Family, friends and carers
A forum for family, friends and carers' of pancreatic cancer patients.
654 topics in this forum
-
where does it end??
by auri30- 5 replies
- 6.1k 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…
-
Poorly dad 1 2
by jacquik- 31 replies
- 24.1k 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…
-
Dad has been admitted to hospital 1 2
by Morwenna- 28 replies
- 20.3k views
Well Dad finished his first cycle of chemotherapy last Tuesday so now has a week off before seeing the oncologist. He has tolerated the treatment well so far although today out of the blue he rang me and said he's not feeling well and had spent all of yesterday in bed and that he's jaundice again! So they had the doctor out who suspected infection as his temperature was up so they called for an ambulance and have taken him into hospital!! Does anyone else have experience with infections that cause jaundice? He had a stent put in in November, could it be blocked and have caused infection? Things were going pretty well and now this!! I'm feeling really anxious about it a…
-
EUS cancelled due to low platelets, advice?
by lackie2013- 2 replies
- 4.2k views
Hi again. my motehr in law's procedure was cancelled today due to low platelets? She has never had problems such as this before. Obviously we understand why it would be dnagerous to proceed. the nurse told her the lists next week were full!! It will be two weeks onFriday since the CT and ultrasound confirming the mass and we are still no closer to a defintive diagnosis and/or traetment plan. yet this cancer is growing. Does anyone know why she would have low platelets and can this be treated? We were lead to believe there was a very small chance she could be border line resectable but presume they were awaiting today's results. We just feel like we are getting no…
-
they are not stenting as surgery still a small option?
by lackie2013- 2 replies
- 4.3k views
hi there, Today's news. We have been now told that there is still a chance she could have surgery (whipple). They are now not stenting until the pancreatic specialist unit at Southamton have had a look at the ct scans. she is having a EUS on wednesday so I expect we will know more then. we were told last week that it was T4, N1, M0 at a guess, although not confirmed so we presumed surgery was not an option and they were just doing a biopsy and stenting. The news today is that the local consultant thinks there could still be a chance so does not want to stent as this could jeopardise a whipples? however, obviously if she is not a candidate they will stent. She has is…
-
devastated mother in law diagnosed yesterday.
by lackie2013- 6 replies
- 6.8k views
Hi there, First of all so sorry any of you are going through this. My dear mother in law, aged 64, fit and healthy, was unfortunately diagnosed with pancreatic cancer yesterday. She had indigestion and heart burn for 4 weeks. She had gone off certain foods but just put it down to getting older. Then the symptoms got worse and she felt like food was getting stuck and had awful pain and sickness. Her GP thought she had an ulcer but later she developed jaundice. They admitted her to hospital last Friday and did an ultrasound scan which showed a mass in the pancreas. A ct scan that day confirmed a tumour. She is now booked for an EUS and stenting on Friday/Monday next a…
-
A lovely story for young children
by Sammy-Lou- 4 replies
- 6k views
I thought I would start a new topic so this could be found easily as hoping it will help other parents of small children like it's going to help us. Those of you who know me know that we are currently right in the middle of the worst possible experience, losing my wonderful mother-in-law to this awful disease. Coping with something like this is so difficult for us, being adults, but I often cry myself to sleep scared for how my 2 year old will cope losing her Nanna and so when I found this book, No Matter What by Debi Gliori, in a charity shop and took it home without even really reading it, not knowing how it ended, it seemed like it was just maybe meant to belong to us…
-
My mum has just been diagnosed 1 2
by Catherine- 44 replies
- 29.2k views
Hello everyone Posting on here seems mighty strange and it makes things so real. My mum was diagnosed 3 weeks ago, after going to her GP suffering from jaundice and then being admitted to our local hospital a week later. They were useless, they told her she had a tumor but not where. By a stroke of luck she was transfered to our regional cancer centre 4 days after this news was given as her bilirubin levels were at a dangerous level and needed interevention. This was lucky as neither her consultant or the consultant who was standing in for him were at work and couldn't do the procedure. Otherwise we were being given a Macmillan nurse and nothing else. My mum has…
-
John....any one had similar ??
