Pancreatic Cancer Group: Introduce yourself and connect with others

I would like to know more about the nerve-blocking treatment for pain. Like you, I have pancreatic cancer with constant stomach pain. I also attend Mayo, in Phoenix. I have finished chemo and radiation, and I’m waiting for Whipple surgery to be scheduled. I wish you all the best in your journey. Kathy

Hello @novak120 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Connect is a place where patients give and get support from others.

I am sorry to hear that you are dealing with cancer again. I am glad to hear that the nerve-blocking procedure has helped you. If you don't mind sharing more, what type of discomfort and/or pain were you having prior to the nerve block?

As I have had three surgeries for a rare type of cancer, carcinoid cancer, I can understand the tendency to get nervous and anxious. Dealing with cancer is often an uphill struggle. I am glad that you are being treated at Mayo.

If you don't mind sharing a bit more, what type of chemo has been used? Do you know how long the radiation treatment will be?

I would like to invite @marvinjsturing to this discussion. His pancreatic cancer treatment began over five years ago.

I look forward to hearing from you again. Will you post updates as you are able?

Hello @novak120 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Congratulations on nearing the end of your chemo. Wonderful news about not having pain. What procedure did you have done, if I may ask?

I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in November and am finishing chemo soon with a plan to do radiation next. This is my third type of cancer in 10 years and my fourth overall. This is the hardest one yet. I always had hope before but this time my treatment options are limited and it’s easy for me to get depressed and anxious. The good news is I have no pain thanks to a nerve blocking procedure they did at Mayo.

@russelltturner I'm glad to hear that you can access the patient portal. After reading those reports, you can ask the doctor specific questions related to the results. You can also share with Connect if you feel comfortable doing so.

Yes I can access the patient portal and I will look into that

Hi @russelltturner,

As you plan for your future treatment, I would encourage you to not only ask questions but get a copy of all reports, including scans, pathology reports and/or genetic testing. This can usually be done through the patient portal. Most tests are recorded there for the patient to view and also print. It is best for you to know as much about your health situation as you can in order to talk with your medical team with confidence.

Can you access the patient portal?

I think he said he found a gene that I had but I could be mistaken I will have to ask him I have not decided yet whether to take that. Those are good questions I feel pretty good about my oncologist Lincoln Nadauld St George Utah. but I will get those answers.

Has your tumor been molecular analyzed? That drug is a PARB inhibitor used for BRACA mutations. The oncologist must have some insight as to why that drug could be effective.

Also, was your radiation SBRT?

Good luck with your new treatments.

Just recovering from surgery, as far as cancer symptoms feeling fine, would not know I had cancer based on how I feel. I handled chemo and radiation with no problem. My oncologist will do a CT scan in May see if anything has changed with the tumor. After treatment everything was good going into surgery just could not get the tumor out.