Family, friends and carers
A forum for family, friends and carers' of pancreatic cancer patients.
652 topics in this forum
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Newly Diagnosed
by mrsdaniels- 10 replies
- 9.7k views
Hi just looking for help and advise as my mum has just been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. the drs have given us a time scale of up to a year but i know from friends whos parents have had this that they have gone much quicker. I can deal with this fact as long as i know what s going to happen is this a normal timescale or should i be prepared for much less time Mum has had a stent put in this week as had been very yellow but is still very much off her food and has no appetite how will i know when its the beginning of the end
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What to Expect
by anthony- 9 replies
- 9.9k views
My Dad has been diagnosed with PC - Suddenly everything has changed he was a fit and active 84 year old and in a matter of weeks he has lost 3 stone in weight down from 13.5 stone to 10.5 stone and is too weak to do much more than lay in bed most of the day. This started just before xmas when he began feeling tired and losing weight. Our GP suggested it was due to his diabetes - newly diagnosed just months before. Then end of April I noticed he had jaundice and took him to A&E they were concerned and did some tests which suggested PC. They put in a plastic stent (as an outpatient) and he went home the same day. Doctor said let him recover from the jaundice and we will…
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the posts from Stephen100
by louiepc- 2 replies
- 4.1k views
After viewing posts from this user, that have been dotted about the forum pages, I just wanted to send my thoughts to all the families who are going through the terrible battle of this disease. I realise everyone is entitled to their own opinions but to push their views on already vulnerable people is disgraceful and callous.
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- 7 replies
- 8.8k views
Hi my dad just been diagnosed with stage 3 pancreatic cancer which is inoperable at present. Looking for a second opinion at present and we have a meeting with orcologist today 18/04 to discuss treatments and the way forward! What a terrible disease this is going unnoticed until its advanced. Its going to be very hard the next few months but hes healthy and has lots of fight so we are going head on to beat this! We are keeping positive at this hard time!
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hello
by louiepc- 6 replies
- 6.4k views
Hi everyone, new and old friends, I hope that you are all well, (as best as you can be), I haven't been online for a fair time, it got too hard and difficult looking at the posts, and rather selfishly I needed to take myself away for a while. It's almost 18 months since my mum passed, a lot has happened, things are much better with my dad, we seem to have got through having a bad relationship and are on the other side now. I have recently started a childcare course which is really exciting, although quite stressful, in fact I should be doing an assignment now, but am on here instead. How are you Laura, Rachelqt, Ali40, and everyone else? Laura I read your…
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Not the best weekend!
by karen17- 17 replies
- 13.2k views
Just as we were looking forward to the sunny weekend it all went downhill. I woke up at 1am saturday morning thinking Bob had left the elctric blanket on. Felt like a furnace in the bed! Furnace turned out to be Bob with a raging pyrexia. A quick call to the emergency oncology team and then after dragging a very disgruntled hubbie from bed plus a grumpy son cos I'd been drinking wine all night ( the shame! ) we had to suffer sitting in A and E with all the drunkards from the clubs! Quite entertaining though! Finally admitted around 5am and commenced IV fluids and antibiotics. He was really dehydrated but not sure why and had picked up a cold a week ago. So 1 hour of sleep…
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Diabetes
by Cathy- 15 replies
- 11.4k views
Well, it seems Jonathan now has to inject himself with insulin 3 times a day. This is on top of his daily clexane (anti coagulent) injections and bone marrow injections (granted only for 4 days per 2 weeks) - both of which I give him. To say he is fed up is an understatement. I am too and feel so sorry for him. I just so wish I could take some of this nonsense for him and give him a break. I'm hoping that once he is off steroids from this cycle it all goes back to normal. He didn't have a problem (that we are aware of but no idea when he last had his blood sugar tested) before treatment started. I just hope and pray it isn't heralding something more ominous…
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Good news so far!
by karen17- 6 replies
- 5.9k views
Well today was scan result day ( gulp as cathy would say ). Good news in that after 12 cycles of folfirinox the tumour in the pancreas has shrunk yet again - Yaaay. However then told that the wrong type of scan had been ordered. Should have been an MRI not CT as although the pancreas showed up beautifully on a CT the liver does not. I guess this must be true as when first diagnosed Bob has 2 CT scans and was told his liver was clear when in fact it was not!. Now waiting for MRI. Anyway it would seem that surgery is not going to be an option as he could have a whipples which is a fairly nasty operation only to find that the secondaries have returned and then be too weak fo…
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Too quick
by treacle- 7 replies
- 7.6k views
Hi I have used this site and forum to try and make sense of my dads diagnosis and now suddenly he is no longer here. Everything has happened so quickly. After turning yellow in January and being told he had a block bile duct and cancer I feel like we have blinked and missed the last two months. In Feb we were told he had 12 months to live, he had two chemotherapy sessions which made him so sick that he was taking into hospital with low blood pressure and dehydration - he died 3 days later. Such a shock - he was a brave man but this cancer is just awful, my heart goes out to anyone one and their families who are going through this experienece x
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Just had the news...
