Pancreatic Cancer Group: Introduce yourself and connect with others

Also, the picture you see posted is from December 2023 at my part-time job. I didn’t gain 50 lbs back after 1 year, but did 30. I’m on chemo again, but somehow it’s not affecting my weight this time.

I also had leaky pancreatic duct after my distal surgery Oct.. 2022. Was on PIC line (no food) for 3 weeks to stop the GI bleeding. Lost 50 pounds during entire pancreatic ca process. Stent inserted into duct worked great as no more leaking. I started with chicken broth, then chicken noodle soup, cream of wheat, jello and then food with more carbs (ice cream), Chobani Low sugar yogurt and foods that were tasty but everything in small amounts. I only had metallic taste when I had to take paxlovid (got covid in dec 2022), but I just trudged on. Best wishes to you and your family.

There is an appetite booster based on cannabis that you might try. It's called Dronabinol. I tried it but didn't think it was effective, but my palliative doc said some patients have good results. My oncologist told me that zinc sulfate can help with the lousy taste in your mouth. Again, I tried it, sort of, and decided not to take it, but other patients have had good results. I have found that Tic Tac mints (the regular white ones) help cover the metallic taste. Some people say lemon drops help. Lemonade tastes good, also sometimes ginger ale. I've also found that kosher salt, which has larger grains than regular table salt, helps perk up food. In general, aim for more meals per day and much smaller meals. Calories are key, so cater to whatever sounds good. You may find yourself chasing some food jags and sudden urges for different flavors. I hope some of that helps!

I’m so sorry! I know what you mean about the metallic taste. I was able to get down Jell-O and maple brown sugar oatmeal. I finally got approved for medical cannabis and that really made a difference.

Oh, no! That did come on quick. But it’s good to catch it. Hopefully the surgery will clean it all out.

Hello, my husband was diagnosed mid August 2023. He was operated September 1. He had a distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy. Unfortunately he had complications ( leaky pancreas) which developed into abscesses for which he has had several endoscopy necrosectomies. He started chemotherapy December 12. He has no appetite and is down 70 pounds. I work and take care of him and all the home needs, often feeling overwhelmed but I do have friends that I can vent with. I’m looking for suggestions to help my husband with his appetite. He experiences a metallic taste all the time. We have been married for 43 years and it’s so difficult watching him deteriorate however I’m hopeful because this horrible cancer was caught at stage 1b. If anyone has suggestions as how I can help him please share. Thank you

Just got diagnosed of feb.15 2024. My routine bloodwork of Nov. 2023 was perfect. Came on quick. Wasn't fe3eling great for about a month. skin turned yellow on the eve of 2/14. I never knew that all of these crazy symptoms were related, itching, unable to sleep, bad gas and gas pain, fatigue, uHadrine the color of very strong tea.Had ultrasound. MRI, cat scan, stent put in and biopsies. Has not spread yet, planning chemo befor surgery. Fingers crossed every day. xxgl ev1!

For those newly diagnosed, the "questions to ask your oncologist" in these two threads might also be useful:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/newly-diagnosed-questions-to-ask/
and
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/which-questions-should-i-ask-my-surgeon-i-think-whipple-is-likely/
Best wishes to all who have been recently diagnosed. Have hope -- it's not necessarily the death sentence it's so often portrayed as.

Northside Hospital in Atlanta GA

I meant to say where are you being treated?