Family, friends and carers
A forum for family, friends and carers' of pancreatic cancer patients.
654 topics in this forum
-
Having a bad week...aren't we all?!
by emsicals- 5 replies
- 5.5k views
Hi, I have been a 'silent' member for a few months now. Just reading everyone's messages and seeing how lovely people are in such awful situations. I haven't posted until now as it is not my direct relative that has been diagnosed, but my boyfriends mum. We have bit of a unique (or maybe not) situation in that my boyfriend is French. We were both living in the UK for the last 2 years (have been in a relationship for over 5)but in October 2013 his mum was diagnosed with PC. Straight away they gave her 4 months. She is still with us and fighting hard so that is fabulous. However, it has meant that Nick has had to leave, understandably, and go live back in France t…
-
Feeling Alone 1 2
by mogs- 38 replies
- 23.8k views
Hi. I just wanted to introduce myself even though I cant still quite believe that I am posting on this forum. My mum (67) was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last week, and at the moment I feel as though I am in free fall and just want to hit a pause button. She is never ill (rarely catches a cold) but has been unwell since last October. She had been to see the doctor on several occasions who thought it was a build up of acid in the stomach. Since Christmas she had pain in her side which then moved to her back. We eventually got her admitted and they run tests and a CT scan. She was told, (by her consultant), that she had a lump on her pancreas and that she was b…
-
Treatment or not
by Lucyloo- 13 replies
- 10.5k views
My dad was diagnosed 12 months ago, had his whole pancrease removed and 6 months of chemo, he had tumour markers in his blood 4 weeks ago, which lead to a scan and the discovery of cancer in his pancreatic bed, liver and lung. We were told it can't be operated on, he can have chemo, a tuff form, to help with symptoms, one every 2 weeks , 6 in total. His pancreatic surgeon told me he only has 3 months and possibly an extra 6 weeks with chemo to live, we have kept this from him, he knows he's terminal, he is in some pain but is managing it with oxinorm and oxicontin. He doesn't want anymore chemo, and I agree with him to a point, but part of me is scared we are giving up…
-
Strategies for understanding and coping
by ChrisD- 21 replies
- 13.9k views
Hello, I have only very recently discovered this forum, I wish that it had been brought to my attention or that I had done more 'Googling' when my Mum was first diagnosed - the sense of community here is very uplifting for circumstances that are so dire. Mum is elderly and as such there are no viable treatment options; the palliative care route has been adopted and it has been 16 weeks since her diagnosis. Having spent some time looking at posts by other people, I see that there are many things that I can very closely relate to and I have found this a great help in trying to get my head wrapped around the beast that is pancreatic cancer. For the moment, I am m…
-
Palliative care concerns from Marie Curie
by Slewis7313- 14 replies
- 11.1k views
Saw this on BBC News this morning. They also interviewed a Marie Curie representative and the wife of a Pancreatic Cancer sufferer who's husband died last year. It was a short but interesting piece which fundamentally highlighted the lack of a 'joined up' system of care for the terminally ill. The link below has the detail. http://bbc.in/1n6Vqhy Take care all Steve X
-
Diagnosis
by Rl123- 1 reply
- 4.4k views
Hi, Just wondering if it's usual to only give a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer after it's been confirmed via biopsy? A bit of background - my dad had a ct scan late January where they raised the possibility of cancer due to a mass on his pancreas and an abnormality with his liver. Since this time he's had a stent fitted because of jaundice, and his pancreas biopsy was inconclusive. He then had a liver biopsy but hasn't heard anything since (it's been over 2 weeks). Is it normal for diagnosis to take this long? I would have thought he'd have been told one way or another by now as it seems a long time to wait before starting chemo if it is cancer. Anyone else experienced a…
-
False negative result ERCP
by Ruthos1- 22 replies
- 20.2k views
Hi , This is my first post on this forum. My lovely lively mum(75) was diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer with 'suspicious' lymph nodes and a lesion in the liver on Xmas eve. She had an ERCP performed with a view to inserting a stent for her jaundice , this was not successful as we were told that 'things' were too distorted .Her jaundice has since lessened.Her biopsy result has come back benign and an EUS has been scheduled, with a view to repeating the biopsy. She is relatively well , but has a distended abdomen, weight loss and swollen feet/ankles.Her appetite is fairly good . Has anybody else experienced this, am just wondering if we can get excited about t…
