Family, friends and carers
A forum for family, friends and carers' of pancreatic cancer patients.
649 topics in this forum
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my heart is broken my dad has gone x 1 2 3 4
by Dcoleman- 98 replies
- 56.4k views
My dad was diagnosed on march 20th with pancreatic cancer that has spread to his liver he will be 79 in June.. We were devastated as march the previous year the hospital did a scan and said there was a cyst on his pancreas but was nothing to worry about. It was only because my dad kept saying he didnt feel right that our GP did any more. Sadly a year later we are given this news. He has gone down hill considerably since we were told. He has lost at least a stone in weight he is barely eating. He did have one chemo appointment but decided that he wouldn't continue and as he put it ...would let nature take its course. Now we have no appointments at the hospital but a McMill…
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My Father
by Dara- 7 replies
- 7.3k views
Hi, great forum, I have enjoyed reading the stories. This time last year my mother passed away after a 15 year battle against Cancer, she fought it every step of the way and lived a great life, it got her in the end, but we cherished her final days. Fast forward 12 months, 4 weeks ago my father thought he had food poisoning, I visited him with a doctor friend and arranged for an ambulance to take him to hospital, he was yellow from jaundice with awful pain in his side, difficulty breathing. They drained litres of brown fluid for him and fitted him with two bags, which oozed out brown fluid. He is still in hospital, the yellow has gone he has no pain and is eating w…
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New member... wish I knew what was coming
by pennylane- 4 replies
- 7.7k views
Hi everyone, I've been reading your incredibly supportive messages for a while now and felt ready to post myself. My mum was diagnosed with inoperable stage 4 pancreatic cancer with spread to the liver. She is under 60. After a time on Folforinox, to which she reacted badly and had no response, she is now on Gemcitabine. I can see how much better it suits her and it is having more response but I don't understand what the doctors have said about it. It might prolong her life, is that right? And might give her some quality of life? She has grandchildren it would be wonderful to spend some time with. But as far as I understand it, it won't cure it, merely stop its growth in…
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Swansea Support Group
by Slewis7313- 2 replies
- 5.7k views
The next (second) meeting is at Maggies, Singleton Hospital, Swansea from 10:30 - 12:00 this coming Thursday 29th January. Anybody who can make it is of course most welcome. It is during my chemo, but I expect to still be able to attend. See you there! Steve X
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my mum. my world.
by Jr306- 4 replies
- 6.6k views
6 months ago my mother began to feel unwell, showing symptoms of weightless, fatigue, constipation and could not keep any drink or food down. She looked like a skeleton compared to her normal weight she was physically unrecognizable. We took her to the doctors but they turned us away and told us they could not find anything wrong. Anyway, it come to the point where she was so dehydrated and frail I persisted on them running tests. The first thing that they had found was she had sugar levels of 50. they asked us if she was diabetic which as far as we were concerned she had never been diagnosed up to this point. She was admitted to hospital for 9 days. throughout her st…
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Dads diagnosis :(
by Katiefaz92- 15 replies
- 12.1k views
On 13th March 2016 me and my family were given the devastating news that my dad had pancreatic cancer. He had been going to the doctors since November 2014 with serve stomach pains and he hadn't been to toilet for months. He was told over and over again it was constipation and was given more and more medications. Finally at the end of February he was able to have a CT scan which revealed the tumour in his pancreas- I really am devastated. My dad is only 54 years old, my mum just recently turned 50 and myself and my twin sister are 23 years old and my older sister is 28. We all still live at home and are such a close family. My dad usually very fit, in 2013 he did the Lond…
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My mum's story so far
by Leedslass82- 5 replies
- 6.4k views
Hi everyone. My name is Becky, 33 and my mum has been diagnosed with recurrent pancreatic cancer. Here is our story so far: Past problems - she smoked most of her life and had chronic bronchitis every winter. One time leading her to having breathing problems so ended up in a&e. This prompted her to stop smoking. They also discovered she had diabetes which was treated with tablets. Fast forward to August 2013 - mum went on holiday with my stepdad and step-granddaughter and was constantly being sick. She had lost over half a stone without trying and had really bad stomach pains. She went to the docs who did a urine test which came back with high protein levels. …
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talking
by pollron- 5 replies
- 6.2k views
Morning everyone. My husband has inoperable Pc. Since we received this devastating news he refuses to talk about it. Anyone have any advice for me?
