Peritoneal carcinomatosis--how do we cope with this diagnosis?

Posted by carrie40 @carrie40, Mar 22 2:18pm

How do I deal with the diagnosis of peritoneal carcinomatosis (metastasis from pancreatic cancer)? I am almost 2 years past my Whipple; no chemo since an aborted attempt of folforinox, etc. previous to surgery and a targeted radiation on my ureter. I would like to hear the experiences of real people who have dealt with this diagnosis; I am 85 yrs old and do not want treatment that is worse than the disease (albeit temporarily). On the other hand, I do not want to do nothing--I would be grateful for another year or two of life.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Pancreatic Cancer Support Group.

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | 6 days ago

@carrie40, what a gut punch to get the diagnosis of peritoneal carcinomatosis. @markymarkfl and @roseisarose have talked about it in this related discussion:
- Anyone here been diagnosed with peritoneal carcinomatosis? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/anyone-here-been-diagnosed-with-peritoneal-carcinomatosis/

Choosing whether or not to continue treatment is a personal choice that @mnewland99 and others here have also faced.

Carrie, do you have a palliative care team?

carrie40 | @carrie40 | 5 days ago

Thank you so much, Colleen. You are so right about a "gut punch." Those postings were most helpful--just to know there are others is helpful. I. wish I'd known about this site at the beginning of my cancer journey in late 2022--I might have stuck to chemo a bit longer, just to know I. had company in the discomforts, etc. I have an appointment April 15 at Sarah Cannon--we'll see what that brings. Meanwhile, I do feel myself getting weaker and that is upsetting; I'm 85 but previous to this diagnosis had no physical problems other than glaucoma.
No, I don't think I have a palliative care team; I have a "team" but it is not characterized as palliative as far as I know. Carrie

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