-
A Mother in a Million 1 2 3
by welshgirl- 60 replies
- 43.6k views
Hello, My mother was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer back in October of last year, they diagnosed here from only the ct scan and an elevated CA19-9 marker. All the biopsies they've taken have all shown up as negative and a biopsy taken of a suspected tumour in the bile duct showed only benign mucosa when she had a stent inserted. Up until then she was in a lot of pain but taking Tramadol, Paracetamol and Pregabalin, a great combination and eased the pain. My mother is 75 on Tuesday and I just feel that unfortunately with the poor prognosis of PC, that this will be her last birthday!!!! She commenced chemotherapy on the 3rd January, Gemcitamine, and has done reall…
-
I think my dads journey is nearing its end 1 2
by janem- 28 replies
- 18.5k views
I got a phone call from my dad this morning saying the pain was unbearable, the hospice told me to give him oramorph as well as his morphine patch and if still in pain repeat after 40mins which I did. The district nurse has been up and agreed it is time to going into the hospice, unfortunately there are no beds at the moment so he has been put on the list and will have the hospice at home coming to him! I am sitting waiting for the doctor to visit as the nurse said he was going to visit my dad this afternoon. He has only eaten a couple of biscuits since Saturday and had nothing today, he is also going back to the Simpsons colouring. I am just sitting here feeling useless…
-
How to be a carer?
by Guest Fifi- 9 replies
- 7.3k views
..
-
- 6 replies
- 8.4k views
Hi This is my first visit. My husband is 47 and has recently been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, he is scheduled to have a whipple's operation in about two weeks time. At the moment he is finding that he is itching - comes in waves but seems to be getting a bit worse than it has been over the last couple of months. Has anyone else experienced this and could anyone offer any advice on whether he can take anti histamines / cream to relieve it. GP is saying itching wouldn't be a side effect and I'm waiting for specialist nurse to call back tomorrow... Sasha
-
- 41 replies
- 29.5k views
I'm new to this, as I guess most people are when faced with the diagnosis of a loved one. (Horribly coincidentally we lost our brother-in-law to pancreatic cancer two years ago - not a blood relative of my husband.) After 18 months back pain, then loss of appetite, lethargy and finally jaundice, he was admitted to hospital 10 days ago. Attempts to insert stent via endoscope have failed on two occasions, so keyhole abdominal procedure performed to release bile. Stent not inserted at this point as consultant wants to do an endescopic ultrasound (sorry if I get my medical terms muddled) to see if any possibility of surgery to remove the tumour which is about four and a h…
-
Life Expectancy?
by Guest Fifi- 11 replies
- 10.5k views
..
-
Liver biopsy today - Proud of my dad
by Guest Fifi- 4 replies
- 5.1k views
..
-
Diarrhoea - underlying problem?
by Guest Fifi- 3 replies
- 4.9k views
..
-
Dad - Recently diagnosed, please help
by Guest Fifi- 4 replies
- 5.5k views
..
-
Can we get together?
by Dollysdaughter- 2 replies
- 4.8k views
I am fairly new to this wonderfully supportive site so not sure exactly how things work. I know there are sensible restrictions on posting locations etc but I just wondered if there is any way we can find out if anybody else on the site is in our area so we can get together? I know this wouldn't suit everyone but I think myself and my mum would really like it. I have seen that there are a couple of local support groups posted but wondered if there are any means of finding out if there is anybody nearby who may benefit from a "get together"? Thanks, Sara x
-
Creon and inoperable PC
by nikkis- 7 replies
- 8k views
Dear all, My husband as most of you will know has had a whipples and then a pancreatectomy, and therefore takes loads of creon. I have been talking to a lovely lady at the hospice who's husband also has PC, but they have chosen not to have any treatment as it was very advanced when he was diagnosed. Recently he has less appetite and more stomach pains. Am I right in thinking that he should be on creon, and that it could perhaps improve his quality of life? It has never been suggested to them, but before wading in, I thought it would be a good idea to check with you experts! Nikki
-
What can I do?
