Pancreatic Cancer Group: Introduce yourself and connect with others

@rayb2024 Hi Ray and welcome to the Pancreatic Cancer support group on Mayo Connect. It is understandable that you feel in "panic mode and trying to keep it together." We have many members who have been treated for pancreatic cancer with good results. In this forum you will meet some of those members like @markymarkfl and @stageivsurvivor and many others.

As you are new to this forum, please share as you are comfortable doing so.
What tests led to your diagnosis? Were you having symptoms when this was discovered? Has your cancer been staged yet?

I am waiting to get on wait list for liver transplant. A long journey so far and some days are better than others for me. Many days I have wondered if I have the the strength to make it to finish line. No fox hole prayers here. I try my best to get and give the most love I can, and keep my eye on the prize. Hth

My name is Ray and was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer 1/19/2024. To say the least I’m in panic mode and trying to keep it together. I’m 71 and in good shape however the mental aspect is devastating. Trying to stay positive but it’s extremely difficult. Today 1/26/2024 im at another hospital for a review of all the X-rays cat scans and MRI. 🙏🙏

Interesting.
Does it occur to you that challenging or questioning people who speak of their deity or their faith is possibly offensive to them? Or offensive to people like myself who believe that forums such as this are meant to be a safe space for the personal sharing or exchange of their experience?
Simple suggestion, take what you can use and leave the rest.

Hello @bceg1969

Is is always a patient's right to get a second opinion! Please don't feel that you have to wonder and worry about the watch and wait approach. There are lots of pancreatic centers of excellence that you can contact to find a doctor to give you a second opinion. These consults can often be virtual if you cannot travel for an in-person visit.

If you would like to consult with a Mayo Clinic oncologist, here is appointment information for all three of their locations, http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63.

How is your husband feeling? Does he have symptoms that are leading to loss of appetite or weight loss?

Right - my apologies.

So many folks post about their thanks to their deity, sometimes forgetting the people - in this case the medical professionals.

Other times it doesn't occur to them that continually mentioning their deity might actually offend others who have other deities - or, no deities at all.

You don’t know me !! I’ve worked in the medical profession for 33 years ! If there any lack in me !you miss read my statement.
My life is nothing but gratitude an thankfulness! There’s nothing wrong with sharing my experiences though YOU would have had some compassion!!!!

Ruthie,

I note a lack of thanks to the medical professionals who spent their lives training and studying - billions of hours from millions of people - to save your life.

Perhaps a reasonable thing to consider?

For me, it was very exhausting. They took out 3/4 of my pancreas and my spleen and left the head of the pancreas. Only all my cancer is gone. Just need to be treated with chemo and go from there and trust the Lord. He’s faithful I will tell you two weeks out. I’d develop an abscess in my pancreas. This was excruciating pain I was septic it lasted about six days. Praise the Lord. The antibiotics kicked in God‘s faithful I pray yours Will be too

Hi Sandy, welcome. Several members have had distal pancreatic surgery along with removal of the spleen. You might wish to join this discussion:

- What's recovery after distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy like?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/recovery-after-distal-pancreatectomy-and-splenectomy/