Stage 4 pancreatic cancer progression: Don't know what to expect

@kuba
I am so sorry that you and your husband are going through this devastating medical condition. How quickly a person deteriorates depends on many factors and the best person to speak with would be your husband's Oncologist. Since you didn't mention Hospice, it sounds safe to assume that his doctor has not deemed your husband to die in the next 6 months, although of course, when we leave this earth, is not always up to the doctor. Hospice care does provide wonderful support when the time comes and I highly recommend that you obtain their services. Also, the dizziness and loss of balance needs to be addressed. Your husband could be dehydrated from the Chemo or other medications and these symptoms should be reported to the Oncologist who can provide treatment.
I know it's hard when you wonder " how many days do I have left" but here's a quote that I've always found to be very profound.
" Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take your breath away".
Sending a big hug to you today.

Everyone is different, but we have hope things are moving for the better as medical options advance through clinical trials.

When I was originally diagnosed as Stage-II (and resectable) almost two years ago at age 58, the oncologist predicted I had "at least" two years ahead of me, and longer if six months of Folfirinox and the Whipple surgery to resect a single tumor, being in the head of my pancreas was curative.

Although it appeared to be "curative" by all measures, the cancer reappeared at the original surgery site 3.5 months later, and then in multiple other areas (liver, peritoneum; i.e.m Stage-IV) in the months that followed.

I resumed chemo (standard of care drugs Abraxane + Gemcitabine + Cisplatin; not any clinical trial drugs) the week of my 60th birthday (end of January). It has now been 9.5 months since the recurrence; 7 months since it was confirmed metastatic/Stage-IV; 6.5 months of biweekly chemo (15 rounds so far), and I'm really not showing any signs of cancer in my overall health, just 3-4 days of post-chemo fatigue and nausea related to the treatment.

Noticeable decline in muscle tone and cardio fitness mostly related to reduced exercise over the past year, but I do still enjoy riding my skateboard down a big hill on the outskirts of town every few weeks. The ride downhill is easy; it's the walk back up that wears me out. But I give a big middle finger to cancer every time I do it. Gotta find some moments to savor!

My only issue with balance is from the chemo-induced neuropathy in my feet. If your hubby's chemo cocktail includes abraxane, cisplatin, or oxaliplatin, he might want to consider compression socks and compression gloves during chemo. Icing may also help, but might be better to avoid if oxaliplatin is in the cocktail, due to the hyper cold-sensitivity it induces.

@kuba
Am so sorry you and your husband are going through this, hugs!

Sounds like your husband and I were diagnosed about the same time. Official diagnosis in early March with stage 4 pancreatic cancer but I have mets to both my lungs and liver. I also had no known existing health issues. (a distance runner with a family history of longevity). I turned 59 at the end of March. I can’t answer the question of life expectancy and you will only find statistics online which are changing all the time. Everyone’s cancer is unique and people can have very different experiences with the same diagnosis. I don’t ask my doctor how long he expects me to live. I know he is trying to extend my life as long as possible and give me the best quality of life possible for that time.

You don’t say what chemo treatment your husband is getting. Does he get prescriptions to help manage his symptoms? I’ve been through 9 rounds of NALIRIFOX which is variation of mFolfirinox. I get steroid and anti-nausea meds prior to each chemo treatment. I take Olanzapine for the first 5 nights of chemo which keeps the nausea and diarrhea at bay I think. I also have additional prescriptions that I can take if that doesn’t work but for the most part I haven’t needed them. I have tolerated this regimen quite well and my tumors have shrunk but my doctor now feels my cancer is becoming resistant so he is submitting me for a clinical trial and if I don’t get into that I will be starting the other standard of care Gemcitabene/Abraxane/Cisplatin. Does your husband get outside? I take daily walks between 2 and 5 miles which I think help me also feel better . I also eat pretty regularly even if I’m not particularly hungry as I find that also helps me feel better on some of my rougher days and I have been able to maintain my weight.

Have you looked into clinical trials for your husband?

All any of us have is this moment so try to find as much joy as you both can in today.

Prayers for you both

Thank you for sharing

Thanks for sharing your story. I admire you for your walking. I am recovering from my Whipple's surgery and after 8 weeks my 6000 steps seems like a great accomplishment

Hope you will have many more rides! I am very impressed. Balance has been difficult since the neuropathy. It got worse after chemo with oxaliplatin was stopped due to an allergic reaction. This is something to know can happen. I had some symptoms before it was stopped. It also caused major cold sensitivity. Anyway, keep riding!

What a wonderful quote! Love it.

Please remember that doctors can only quote safe statistics.
Everything depends on our individual health, gene mutations, our attitude, and most importantly, God’s will for us.
As many say, plan to thrive, not just survive!

Stephen Jay Gould, the late, great scientist, pointed out that such statistics are typically a median, meaning that half of all people to whom they pertain will live *longer* than the cited duration.

I'm not playing down the seriousness of this disease or the distress that you and your husband feel; I'm just noting that I -- pretty much the opposite of a Pollyanna -- am firmly committed to living longer is typical for people with our various pancan diagnoses. And there's no doubt that attitude makes a difference; scientists now know that different emotions flood our bodies with different chemicals (some beneficial, some not).

I'm sorry that I don't have anything super-relevant to share; I just want to wish you well and urge you to try to stay positive if you can.

@kuba, how is your husband doing? How are YOU doing?