New to group need advise

Your experience is so different from mine here in Virginia! I had a diagnosis within 24 hours of walking into an ED, and a surgeon in my room drawing Whipple plans all over a whiteboard that day! Surgery was first, then 5FU (12 rounds), then a chemo break before Abraxane/Gemzar (14 rounds), now on break again. C19-9 down to 37 from 496. I have gained some weight, exercise every day, sleep great, and will be ready to see what the oncologist says in about a week. The surgeon weighs in again next month! It was stage 4 with pancreas and 16 lymph nodes positive for cancer. I credit the fast moves that were made for me. I am 76+ and hanging in there for two years now, so keep moving forward!

Nancyjane1 that’s such good news that you are doing so well especially with the generous lymph node involvement. You are lucky and two years gives me hope. Could you please share what facility you were treated at and what your tumor mutations are?

Welcome shelleyderish,
I’m not familiar with facilities in Canada, and I wouldn’t want to slow down your progress of getting your husband’s liver biopsy this Friday, but sounds like you definitely need to find a center of excellence for pancreatic cancer. What is the overall physical condition of your husband, is he well enough to travel? Pancan.org is where you might want to start in order to find a pancreatic anger group/hospital to evaluate/treat your husband. I’m also stageiv with Mets to my liver, hepatic artery, and celiac artery though I was initially diagnosed at stage2 and was cancer free for 4.5 months. A lot of progress depends on the genetics of the tumor, individual internal physical co dictions, and age of the patient on how well your body responds to treatment, but there is always help. You will probably get more responses in this thread that can give you more specific information regarding your options.

I should have proofread my comment, but I meant a CENTER of excellence for pancreatic cancer. I go to UCLA as I live in Southern California. I also have Mets in the abdominal peritoneum.

Wow that’s great! They really do need to move fast because I’m told PC is very aggressive. Best wishes!

Get a good ERCP inspection & biopsy of ampulla and bile ducks, pancreas & liver. That info should be helpful, if not revealing.

That biopsy was unsuccessful but they did have the inspection Today they are doing a biopsy on an area of the liver. Hope this one works

Sounds like they’re moving along as quickly as they can good for you Godspeed. Delays are the worst thing when it has to do with pancreatic cancer of any sort you need to move quickly.

Hi, Marie! I am in northwestern VA, not DC area, and have had ll my treatments and surgery in my local cancer center. We do work in connection with Johns Hopkins, 2 hours away. They reviewed everything and set up my first chemo. At least one of our oncologists spends one day a week working there. I have been there in person one time between surgery and chemo. Computer info does the trick, I guess, I am still on chemo break since April 30 and feel stronger and SO much happier! I am willing to continue only if they prove to me that it will benefit me.