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Recently Diagnosed with Stage IV Adenocarcinoma
I was recently diagnosed with IV Adenocarcinoma. I am feeling a bit defeated because originally I was told I could have the Whipple procedure but now because I had one small nodule on my liver I am no longer a candidate. My cancer was not visible on my scans mid-September when I was diagnosed with a plasmacytoma on my 9th rib. It was during my return PET scan after having radiation for my plasmacytoma that the adenocarcinoma was found.
I feel like even though I had the nodule on the liver I am very early stage. Nonetheless, the nodule throws my whole plan and I will need to be stable for 2 years to qualify for surgery. I would very much like to hear success stories about chemo and if anyone has been able to get the Whipple procedure after having been diagnosed with stage IV.
Thank you.
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Please read my response to Annette who posted something similar to you.
Get a SECOND opinion!! I was diagnosed Stage IV 11/2021. I have been through two types of chemo, 3 surgeries, and now on a clinical trial. There are options.
Pancan.org can give you a list of NCI Pancreas designated institutions around the country. These are places you must visit - at least 2! I visited 3 to make my decisions. When I was diagnosed I had MULTIPLE tumors in my liver, in different lobes. Don't give up!!!
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5 ReactionsThank you. I looked at your response and appreciate your comments. I am starting with Chemo on Monday and I am encouraged by your comments. I will be meeting with my Oncologist at Mayo on Tuesday; hopefully, she will have some additional guidance for me. I have a relative who is on the board of the Lustgarten Foundation and will follow up with them as well.
I am not going to give up and I appreciate your encouragement not to do so. I have had so many emotions the last two weeks since my diagnosis. It helps to hear about someone who is successfully managing their cancer. Sending you prayers for continued success and health.
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2 ReactionsRead posts by @stageivsurvivor and @mnewland99 . Their stories are inspiring and encouraging. And as many have said, get a second opinion on surgery. Strange that if it is a small nodule they will not operate. Like some have said, be your own advocate - don't take text book answers that because the cancer has metastasised, there is no point in operating on the tumour. If doctors are recommending chemo first, that could be a good thing but also get a second opinion.
Disclaimer: I have zero medical training. I'm just a patient who has been stage-4 for a little over two years post-Whipple. (I was stage-2 when diagnosed and Whippled. My cancer came back 4 months after surgery.) Similar to you, I felt very defeated: the cancer looked like Stage-2 when it recurred, but when I got a second opinion, new scans found a met that ruled me out as a surgery candidate. I've been on chemo and clinical trials ever since.
There is a category called "oligometastatic" cancer. It means "limited spread."
https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/cancer/types-treatments/limited-metastatic-cancer-program/understanding-metastatic-cancer-and-oligometastatic-cancer
There are some surgeons/centers willing to work with this. I think Mayo in Rochester has an ongoing clinical trial for HIPEC when there is limited spread.
You could also check in with Dr. Christopher Wolfgang at NYU/Langone about histotripsy procedures. They are using this non-invasive treatment to attack tumors on the liver (possibly in conjunction with chemo) to get patients to an operable state for their pancreas cancer:
https://nyulangone.org/news/nyu-langone-cancer-specialists-use-pioneering-histotripsy-technology-noninvasively-treat-liver-tumors
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