by Dollysdaughter- 14 replies
- 10.6k views
My lovely mum was diagnosed with PC just before Christmas and spent a couple of weeks in hospital having a stent put in and recovering from that. On Friday we saw the consultant who said that whilst the tumour was potentially operable she would not be physically for enough for an operation so the next step is to talk to someone about chemo (radiotherapy probably not an option as she had it previously for a different tumour) Whilst I don't doubt the consultant it doesn't feel right to just accept his decision and "go along" with everything. I have read through the various conversations on here and everybody sounds so informed, supportive and helpful I really just wanted …
-
My Mother
by Rubymurray- 6 replies
- 8.3k views
Hello everyone. I am new to this site so I apologise if I am discussing news or posts that have been said before. My mother of 75 (yet very healthy 75) has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer thats spread to one lung. Naturally we are all upset especially as we lost our dear father only last April to skin cancer. The oncologist is going to offer chemo once he meets with us next Tuesday, yet we are preparing for a short time factor. i.e months rather than years. Mother started showing symptoms of full stomach, belatedness, IBS a few months ago and put it down to grief or stress from the loss of her dear husband of 50 married years, we were not expecting the silent kil…
-
Another loss
by phatwa- 2 replies
- 4.6k views
Hello all, my dad Roger (69) passed away from Pancreatic Cancer last Tuesday (21st January) and whilst it is a very difficult time for the family, I wanted to thank everyone who has posted here and indeed anyone who has been through this illness (whether directly or indirectly) that my thoughts are with you all. I've been loosely following this forum for the past 2 months, always keeping a short distance between myself and the stories to try to disconnect it all, in the hope that it wouldn't apply to my Dad and that he did have gallstones after all, but of course he didn't. He was unfortunately pretty much a textbook case, from healthy and lively (in fact he had never…
-
My Dads Prognosis
by janem- 4 replies
- 5.4k views
In December we were told if my dad could build up his strength they would put him on GemCap but would need to do another ct scan as the one they were looking at was 6 weeks old. He had a scan on new years eve and today we saw the oncologist, the tumour has grown and there are lesions on his liver and they are now only offering Gemcitabine on its own and he is borderline on if he is strong enough. He has signed the consent form but has almost certainly decided not to have chemo. He was told the chemo would give him an extra 4-6 months without about 3 months. He has been telling me the last few days that he has no quality of life and he just wants it over with, he says if…
-
My Mam
by Sarah18- 14 replies
- 11.3k views
I am posting this as I have been using this site for the last month to help me get through the most difficult time of my life. Educating myself about pancreatic cancer and the devastating effects it had on my Mam has been the only way I have felt remotely empowered again the inevitable. Even as I type this I almost don't want to share the words and pain of what has happened but this forum has been so invaluable to me that this is my way of giving back the smallest piece of comfort that anyone can get at this time. My Mam returned home from her annual holiday with her friends on 25 October 2013 worked for a week (as a nurse it was her life),took her first day sick w…
-
Can I really look after dad post surgery?
by Loubylou- 15 replies
- 11.8k views
start of a really long journey with too many unanswered questions. Dad (70) been booked for surgery in West Midlands to remove his cancer. As he's a widower I didn't think twice when suggesting that he convalesce with us afterwards. Now I'm getting nervous that I won't be fully prepared to meet his needs psychological or medical. Can anyone share a view on what post surgery recovery looks like please? Should I be taking time off work? Talking to District nurses? Feel very anxious as well as all the other emotions that come with the news of pancreatic cancer in a much loved one.
-
- 6 replies
- 7.2k views
Hi everyone, to old friends and new Two years have now passed since my mum was taken from us. A lot has happened in what seems like a very short space of time. Good things and bad things, a friend of mine lost her daughter to PC last summer, she was only 37, life is so very very cruel. I have tried to help my friend through her grief as much as I can, but it is very difficult, you don't ever expect to lose your child, it's just wrong! I have been there to talk to her, and I understand why she is so incredibly angry, who wouldn't be? As some of you know from a post last year, I started a child care course, I felt the time was right to start doing something prod…