though this was the worst year of my life, it was also my best. I have been enveloped by an amazing support group of family and friends who have shown me so much love and compassion.
Having a death sentence is both good and bad. I can get legal things in order and help my love ones prepare for my passing. It’s the insidious things that hit me in the face. The realization I don’t need to renew my subscriptions, or wondering what will happen on my favorite shows, things so minor that seem so unfair. I’m angry I’ll be missing out on life that will go on without me.
When I fall back into my hole, I will come to this site to help me get through my grief. What I’m hoping to find are people who are going through the same emotions and experiences I’m going through. Misery does love company on this journey of life and death.

Jump to this post

"I was told by my doctor if the chemo worked, I’d have no longer than a year to live. She dashed away all hope and optimism for a future. My family and I are devastated, sad, and angry."

Don't let that prognosis be your benchmark! My tumor also returned with a vengeance 4 months after Whipple, but then remained quite stable for 2 years on chemo.

It grew again with a vengeance during my 4-month break for a clinical trial, but stabilized again for another 6 months or so before my CA19-9 started climbing again. It seems to be a sign of drug resistance at this point, but I won't know for sure until the next ctDNA test and scans next month.

Your condition (and mine) obviously change a perspective and help put priorities in order, but don't define an actual endpoint. I was in pretty bad shape last October, but now have the time and energy to resume my search for better drugs and clinical trials, as well as buying tickets to some future events that I want to live long enough to attend. 🙂

I wish you all the best in finding joy and good treatment, as well as for tolerating your chemo.

REPLY
1 reply
jymurawski | @jymurawski | 1 day ago

I was diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer on March 15, 2024. I was jaundiced and fatigued. The doctors performed surgery to put a stint in the bile duct and discovered a small tumor in the head of the pancreas.
I had 7 sessions of chemo, Whipple surgery, and 5 more rounds of chemo. Rang the bell and was ready to get back to a normal life.
Three months later, I had my first CT scan which showed the cancer returned with a vengeance. My CA 19-9 was in the thousands. I was told by my doctor if the chemo worked, I’d have no longer than a year to live. She dashed away all hope and optimism for a future. My family and I are devastated, sad, and angry.
It is so very difficult to dig our way out of this hole of despair and darkness to find joy but we must. I will not and cannot live with whatever time I have left in sorrow and pity. Even though this was the worst year of my life, it was also my best. I have been enveloped by an amazing support group of family and friends who have shown me so much love and compassion.
Having a death sentence is both good and bad. I can get legal things in order and help my love ones prepare for my passing. It’s the insidious things that hit me in the face. The realization I don’t need to renew my subscriptions, or wondering what will happen on my favorite shows, things so minor that seem so unfair. I’m angry I’ll be missing out on life that will go on without me.
When I fall back into my hole, I will come to this site to help me get through my grief. What I’m hoping to find are people who are going through the same emotions and experiences I’m going through. Misery does love company on this journey of life and death.

REPLY
2 replies
lvtexas | @lvtexas | Nov 20, 2022
In reply to @pendesk8 "I am considering the whipple procedure but this makes me wonder.I have read there is a..." + (show)
@pendesk8

I am considering the whipple procedure but this makes me wonder.I have read there is a 2 month recovery and have found that they are now doing it by laproscopy which improves the recovery.Problem is you have to find someone that does it that way.Mayo clinic does but that is too far for me.Tell your Dad to hang in there.He made it this far and he is now at the end of treatment,praise God.

Jump to this post

I have read that after Whipple there is an adjustment to your diet that is needed. Keep a food journal, talk with your doctor. A nutritionist might give you some do’s and don’t s. And, yes, you will get your life back and be whole again - that is the goal. Bless your doctors and praise God you have reached the other side of healing.

REPLY
sprinter345 | @sprinter345 | Nov 19, 2022

I pray for God to guide them and am grateful for their brilliance and dedication.

REPLY
mayoconnectuser1 | @mayoconnectuser1 | Nov 18, 2022

This isn't about a god - it is about the millions of health care professionals, the science oriented doctors and the doctor scientists - they are the ones who have studied and worked their entire lives - for generations - trying to understand and stop this disease.

Thank them - praise them.

REPLY
pendesk8 | @pendesk8 | Oct 28, 2022

Praise God,I am looking for a testimony like this.Just wondering,how long was recovery from the whipple procedure and do you have any problems from it.

REPLY
pendesk8 | @pendesk8 | Oct 28, 2022
In reply to @sofiadide20 "Hi everyone, I been reading some of your stories and you have no idea how much..." + (show)
@sofiadide20

Hi everyone, I been reading some of your stories and you have no idea how much they been helping me in helping my dad. My dad was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer December 2021. They said it was stage 1B and that it didn’t spread anywhere else. He started chemotherapy right away. We thought that chemo was gonna be devastating but it wasn’t that bad for him. He is 65 with no other mayor health problems other than a history of blood clots so he is been on blood thinners for over 15 years. Chemo actually took care of the back pain and all the other issues he had prior to cancer diagnosis. He did 8 round of chemo and some radiotherapy prior to Wipple. He was better than ever before the procedure. He got his surgery august 15, he is now home recovering. The tumor was negative of cancer, everything they took was cancer free. However my dad is having a hard time recovering. Everything is going good according to the doctor but I can see that my dad is getting frustrated. He feels weak, and he has a sense that he will never get his life back. He goes to the bathroom a lot that’s the main issue he is having. He spend over 2 weeks at the hospital and it’s been almost one month since surgery. How can I help him? I would like to share with him some of the stories to see if that will give him hope. Will he feel better eventually? Thank you so much in advance

Jump to this post

I am considering the whipple procedure but this makes me wonder.I have read there is a 2 month recovery and have found that they are now doing it by laproscopy which improves the recovery.Problem is you have to find someone that does it that way.Mayo clinic does but that is too far for me.Tell your Dad to hang in there.He made it this far and he is now at the end of treatment,praise God.

REPLY
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