Advanced pancreatic cancer
A forum for advanced pancreatic cancer issues.
398 topics in this forum
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Genetic info
by Juliana- 4 replies
- 8.3k views
Hi all, Before I started chemo 2nd time around, I had a meeting with the Genetic department at my hospital. Prior to the meeting I had a form to fill out, like a questionnaire about my cancer, and several lifestyle questions, a general kind of background into my life. I also supplied them with a family tree which required info on parents/granparents/great-grandparents and aunty and uncles - especially if there had been cancer in their lives. At the meeting I was told that there were no specific indicators genetically that showed increased Pancreatic Cancer risk, unless of course if there was a history of PC in the family already (which in mine, there is not). Howev…
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- 6 replies
- 6.8k views
I have found what seems to be promising news from clinical trials in the Phillipines and US. Epeius Biotechnologies have issued a statement that their drug, Rexin-G, raises one-year survival to more than 28%. The report on the clinical trial is carried by Reuters and can be found here: http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS94306+14-Oct-2009+PRN20091014 The company's website states "Epeius successfully completed its Advanced Phase I/II and confirmatory Phase II trials for pancreatic cancer, sarcoma, and osteosarcoma, respectively, with all primary and secondary endpoints achieved. Consequently, Rexin-G has received Fast Track Status and priorities from the…
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Message for emcee46
by Ellie- 5 replies
- 7.6k views
Hi there. I have just been re-reading your previous posts and am particularly interested in the Omega 3 posting. I haven't seen any recent postings from you, so do hope that all is going well for your partner. Just wondered if you could advise if the consultant recommended using Omega 3 during chemo, or did they raise objections? Do you think it's had any benefit? I really would appreciate any info you may have on this subject, please. My husband has been told his cancer is terminal now, after a whipple op nearly a year ago and 6 months of chemo on 5FU. He is due to start on Gemcetibine next week and although the research was done with cisplatin + omega 3…
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- 3 replies
- 9.7k views
I lost my mum to this awful disease about five months ago and I'm sorry to see that there are quite a few others who have lost loved ones just recently. I know that you all have other things on your minds but I just wanted to ask if anyone else had noticed that their loved ones had become depressed sometime before the diagnosis. I read recently that depression was quite closely linked to pancreatic cancer - and was likely to be an early symptom rather than a side effect of coping with the disease once the diagnosis has been made which I know often happens with cancer. I noticed my mum had become quite depressed a good 2 years before her pancreatic cancer was final…
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Post Chemo Scan
by Nardobd- 17 replies
- 19.2k views
We went to see Ted's consultant today to get the results of the post chemo scan and were delighted that everything looks stable. The area on the scan hasn't changed much since the last scan in May and his tumour markers are down to 5.3, right at the lowest end of the scale. His consultant says that Ted has "exceeded expectations" and he doesn't need to see Ted for another three months, which is a welcome respite after the frequent visits to the hospital over the last six months. Ted's fought so hard and seems to have won the battle, at least temporarily. I'm so very proud of him. I'm not blind to the fact that this isn't a "cure" but I'll take any positives we're offe…
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New to Forum - Introduction to My Wife
by Trevor- 8 replies
- 8.7k views
My wife, Christine, was diagnosed with inoperable Pancreatic Cancer on Friday January 23rd. She had had her 59th birthday on December 27th 2008. The tumour was inoperable because a slight spot was shown in her liver. Chris has been receiving Chemotherapy (Gemcitabine) since February 19th. When she was diagnosed her Cancer Count was over 8,000 - now it's below 100. She was initially in great pain, but has been pain free since early April. The unfortunate side-effect was to "wipe her legs out" by mid-May - basically confining her to a wheelchair. Her oncologist stopped treatement for four weeks in order for her legs to return to "near normal". Whilst still having some dif…
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Last Chemo Treatment Today
by Nardobd- 4 replies
- 6.4k views
Well, Ted has just had his last scheduled Chemo treatment. Although he didn't have severe side-effects, we're both glad that the six months is over but quite apprehensive too. Over the treatments his CA19-9 (tumour markers) count has reduced from 835 to 4! That is actually below the normal range which the consultant advised us is between 5 and 60. Clearly the Gemcitabine has been doing its stuff and we're obviously very hopeful that the final CT scan on 17 August shows equally good improvement in the size of the tumour. We'll see the consultant on 24 August for the results, so keep your fingers crossed for us! We're relieved that we don't have to make the two visi…
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A wonderful woman my mother has died.