by polly61- 4 replies
- 5.5k views
My Mum presented with painless jaundice 5 weeks ago. She's been through all sorts of tests since then but to cut a long story short we went in today to find out that she has pancreatic cancer. Luckily it is operable - we're told. But we're told a 'Whipple' is a lot to go through - especially for a lady of 'later years' xx Any hope? Any stories? Feel a bit like I'm intruding - but hoping you'll welcome new members?
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- 15 replies
- 13.3k views
Hi my dad just been diagnosed with stage 3 pancreatic cancer which is inoperable at present. Looking for a second opinion at present and we have a meeting with oncologist today 18/04 to discuss treatments and the way forward! What a terrible disease this is going unnoticed until its advanced. Its going to be very hard the next few months but he's healthy and has lots of fight so we are going head on to beat this! We are keeping positive at this hard time!
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Hello from KATB 1 2
by KATB- 47 replies
- 42.1k views
Hi all - I'm a new member and wanted to say hello and make some notes here about my dad. My active, fit, well 61 year old dad was diagnosed with locally advanced PC 3.5 weeks ago now following a CT scan arranged due to jaundice and itching. This was shocking and devastating news for him, my mum, myself and my 2 brothers. Immediately following the CT he was seen by a renal doctor who gave the diagnosis and when asked by dad for the prognosis replied '2-3 months'. My first issue is with the, in my opinion, poor delivery of the diagnosis and prognosis - nobody was with my dad at the time and he was sent away with no information and no support whatsoever. I will provid…
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I'm new to this forum but wanted to find somewhere to discuss my current situation with people who will understand and this seems like the best place! My mother-in-law was diagnosed about 2 months ago with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer, for months the symptoms were confused with that of chronic back ache caused by 2 collapsed vertebrae. Since Christmas 2011/Jan 2012 she was complaining of pain in her lower back but only went to see a doctor when it persisted through to March, her GP sent her to the pain clinic who ordered an MRI and X-rays and sent her to the arthritis clinic diagnosing the collapsed vertebrae. She was told the MRI needed to be re-done as there showed a lot…
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- 0 replies
- 3.6k views
Hi my dad just been diagnosed with stage 3 pancreatic cancer which is inoperable at present. Looking for a second opinion at present and we have a meeting with orcologist today 18/04 to discuss treatments and the way forward! What a terrible disease this is going unnoticed until its advanced. Its going to be very hard the next few months but hes healthy and has lots of fight so we are going head on to beat this! We are keeping positive at this hard time!
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talk
by sharonsani- 0 replies
- 3.4k views
Sometimes...what evertime..we need to talk... But we have to show strong shoulders...we have to make deaciaions...we have to cope we watch what we say...we cry but no emotion...we carry on and lie smile its ok samaritians for cancer patients and carers xx
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talk
by sharonsani- 0 replies
- 3.2k views
Sometimes...what evertime..we need to talk... But we have to show strong shoulders...we have to make deaciaions...we have to cope we watch what we say...we cry but no emotion...we carry on and lie smile its ok samaritians for cancer patients and carers xx
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My Dad
by Lem- 1 reply
- 3.7k views
My dad (at 77) was diagnosed with phase 4 PC exactly 1 month ago. He'd been feeling a bit off and had been to the doctor several times with stomach pain and given meds for IBS and gastro issues. He was taken into hospital with pain and they thought at first it was a gallbladder issue (we now wish!). After tests he was finally given the news (while on his own without me or mum there to hold his hand, I'm still furious about that) that it was PC and inoperable. We had consultations with the oncologist who explained the options and recommended treatment with gemcitabine and Dad had his 1st dose of chemo on Wednesday. He seems to becoming quite well with it and no notic…
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How to stay positive?
