Pancreatic Cancer Group: Introduce yourself and connect with others

@tomrennie day 3 post opp. Im hanging in as well as I can. Again so difficult to see a loved one endure what cancer throws. Ty so much for checking in . Whipple was 6 hrs . No further resection of large Artery or veins for they were clear from the tomor. Excuse my medical terms for I lack in understanding most of what I read in his follow up. So a successful removal of the tumor. All margins clear. ( Which I've learned means no cancer) Being honest he's In rough shape. Yet I feel this is positive news about how things went smoothly. He sat in a chair yesterday for an hour. Been having struggles of which I'm preying resolve in time. Think walking will of course help with some things. Maybe today. My inability to secure a cup of coffee is key to keeping it together 🙃 It's my goal for this morning. Again ty all for the support.

@artistrose was rough, I've never witnessed my husband post trauma Surgery. He's had EUS...stents ECT. This was hard for me to see. Again my feelings of guilt that he's enduring it & I'm not. Saddens me he keeps telling me he's sorry to be putting me through all this. I intern say ( In sickness & in health)

@56pan I have neuroendocrene tumors.

@casey1959 How are you holding up?

@artistrose was rough, I've never witnessed my husband post trauma Surgery. He's had EUS...stents ECT. This was hard for me to see. Again my feelings of guilt that he's enduring it & I'm not. Saddens me he keeps telling me he's sorry to be putting me through all this. I intern say ( In sickness & in health)

@tomrennie I was on Gem/Abrax and it caused much more peripheral neuropathy than the Folfirinox I'd had previously. It seems to be very subjective and some people are afflicted and others not. You might talk to your oncologist about cold therapy and the booties/mittens before starting Gem/Abrax. I sure wish I'd have know about the cold therapy before starting on it. "I have a different type of pancreatic cancer." Is it the acinar cell type?

Hello from Chula Vista, California,

I was diagnosed with PDAC 3 weeks ago (3/6/26) during a hospital stay. They haven't staged it, but as far as treatment goes, my 3cm undifferentiated malignancy is "borderline resectable." Plan is to do 6-8 rounds of mFOLFIRINOX, then try to resect, then more chemo. All new to me, and I'm trying to keep my head above water. I recently moved from Maryland to SoCal after a fall Semester at Sea, turned 67 on December 30th, retired January 1st, started Medicare on Feb 1st, and started having GI symptoms on Feb 10th. My chest port will go in this Friday, April 3rd, and I've asked my brother to pre-emptively shave my head this weekend. A new voyage underway, for sure.

Grateful for this community as I get started with both treatment and retirement. Thanks for taking me in when I'm not a Mayo patient, but need community. I'll be reading all your questions and comments!
Warm regards,
Mary D

@casey1959 Congrats on your anniversary but I understand it’s not the celebration you’d like to have had due to your husband’s Whipple. Only the best thoughts and prayers for both of you, for successful procedure and good recovery.

Today 3/13 day after our 51st wedding anniversary my husband is receiving the Whipple. Wasn't what he was planning on. Yet he decided to move forward with this journey. I'm so great full to this group. I'll keep you all in our prayers & asking for the same today & beyond. This will be a stressful long wait in the waiting area. We're a team & I'll be positive .