by millyjo- 6 replies
- 8.3k views
My dearest most beloved mother passed away on the 3rd July 2009, having been diagnosed with inoperable, metatastic PC on the 15th April 2009. The shock of being told the diagnosis, put mum into what I can only say was mental shock. From the moment of the diagnosis she stopped living. The 75 yr old who looked 55, was trendier than me, fun loving, active, physically fit , beautiful, intelligent women became someone I didn't know. My brothers and I gave up jobs, and our time to be with her during her darkest days. Despite knowing the prognosis, she insisted on having chemotherapy, which as her billirubin was high, her liver disfuntional was maddness really. But we supp…
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Some Good News
by Nardobd- 8 replies
- 10.1k views
Hubby went for chemo yesterday and his CA19-9 (tumour markers) were 49.8, within normal limits (0 - 60) for the first time since his diagnosis. I know it's only an indication but it's a good one! He's also much happier now we've achieved a compromise with the hospital and he doesn't have to wait for hours to have treatment on the same day as his assessment. Small victories but I'll take any we can get! Nicki
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Chemo Clinic - Any Help Appreciated
by Nardobd- 5 replies
- 8.6k views
Hubby has advanced PC and is currently undergoing chemotherapy. We've had two occasions recently where we've had to contact the clinic. Inevitably when we ring the phone diverts to voicemail. We leave messages which are completely ignored - the only time I had a call back was when I lost my temper and threatened to make a formal complaint after trying five or six times to get some information. Added to this, we are often kept waiting for hours on end when he goes for treatment - the worst experience taking 7 (seven) hours! When I asked why there was such a delay I was firstly told that it was the lab had taken the time to make up the chemo and then that it was du…
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Omega-3 as part of treatment ...
by emcee46- 0 replies
- 5.1k views
Like many other diseases, there would appear to be many 'false dawns' associated with treating PC as far as new treatments or new 'discoveries' are concerned. However, some of you may be interested in an article which has just appeared in the London Daily Express (and others) on Thursday last (April 2nd - Page 10) announcing that researchers at Egypt's Mansoura University have found that the Omega-3 fatty acid found in fish oils can kill cancer cells and shrink tumours - and works particularly well for those on Cisplatin. The researchers go on to say that 'docosahexanoic acid (DHA) from the oils shrinks tumors by nearly 80 per cent' in their findings. They al…
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Islet Cell Cancer ...
by emcee46- 0 replies
- 5.6k views
Although it doesn't (as yet anyway) help my partner's adenosquamous carcinoma, there is an interesting feature mentioned on one of the American websites today for those suffering with Islet Cell. The article is along the lines that trials involving the drug Sutent by Pfizer (I believe currently used for renal cancer) was tested on volunteers with such a measure of possibilities that those who had previously been given placebos were immediately switched to Sutent and the trial was terminated. I have attached a link to the newspaper article to which the post refers - although I have to confess to not having had time to read it properly myself yet. I rang Pfizer UK yester…
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How big can a Pancreatic tumour be ...?
by emcee46- 9 replies
- 12.3k views
My partner has just been diagnosed (we think) with what is, apparently, inoperable Pancreatic Cancer. I say 'we think' because there is, apparently, a small doubt in the surgeon's mind about the size of this 'mass'. When viewing the CT scan, he pointed out the mass which is some 80mm in diameter and which appears to obliterate the whole outline of the pancreas. His feeling is that there is the remote possibility that this could be a lymphoma or even a secondary. Whilst we await further CT scans, blood tests and an endoscopy/biopsy, IS it at all likely this could be something else - like a serous cystadenoma - or are we clutching at straws like so many others have done…
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My mum
by Jacqueline1982- 2 replies
- 6.6k views
Hi everyone, some of you may remember I posted about a month ago to say my mum had became extremely unwell. I am today writing this as my mum passed away on the 15th February, I stayed with her in the hospital and she is no longer suffering. I will miss her dearly, she was such a brave woman, too young to die at 48. This is an awful disease and the sooner they find a way to diagnose it sooner the better!!! I wish you all the very best, take care xx
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Private Oncology Referral
by Paul Wilkinson- 1 reply
- 6.5k views
My uncle has recently been diagnosed as suffering from pancreatic cancer which has advanced to the liver and lymph glands. I understand that chemotherapy is the only option, and that it will be administered as a palliative remedy, rather than an attempted cure. We are presently waiting on an appointment at XX in Manchester. We would like to explore the possibilty of a private referral to an Oncologist in the UK, mainly to discuss the chemotherapy options (if there are any). Can anybody recommend an expert in this field? Alternatively, if anybody can give us advice from their own experience of the options available to us, we would be very grateful for your input.…
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Please Help
by Jacqueline1982- 2 replies
- 6.8k views
Hi everyone, I am new to this forum. I hope someone can help me. My mum was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in August and chemo hasn't worked. The tumor is inoperable and she has been going downhill. A few days ago she developed severe swelling on her feet and today has woken up with swelling on her hands and face and no feeling in her hands, she also has low blood pressure. My mum didn't tell us when she was diagnosed that apparently you only have months to live once diagnosed with this type of cancer, mainly to keep us from worrying as I lost my dad in October 07 to cancer. I am extremely worried and I would like to hear from anyone who has been in this situation…
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I'm new- my grandad has just been diagnosed, so sad
by tracyann82- 2 replies
- 6.6k views
My mum called me yesterday to say that my grandad, her dad, had been to the doctor because he keep getting tummy ache and feeling full. He lives in Germany, so he was seen very quickly and had a scan (not sure what type) and he was told there and then what was wrong. My grandad is 75, runs 4 times a week 8 km, goes hiking, bowling and is super healthy and fit...!I have been crying a lot and obviously my whole family is devastated. We havent got many details yet... Initially the doc said that there is nothing that can be done at all but today he asked my grandad to come back in to discuss a referral to a specialist. This is happened next week and another appointmen…
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Are we getting the best treatment?