by Cheryl- 9 replies
- 7.7k views
My darling dad, was diagnosed on the 15 January 2013, and although in my heart of hearts he was seriously ill, NOTHING prepared me for this journey. A healthy, happy, 58 year old man, who suddenly lost 41/2 stone between October and January 2013 was the give away, he also went very yellow and itchy. From there, he had a stent and was told that his tumour maybe operable, the surgeon said 'we will be able to tell more once we can look inside'. So a whipple's procedure was planned and at the beginning of Feb, dad got the call less then 24 hours notice to go and have it. He was worried he wouldn't wake up from the op. Luckily he did. On the Friday night, it all …
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Dear dad
by Med5- 8 replies
- 7.1k views
Hi, Sadly we are new to the forum as my dad has just recently been diagnosed with the dreaded illness, but already we are finding comfort from all who have discussed their experiences on this forum and great help as we move forward as a family to comfort and support him. The diagnoses is not good and he is undergoing tests for a period of chemo but in our heart of hearts we understand that it will only be a matter of time. The emotions are so raw as no doubt all of you have experienced and we are fighting our way through it with hours of discussion, hugs, gallons of tears and with an emptyness of watching dad in so much pain. And watching mum is so heartbreaking…
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Husband newly diagnosed
by bibs- 22 replies
- 16.8k views
I wondered if anyone feels as I do. Whilst I cannot begin to understand how my husband of 35years( diagnosed two weeks ago ) or his fellow sufferers are feeling - I feel that I have been plucked out of my normal life and dumped on another planet that has clones of people I know, family, friends etc but no one who talks to me about the cancer.They are polite and ask how he is but no one really talks to me. I know they probably don't know what to say - what would I say if the shoe was on the other foot? I feel so alone.The first hospital that treated him were marvellous he had not been ill just turned yellow and was having tests, and I was included in all aspects of his tre…
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My darling Mum...
by DRAD3- 1 reply
- 4.2k views
Thank you so much for sharing your story. I am so sorry for your loss. You are quite understandably devastated and beginning the difficult road that is bereavement. I lost my husband in April last year and it too feels like yesterday. How do you ever get over something like this? I don't think you do, you just have to carry on as best you can, cope, manage, live. This does get easier - there was a time when I would catch sight of myself in the mirror and I looked haunted, gaunt, sad - now I look like my old self and I laugh and smile. My teenage daughter and I went to an event at the weekend, and we talked about how her dad would have enjoyed it and she was sad that h…
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Any help or guidance appreciated
by Jackjo- 4 replies
- 6k views
Hi, I have not had cause to come on here much since my Mum's diagnosis in 2011 - she has surpassed all odds and is still battling her terminal diagnosis with chemo both tablet form and infusion. Anyway, just before Christmas she began suffering intense pain in her front side on the left and this radiates through to her back. Her eating has begun to decrease as she is being sick again bringing up mainly bile. She has been managing the pain fairly well but in the last week or so it has become unbearable and tonight she actually called an ambulance it was so bad. My Mum does not tell my sister and I how bad things are but I know she handles a lot of pain without moaning a…
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Help please to ease wretching ?
by Med5- 2 replies
- 4k views
Hi, Following recent diagnosis of this illness arrangements have been made for all forms of support and treatment, but until then my dad is suffering bad 'wretching' when attempting to eat or drink. While waiting for the help we would be most grateful for any advice and tips to enable us to help ease these symptoms. He tries to eat and drink but unable to keep anything down which is also causing throat soreness. We've taken note of the great advice on this site but just asking for anymore ideas and suggestions. Best wishes to you all. Kev and Alison
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where does it end??
by auri30- 5 replies
- 6k views
Things are hard!!! Really tough, watching my father who has pancreatic cancer aswell as peritoneal, he also had colon cancer ! He originally had a scan for diverticulitis in june 2012 when the scan showed up a small lesion in his pancreas but he didnt have any treatment for it until january 2013!! Obviously doctors couldnt operate as they found peritoneal cancer! my dad was looking the best he had done in years and we were all shocked ! he had just had a operation for a colostomy bag as he had bad diverticulitis, and doctors had removed a tumour from his colon! But doctors told us that there was no need to call back my brother from abroad, as my dad was on the mend! so…
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Poorly dad 1 2
by jacquik- 31 replies
- 23.8k views
Hello everone, Im Jacqui and my dad was diagnosed with PC last July. He'd had problems with gallstones for years and nothing was done, jaundice followed, repeatedly and finally he went for a better endoscopy which found the tumour. My dad is 80, up until the diagnosis he still worked on our farm, driving tractors and tinkering! He's back in hospital as of yesterday, vomiting all week since sunday,nothing solid or liquid has stayed down, GP gave him anti sickness tablets and still it came, noticed wednesday "coffee grounds" black vomit. GP sent us to A & E. Finally saw a consultant today who is sending him for a Ct scan to find out whats wrong as they don't seem to hav…