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How do you cope?
by kittycat- 6 replies
- 7.3k views
I just don't know what to do. Hubby starts chemo tomorrow but seems to be getting worse and I'm not sure they'll treat him as he is now. He's so tired and worn out, he goes to bed almost every day and has no energy at all. I'm trying to keep him eating and to keep his mind positive but, my goodness, it's so hard and then when I'm on my own I just go to pieces. I know it's absolutely awful for him and just seeing him like this is so painful! I don't know how I'm going to cope without him, he's my best friend, my life and there's nothing more I can do!!! I can't stop crying but don't want anti depressents - how does anyone else cope in this desperate situation. We ar…
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Fluid build up
by Carterscare- 4 replies
- 7k views
Hi there - my first time posting so fingers crossed this works!! My mum was diagnosed in November last yeAr with stage 3 pancreatic cancer and it had spread into her liver so no chance of operation. Had some chemo ( was on a trial of abraxine and gem) but reacted severely to this so stopped after 2 sessions. She has been getting weaker as not been eating and stomach became very distended over last 2 weeks and very dehydrated so we took her to the hospital at the weekend. She is now much weaker and has so much fluid in her (had lots of iv fluid due to dehydration and very low blood pressure ) that it is now very uncomfortable for her to even lie down - she says she feels…
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Confusion
by Nerissavt- 0 replies
- 4.4k views
Hi, Sorry very long story but will try to not to write an essay. My mum was diagnosed with PC four and a half years ago. It's an endocrine tumour so realise we are lucky in this respect. She did have some of the whipple procedure but the tumour was wrapped round a main artery so it wasn't completed. She has been on Sandostatin which worked well for years until it stopped working in October and the cancer spread to the liver, stomach lining and lymph nodes. Since January she has been on Everolimus but hasn't been well at all and going down hill with a lot of different symptoms. To cut a long story short the symptom we can't understand is severe confusion. S…
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Bye dad :(
by vickicoco- 2 replies
- 5k views
I'm really sad at the moment. My dad passed away on Monday after battling with pancreatic cancer since last August. He was only 60 and never had a days illness in his life into now. I'm finding it so hard to accept he's gone even though we knew it was going to happen. I'm trying to stay positive and support my siblings and mum. I'm looking for advice plz x
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Clocked Out
by wackywacky- 12 replies
- 9.5k views
Sorry to have to say beloved had been clocked out for the last time, he past away at home on Tuesday 10th March 2015 at 6.50, he past away peacefully. He gave the B a good run for its money I couldent have asked for anything more from him will really really miss him love you always Kev, Love your wife Wendy xxxxxxx
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Dad Has So Much To Deal With Right Now
by Janey1966- 9 replies
- 7.1k views
My Dad was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last year. Not sure of the exact date but it did come as a shock to the family. Dad has never been a big eater so the fact he could only eat certain foods did not worry Mum too much. 'I can't get it down' was the main comment Mum would receive if there was deemed to be too much food on Dad's plate. On top of all this (he is 77, his 78th birthday will be on the 20th March) he has claudication in his legs, culminating in the amputation of his left leg on 13th February 2015. The week before admission was an absolute nightmare and I would not wish Dad's pain on my worst enemy. To say my Dad has been through a lot lately is a…
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Our Story To Date
by wackywacky- 8 replies
- 7.7k views
Hi to you all, a year ago to day our journey started by being rushed in to hospital with stomach pain and vomiting coffee like granuals, then diagnoised with PC, we have had a duedum stent fitted , a billary stent fitted only 3 weeks on chemo then 2 heart attacks, a heart stent fitted, lost well over 4 stones, had 4 blood transfusions been rushed to A and E on a Saturday night, and just recently spent 12 day in our local cancer hospital with server pain and 20 plus liters of fluid drained from his stomach,(drain still in and fluid still coming out, to get the pain under control we have had to be on Ketermin for 5 day to reboot his pain receptors as drugs taking he had got…
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Cannabis oil?
by blueskycp- 4 replies
- 6k views
Hi again, I've read so many positive reports about cancer curing success (including stage 4 pancreatic) with cannabis oil. Has anyone any thoughts/experience of this? When all else has failed and you've nothing else to lose - worth a try right?
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Husband just diagnosed at 36 1 2 3 4
by Annie14- 98 replies
- 56.4k views
I have been looking at the forum for the past week since my husband was diagnosed. I have found the forum honest but has given me hope too. It all started prior to our wedding in July of this year when he started to have a dodgy tummy and back pain. On honeymoon things started to get worse obviously brought on by over indulgence but on return the doctor suggested it was indigestion. Gaviscon was suggested obviously didn't help. Three more trips to the doctor and they suggested he has torn his stomach lining. He knew there was something else wrong so asked to be referred to Bupa as he has a work policy. Again, it took a few different tests but eventually adenocarcinoma tum…
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my mum .... any advice?
by holidays- 5 replies
- 6.1k views
My mum was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last week. We are all in shock, whilst part of me wants to bury my head in the sand and forget all about it another part of me wants to be proactive and prepare and plan!!! Unfortunately I normally live 350 miles away. I am staying with them at the moment but will need to return home at the end of this week. Has anybody got any advice as to what should\ could be arranged before I have to return home. I feel torn between the need to be here to do things because is also not well but I also have my own children that need looking after and a job to go to. Help has anyone got any advice???