by svalentine21- 2 replies
- 8k views
My wife, Karen, has locally advanced inoperable adenocarcinoma in the head of the pancreas - diagnosed August 2007. It has not metastisised to any other organs as far as we know. She has gemcitabine + capecitabine in four week cycles with a week off after three sessions (although they have recently removed the capecitabine in an attempt to ensure she's fit enough for the third treatment each cycle). We know that this is the standard treatment, but it has been clear since the beginning that this is basically palliative care, containing for as long as possible. We don't want that; we want to beat this thing. Karen's only 39, very fit and her tumor shrank by up to 50% bet…
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Palliative Care
by jobby29- 11 replies
- 17.2k views
Back in May my mother had an ultra sound after suffering from what she thought was a tummy bug, she was then sent for ct and mri scans, and in mid july we were told that she would need the whipple procedure as she had a tumour in the head of her pancreas,but would need to be built up for her op( she weighed at the time just under 7 stone). After 8 weeks on a drip feed and putting on no weight what so ever we we're told that she isn't strong enough and that she would not survive the operation, chemo wasn't an option. They did tell us that her pain would be managed. Yesterday we had a visit from our local hospice, the doctor was great telling us that if my poor mother wan…
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pain relief
by Nadine- 0 replies
- 6.5k views
My 70 year old mother was diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer in Dec 07 (6 months after her first GP visit!). She is taking oxycondone tablets and oxycontin liquid for breakthrough pain. She is having a break from chemo and the pain has increased. Does anyone know/ recommend any alternative methods or had a nerve block. Also, we live in Manchester and wondered if anyone might like to become a 'buddy' as she has not met anyone with a similar cancer at the day hospice she visits. She is unable to communicate via email at the moment. I know she would appreciate talking to someone who really understands what she is going through. Thanks
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- 6 replies
- 20.6k views
Hi I have a question on behalf of my dad (68, diagnosed with metastatic pancreatic cancer on 8th March). Dad has always loved his food and when he started feeling poorly (end of January this year) he started to eat less as he wasn't hungry and when he did eat felt uncomfortable. He was also very constipated (which made him not want to eat much). He was then taken in to hospital in early Feb, which was when the round of investigations leading to his PC diagnosis started. Initially they were looking into his bowel as his main sympton was constipation and distended abdomen. Over the 6 weeks he was in hospital, he started to find that he couldn't eat any food wh…
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- 9 replies
- 18.9k views
Hi all. My mum went into hospital two weeks ago with 'shadows on the lungs' after a chest infection. two days ago she was told she had inoperable PC, with metastes on her lungs, liver and lymph nodes. We met the oncologist yesterday, I was horrified initially as he offered no treatment, just palliative care until I started to talk about Gemzar and Teciva. I am 7 weeks pregnant with her first and only grandchild and she is very motivated to meet him/her. The oncologist seemed to wake up a bit then (I got the strong impression he thought she should just shuffle off and die). Tomorrow consequently she is having a biopsy of a lymph gland and a mammogram as there is a very ou…
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Collapsed Veins
by Guest Barb (Canada)- 1 reply
- 9.5k views
My Mom was admitted for her biopsy yesterday prior to be scheduled for Chemo. She has Stage 4(a) PC, location is the body of the pancreas with varicose invasion (which I assume means its in the blood stream). Yesterday they spent 30 minutes trying to take blood samples from 5 different sites but couldn't. I am told by the medics in my family that its because her veins are collapsing as a result of poor circulation. Has anyone else experienced this problem and if so, can you advise how it was dealt with. Many thanks.
