Pancreatic Cancer Group: Introduce yourself and connect with others

Posted by Colleen Young, Connect Director @colleenyoung, Dec 3, 2019

Welcome to the Pancreatic Cancer group on Mayo Clinic Connect.
This is a welcoming, safe place where you can meet people living with pancreatic cancer or caring for someone with pancreatic cancer. Let’s learn from each other and share stories about living well with cancer, coping with the challenges and offering tips.

I’m Colleen, and I’m the moderator of this group, and Community Director of Connect. Chances are you’ll to be greeted by fellow members and volunteer patient Mentors, when you post to this group. Learn more about Moderators and Volunteer Mentors on Connect.

We look forward to welcoming you and introducing you to other members. Feel free to browse the topics or start a new one.

Pull up a chair. Let's start with introductions.

When were you diagnosed with pancreatic cancer? What treatments have you had? How are you doing?

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

kickcancer49 | @kickcancer49 | Dec 25, 2024

So sorry for your husbands’ situation! Wishing you both good results & happy holidays!

suelannon | @suelannon | Dec 25, 2024

In reply to @colleenyoung "@suelannon, what treatment is being recommended for your husband next?" + (show)

Surgery was on July 15, 2024. He still has a Drain in him due to a Pancreatic Leak.
Oncologist has told us that they cannot do any treatment at all until the Drain comes out due to chance of infection. We go back again on January 5th to have the Drain checked and we have
Blood Work and CT Scan scheduled again for February 3rd and then we go from there depending on if the Drain has been removed. Doctor feels he is still too weak for Chemo.

kickcancer49 | @kickcancer49 | Dec 24, 2024

In reply to @mnewland99 "Sorry to hear about your diagnosis, but happy to hear that you are diagnosed early. Does..." + (show)

Hi Marie! I was told to get Prochlorperazine for the nausea. I am going to have surgery after chemo. I believe I only have 5 more treatments to go! I just hope I don’t have too many side effects!

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Dec 23, 2024

In reply to @suelannon "Thanks for your response. We started out at University of Penn in Phila. After we were..." + (show)

@suelannon, what treatment is being recommended for your husband next?

gisele1976 | @gisele1976 | Dec 23, 2024

In reply to @colleenyoung "@gisele1976, I'd like to add my welcome. Did they discover that the spot on your husband's..." + (show)

The spot on his liver was benign. He will have CAT scans and go back to chemo in about a month. I am taking it day by day. Thanks for asking.

marienewland | @mnewland99 | Dec 22, 2024

In reply to @kickcancer49 "Hi! I was diagnosed with stage 1 pancreatic cancer about 2 months ago. Have had 2..." + (show)

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis, but happy to hear that you are diagnosed early. Does your oncologist suggest surgery in the future for you?
Which chemo treatment are you on? For most of them you can expect nausea for which there are good antinausea drugs out there like Zofran. You can also expect a bit of constipation or the runs or a combination of both, but their effects may be mild as in my case.

kickcancer49 | @kickcancer49 | Dec 22, 2024

Hi! I was diagnosed with stage 1 pancreatic cancer about 2 months ago. Have had 2 chemo treatments since, with the last resulting in some of my hair falling out (didn’t expect it to happen so fast!). Went ahead got the rest of it shaved, covers ordered. Oh! I’m also disabled. Spina bifida, a neurological disability since birth, which has left me unable to walk. Level T12. The only other symptom I’ve had was being tired. Does anyone know what else I can expect, especially considering my disability? Thanks!

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Dec 22, 2024

In reply to @gisele1976 "Massachusetts. They stopped the surgery because there was a spot on his liver" + (show)

@gisele1976, I'd like to add my welcome. Did they discover that the spot on your husband's liver was metastatic spread of the pancreatic cancer? What treatment is being suggested? How are YOU doing?

markymarkfl | @markymarkfl | Dec 17, 2024

In reply to @montyd "Did you have any symptoms with your recurrence or was it just discovered because of the..." + (show)

Zero symptoms. I had gotten back to jogging 3 miles every night 4 months after Whipple. Since Galleri and two Signateras had been negative, rising CA19-9 (12, 35, 77) was the only hint before MRI detected the mass.

marienewland | @mnewland99 | Dec 17, 2024

In reply to @montyd "Did you have any symptoms of your recurrence? Most of us get quarterly CT scans rather..." + (show)

Yes. Slight nausea, slight pain on my left side, and rapid heart rate with an arrhythmia. I have an electrophysiological heart rhythm thing where it acts up when my body is under stress. symptoms were very mild. I have regular CTs. The MRI was to see if it could pick up something that the CT could not.