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Chemo hasn't worked
by blueskycp- 7 replies
- 10.5k views
Hello again, My dad had the results of his scan this week after six treatments with Gemcitabine and cisplastin. Sadly, the scan shows no improvement, in fact two more lesions in the liver. The oncologist wanted to start a new regimen - (I don't recall what drug although I know it wasn't folforinox) but he has said no. He has been feeling so poorly recently that he cannot face anymore. However, I don't know if his symptoms are due to side effects of the chemo or the cancer itself? I can't help wondering why he wasn't given the stronger chemotherapy drugs from the start. How do they decide what to give? Should it not be as a result of evidence (the studies I have com…
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Little steps
by hannie- 4 replies
- 6.1k views
Well I have only posted a few times but I've got to say this forum has been great. Just knowing am not alone and find out information that I probably wouldn't be told. Though am determined to ask everything I can for my mum. Just had her biopsy which went well but she did have a few panic attacks and was kept in over night. So now just the waiting game for results. What I would like to ask is do they take more than 1 sample from the liver? Also specialist nurse said it was so they can find where primary cancer is from? Hate that different members of staff say different things... From its gone to the liver and then ds1500 said suspected.. I think I just hate t…
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Well 3 weeks on chemo all ok, this week week off, BUT - Monday beloved got pain in chest lunch time took oramorph ok, went to bed in afternoon got up tea time pain back and even worse, ambulance called for, blue lighted down to hospital, on route 2 heart attacks had to be zapped back both times, arrival at hospital rushed straight through to cath labs stent put into a artery in heart,(we now have 3 stents in duodenum billary heart)all this happened within 2 hours, got him settled in ccu, then they let me in, wait for it hes sat up drinking coffee and eating biscuits with wires all over him could not get my breath. Turns out clot in artery caused the attacks. So going for…
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My lovely Dad has passed away 1 2
by Janiebobs- 47 replies
- 31.4k views
I have been reading the extremely informative forum avidly for a couple of weeks now. My 83 year old Dad had been diagnosed with diabetes in the summer. He was told to control it with diet and he seem to be doing well. However at Christmas my parents were coming to stay with my family. I noticed how jaundiced my dad appeared and he had lost lots of weight. I took him to my local walk-in centre and they sent him straight to hospital. He had a CT scan and was released on Christmas Eve. I took him home after Christmas and we saw his GP who talked about cancer and referred him to a couple of consultants. The Gastroenterologist stated it was advanced PC and as it had spread to…
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Our story
by PamW- 11 replies
- 8.7k views
I joined this forum in August last year and after reading Fifi's post and others tonight ,thought it was about time I posted as I have learned so much from all your posts and have taken comfort knowing I am not alone in this. Our story briefly... My wonderful husband, S, was diagnosed aged 59 in July 2014 with a 3.4 tumour and pseudo cyst in the tail of his pancreas and several mets to liver - CA19.9 was 21000. Began abraxane and gemcitabine on 22nd August. After 1st cycle spent a week in hospital from side effects so dosage reduced by 20 percent . Finished 3rd cycle in the middle of Nov and CT scan showed pancreas tumour reduced by 15 per cent and largest liver met b…
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Any advice please?
by blueskycp- 4 replies
- 5k views
Hello, My dad (67) was diagnosed in September with stage 4 PC with mets to the liver. This was picked up on a routine scan for something else and apparently wasn't there six months ago. The oncologist started him on Gemcitabine and cisplastin and he has his sixth one next week followed by a scan. The whole situation plus side effects from the chemo has completely turned over our lives. The fact that there is no hope is very upsetting for us all plus the fear of what lies ahead. The oncologist has said that if the lesions have shrunk then they will continue with the G+C, if it hasn't then they will give him a more aggressive chemo. My parents asked if there would ever …
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suspected blood clot
by hannie- 5 replies
- 5.9k views
Went to see the GP for the first time after being told the news of my mum's PC she has had a swollen foot and I was putting down water retention or the tablets as you do. Doctor referred use to the ambulatory unit so have blood tests and an injection. What am really wanting to is anyone else experienced this due to PC.