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In need of some advice for my dad
So my dad was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer since October. He did the biopsy however an inconclusive result was given hence it had to be sent to the United States of America ti be tested. We are from the Caribbean. He has not started any treatment from the oncologist because he's awaiting result. However he has been taking seen a naturopathic doctor and has started treatment in the meantime.
He's talking digestive enzymes probiotic vitamins bowel mover etc. See some improvement in his sleeping and bowel movement.
Sometimes he feels nausea after drinking his lemon tea in the mornings or after eating a meal.
His eyes has gotten yellow. He mostly stays inside and lay down and sit up. Causing him to feel weak. He has issues finding a comfortable way of sleeping and has to be moving from one side to the other. He gets bloated sometimes and urinated something 2 to 3maz in the nights especially when he lays on his right side. Sometimes his feet get swollen.
Anyway of gaining weight??
Does anyone has similar situation and can guide me accordingly. Please I ask for guidance. I pray for all who are facing the situation
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Has the oncologist suggested any treatment at this time?
Your dad's situation concerns me, @hotchick35 . You said that the biopsy tissue was sent to the US in October but you don't have results yet. Even with international shipping, which can be done very quickly if it's paid for, it shouldn't take 2-3 months to get tissue examined and a biopsy prepared. So, my first question for the oncologist would be, where the heck is this biopsy??? Did the sample arrive at the US location? Did the report arrive back at your location? Etc.
Next, I would urge you to ask the oncologist why treatment hasn't happened yet. You say you have a diagnosis. That should be enough to begin some basic standard-of-care treatment. I would push, push, push for that. I am glad the naturopath's care has helped somewhat, but it doesn't appear to be totally effective, given your description.
I am concerned that your dad's condition has advanced rapidly. You mention yellowed eyes, which is a sign of jaundice, and issues with pain, digestion and nausea. Those are all indications that his cancer has advanced. To me, you have two options. One is to pester your local oncologist until you get the info and care your dad needs. The other is to make arrangements with a US location and move your dad there for care. You are in the Caribbean, so Miami might be a good location for you. I'm sure there are many logistical and immigration issues involved in that, but the option is worth exploring. Meanwhile, your dad needs palliative care ASAP. Do you have access to a physician who can prescribe pain meds and help manage symptoms?
Time is of the essence here. Please don't delay and wait for info. Start pushing for help now.
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2 ReactionsI said he was diagnosed in October. He did the biopsy in November got the result in December in the Caribbean and when it came back inconclusive we had to pay additional monies to send it to Miami for further testing. The mass is seen at the gead but two little tumors were seen over the liver. Still awaiting results from USA for treatment however in the mean time he has being deing an naturopath because the oncologist is awaiting that result for treatment
His pain isn't intense like initially. He is not on medication for pain and its barnacle. Usually he would be dying.
Are you saying the advancement causes the jaundice??? He feels nauseous after eating or drink the lemon tea after a few minutes 10 or so minutes he feels better
I'm not a medical expert of any type, so please take my comments as ideas and opinions, not medically sound advice. I just did a speedy google search, and jaundice (yellowing) can be caused by a blocked bile duct. The duct can be blocked by cancer growth, but also by gallstones (that's what happened to me). I'm posting a link to the Mayo site on pancreatic cancer in hopes that it provides a little more info for you all.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pancreatic-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20355421#:~:text=Pancreatic%20cancer%20that%20blocks%20the,often%20occurs%20without%20belly%20pain.I really appreciate it. God bless you. Will look into it
How did you deal with this situation
Well, I'm fortunate in that I haven't had the complications your dad is experiencing. I did have a blocked bile duct, which showed up through sudden nausea and a fever. I was admitted to the hospital through the ER. When the surgeons went in to place the bile duct stent, the duct was completely open. That's what made them think about gallstones, that a stone had lodged and then cleared itself. Long story short, my gallbladder was taken out a couple of days later, and that solved the problem.
I've been on chemo since April, so the diet and gastrointestinal issues I experienced were related to the higher chemo med dose we started with. After round one, the MD lowered the dosage, which helped. I gained the weight I'd lost, and my appetite greatly improved.
God is good. I pray healing over your body. What stags where you. If you don't mind?
I was diagnosed in early April as stage 4. During the staging laparoscopy, the surgeon saw a few small, flat lesions in my abdomen. None of them have ever shown up on CT scans; the only thing that shows is the main tumor in the body of the pancreas.