Pancreatic Cancer Group: Introduce yourself and connect with others

Thanks so much for your words of support @gamaryanne! I'm definitely just at the start here and not always sure of where I'm going. Glad to hear that you're going strong since 2021. Taking care of my body is definitely a priority. I'm getting some relief with acupuncture through my oncology clinic.
Bless you, too!

Hello @kerrylc ;
You may not be a candidate for surgery NOW but you can be in the future! Chemotherapy is almost always the standard prior to surgery. If it provides good results, some other targeted therapies can be implemented resulting in necrosis and perhaps surgery. It is a journey for sure, one that I have been on since 2021, but live optimistically and take care of your body so you can make it through folfurinox. It’s definitely not a party .
may God bless you with strength, health, and wisdom.💜

Hello Colleen and group.
My name is Kerry, and I was diagnosed in March 2025 with adenosquamous carcinoma of the pancreas (ASCP). It has spread a bit to the liver, so I'm not a candidate for surgery.

Fortunately, I'm in Chicago getting excellent treatment at Rush University Medical Center, a PANCAN Center of Excellence. My treatment is Folfirinox for 3 days, every other week. So far, I've had two rounds (hospitalized with an infection briefly that delayed treatment).

Fatigue has been debilitating, also lack of appetite and weight loss. I was just prescribed Marinol, which seems to be helpful.

Any words of encouragement would be appreciated!
Kerry

17 months ago, my wife had Whipple surgery for a stage 2b pancreatic cancer. After surgery, she had trouble eating and was put on TPN. Doctors don't like that long term so after about 2 months she was pulled off TPN and put on on on G-tube, J-tube feeding. The tubes were removed 9 months after surgery and she was on her own. She eats fine, but very cautiously and limited. She has lost 50 pounds, skine and bones now.

The problem is that my wife gets these hot pains in her abdomen that result in vomiting. There is no nausea associated with this. Neither the doctors nor we have figured out a correlation, let alone causality, for why this is happening. There doesn't seem to be a connection with what she eats or pills that she take, the episodes seem random. She'll go a week with no vomiting, then have a period of three vomiting episodes on a 15 hour period.

Has anyone else seen this?

How are you doing now? The break from chemo must be nice.

Was diagnosed with stage 2 pancreatic cancer with a full bile duct blockage on June 12,2024. Went into hospital on June22. Had an emergency Whipple surgery on July 1st. Did chemo from September 2024 till March 2025

Thank you! Having the Mayo Pancreatic Cancer support group has been tremendously helpful as a cancer diagnosis feels very isolating and scary. Sincerely and with all my heart, I hope and pray that every one going through this finds the clarity and peace they are looking for.

Such good news! We all love hearing of your good health!!

I have an IPMN in the main duct of the pancreas. It was discovered in 2013 incidental to a kidney stone . I wasnt told about this IPMN until 2022 when I had an abscess of the diverticula. Two doctors I spoke with at the hospital thought it was a benign condition since I'd had it so long. 9 years. I chose to see a GI doc who does feel the Whipple is in my future. I have zero symptoms, very active but I am now having MRI's with contrast every 6 months since 2022.
Have not received a diagnosis of PC.
Otherwise very healthy and active 72 year old.
Is it practical to have this Whipple surgery with no official diagnosis

Hi
71 year old male in Michigan. Diagnosed in Dec 2023 with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor which had spread to the liver. Had hepatic embolization, lanreotide injections, 6 rounds folfox and 4 sessions PRRT. Most recently had tail of pancreas, spleen and gall bladder removed along with liver ablation. PET scan today shows more liver progression so i'm not feeling too optimistic.