Pancreatic cancer stage 4: staying hopeful with your support

Tom, so sorry to hear about your new diagnosis. Praying that your chemo is both tolerable and effective. Good to hear you’re focusing on hope and plan to be one of the remarkable success stories we read about here. Please keep us posted on your journey. 🙏

@pvctom2021 Hi Tom. What chemo are you taking? How did the first round go?

@tomrennie
Hello Tom … thanks for replying.
I am taking Gemzar and Abraxane day 1 and day 8 every three weeks: infusion time will be 3 hours…so far , I’ve managed without nausea but very fatigued at times, especially at I don’t answernight..I go Wednesday for my 2nd infusion…my wonderful oncologist wrote me a short round of prednisone for an array
of possible symptoms… so far it’s really helped with the appetite and the inflammation that cause some of the aches and mild pain around the right side an back flank area… thanks so much, I still don’t know what happened… from my Sept 22 CT of the abdomen which included unremarkable pancreas to Jan 2 scan that revealed stage 4 pancreatic cancer… I’m sailing along quite normally and then the rug gets pulled out… I would be glad to keep you posted
pvctom

@californiazebra
thank you so much for your reply and your encouragement… I would be glad to keep you informed of my progress in this process..I hope I am one of the success stories also …
pvctom 🙏

@pvctom2021
Wow what a journey this evil pancreatic cancer takes one on . I hope from September to January you were able to make some
Nice memories for you and yours . We are at the in between stage here and I keep thinking now is the time to use what he has . It’s just difficult isn’t it

@jadees
well, I around I hope to be to maybe appreciate each passing day. I have great confidence in my oncologist and I trust they will do the best that they can for me one of my doctors the G.I. specialist who freed up my bile duct was very positive when he told me that a patient of his eight years ago had exactly what I had going on and he’s still seeing a major later. I’m gonna give it my best shot. Thank you so much for replying PVC Tom.

@pvctom2021 It can be shocking to get the diagnosis especially since a recent scan showed an unremarkable pancreas. But, at least you seem to trust your oncologist. I hope that is the case? Learn as you go and keep moving forward the best that you can. In my opinion, staying positive helps. Attitude is so important.

I can understand how you feel. When my husband had upper back pain he was told he was texting too much 🙂 Since he didn't have a cell phone, knew that wasn't true. But as a kayaker and skier we assumed he had just injured his back in some way. Fast forward 6 months and scans showed a spot in his pancreas, but worse in lungs and bones so was "treated" for lung cancer, which he didn't have. Finally a year after the back pain, with a new oncologist he got his blood test that showed numbers over 36000 (normal is under 35) so yes, it was pancreatic cancer. I'm not sure that instant proper diagnosis would have made a difference as it was already at stage 4 if it had spread to the bones, but I do have to wonder. He stayed positive and since he was in great condition going into this, he endured chemo. Then endured a different chemo. And we still had some time and some good memories, but lost his battle last May. Just encourage you to work with your oncologist, and if you feel the need get a second opinion even if it is just for peace of mind like we did. This forum with some long time posters gave me hope along with good information.

@tomrennie
Thank you for your wonderful words and support…, I trying to buck up, but my guts are getting a little in the way… bouts of nerves and dread pop up…I see the oncologist tomorrow, if we can get off the street.. but thank you so much for you reply and an encouraging one it is… May God bless you

@sheridanb
Thanks for your reply… I’m going to do that and I pray that I will get the treatment that I can for as long as I can tolerate it….may God bless you .
Pvctom 🙏