Pancreatic Cancer Group: Introduce yourself and connect with others

Welcome to MayoClinicConnect @mimou . Here is a group who focuses on pancreatic cancer. You should be able to find some help here
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/pancreatic-cancer-group-introduce-yourself-and-connect-with-others/
What does the doctor say would be a good plan for your mother?

Hello my mother aged 57 and she is very ill and she has a pancreas cancer how can you help her please answer me

@marvinjsturing Hello Marvin,
I hope that your infection clears up soon!

@fassbinder Nothing goes the way I figure. When I got done with radiation, I figured I would be able to rest and relax at home and take some time to heal. No more trips to hospital for radiation. For the last few days, I did rest and relax. But it was in a hospital bed instead of at home. And now that I'm home, instead of going to the hospital for radiation treatments 5 days a week, I get to go to the hospital for antibiotics infusions 7 days a week.

I hope and pray things are back on track for your husband and that he can continue to recuperate from his Whipple.

@marvinjsturing Hello Marvin,

I'm sorry to hear about the E coil blood infection. Were you able to get home this afternoon? Praying that all goes well for you!

@Fassbinder
Took my guy to the Dr today to have staples removed and check on the fluid in the drain after Whipple two weeks ago. Its looking like a leak. They are sending it out to the lab. Otherwise, doing well. Praying for no fever...he has had pancreatitis before and a gall bladder removal that led to sepsis...thought we were over this!! Can also relate to not being there for him at the hospital...he was in 9 days. Very hard to be a caregiver for someone on Fentanyl epidural...the nurses were great!
Will be watching your progress...

It's just not a smooth ride, is it?! I took my husband to our local ER Sunday night and he was transported to Mayo right away - blood loss and cultures indicated infections, which he also had while in the hospital three weeks ago for his Whipple procedure. Everything in recovery was going well until this episode. Eating fine after Whipple but it seemed tough to gain any weight and energy - maybe it was because the infections were still there, who knows! Hopefully he'll get back on track after this visit and not have another emergency. They are still not sure what caused the sudden bleeding but he'll remain in their care until they have some answers. Nothing appears to be leaking on scans. It sure is a drag not being there for him.

@colleenyoung My wife brought me into ER Saturday night with nausea a and chills. The did several blood tests including a blood culture, gave me meds for the nausea and sent me home. Sunday after lunch the hospital called and said I had an E. coli blood infection. They told me I had to come back to be admitted the hospital. They ran numerous tests and can't find the source of the infection. They put in a tunnel cath this morning and are talking about giving me antibiotics daily for 2 weeks. If they can get everything arranged, I will be going home this afternoon

Hi Colleen, Thank you for asking. My mom has done quite a bit and is still on Gem/Abrax (almost done with this). Her issue is that she did Fulfirinox before her Whipple in Sept 2019, then started on it again after Whipple. Her CA-A 19 kept going up (nothing on scans) so changed to Gem/Abrax. Her CA-A 19 kept going up (nothing on CT or PET scans). Took her for second opinion...they recommended radiation on pancreas. We did that and now are finishing up her Gem/Abrax cycles. Her CA-A 19 is in the 2000s and nothing shows on MRI, CT Scan or PET scan. We'll see now end of May, she'll be done with this chemo and have another scan. God willing nothing shows and her tumor markers start going down. Overall, she's feeling better than ever, so that's a great thing. It's been a little over a year since her diagnosis and it's been a very difficult road, so the fact that she feels better is great news 🙂 One day at a time. Thank you!

@colleenyoung my wife has gotten a lower dose Creon. 12k units instead of the 36k units. The capsules are smaller and she can swallow them. Previously was mixing the Creon with applesauce which was probably making the Creon ineffective since it's actually designed to slow release in the intestines not be immediately taken into the stomach. So far she can tolerate 1-2 12k capsules with each eating. The local gastroenterologist also prescribed a different enzyme, zenpep. Haven't filled the prescription yet since she's started using the Creon.

We also finally had a session with a dietician (why in the world it took the oncology staff 2 months to make the referral is a whole other story). The dietician was helpful with suggestions on supplementing to increase protein without using whey and pea powders which she also reacts to.