by benji- 1 reply
- 4k views
My husband John was diagnosed with cancer of the pancreas and spots on the liver in November. We were told that is was n. ot operable, but treatable. He had a stent put in his liver on Nov 24th, which was unsuccefully. He then had a nerve block a week later. On Dec 16th, he had a bile duct procedure, which was not a 100% success, due to that they could not get it down all the way. The doctors tried 3 times, they then took him back in on Dec 24 and tried again without total success. He was admitted to hospital on Dec 27th, due to the terrific pain in was in with the stent. He was in hopsital until last Wed, Jan 9th, where he as transferred to a Sue Ryder hospic for pain ma…
-
Low platelets
by Wife- 13 replies
- 12.8k views
Hello again! And panicking again! We went for my husband's 8th chemo today and were told that he can't have it because his platelet level is too low (60). They will wait until next week. In the meantime, we have to watch out for bruises and bleeding that will not stop. First thing I did coming back home was to look for info in the web. Have read horrible accounts, with all sorts of possible consequences. Probably should have kept away and just listened to our nurse, but it is unbearable to know that we have even less control over my lovely partner's health. If you have any info or experience, wold you please let me know? Thanks.
-
Results Day
by Morwenna- 17 replies
- 12.8k views
Well Dad saw the oncologist this morning and it seems the type of tumour he has is a very common one although it is 7cm long and is spread all around the blood vessels which makes it inoperable and his tumour marker was on the higher end of the scale!! It doesn't seem to have spread anywhere else though. He will be having a pre assessment on monday and will then start a 4 week cycle of chemotherapy (GemCap) and continue this and see what happens. Does anyone on here have any experience with GemCap? Dad is actually looking really well at the moment albeit a bit thin but has a good colour to him and is still fairly active going for his walks everyday. The weight los…
-
my fiance diagnosed this monday
by peter-walker- 4 replies
- 5.3k views
my fiance was guagnosed with pancteatic cancer last monday, it is un operable, but apparantly the cancer is still contained in the pancreas. it has taken 18 weeks from the start of stomach pain and reporting of to the docter. it was proberly going on before that as i remember her being a little tired before then. she has lost a total of 2.5 stone with .5 stone since christmas eve. she is in pain alot of the time especially after eating. she is eating very little. she is very tired and sleeps for about an hour every afternoon although because of the pain she can only sleep for a maximum of 3 hours a night. she walks up and down till the pain has subsided which takes appro…
-
High calorie recipes
by Morwenna- 12 replies
- 13.3k views
I was wondering if anyone has any high calorie recipes or meal ideas they would be happy to share? We are trying to get some weight back onto my Dad, he is due to start chemotherapy next week and I am thinking if it makes him nauseous it will be even more difficult to get food into him. The problem I have is that he is diabetic and calories usually mean sugar! ! I have found some alternative sugar which I got in a health food shop so have used that to make cupcakes for him and packed them with bananas, walnuts and coconut. I! going to attempt a quiche or pie but he says pastry makes him feel ill after he's eaten it!!! Also I made him a lasagne with a really cheesy sauc…
-
louiepc
by ali- 2 replies
- 4.6k views
Hi Thinking of you Hope your Xmas was ok Happy 2013, when it comes Can imagine how you are feeling This is our second Xmas without mum-- never far from our minds Just try and think of the nice happy memories,family jokes and stories Take care Helen Xxxx
-
Is this normal ?
by Alice 44- 10 replies
- 8k views
My lovely fit healthy 64 year old mum , was diagnosed with PC 4 weeks ago. I really want to know if the way she has been treated over the last 4 weeks is typical or whether she has been incredibly unlucky . Firstly , she was given the diagnosis over the phone , whilst alone , she was told her pancreatic cancer was inoperable and had spread ( still don't know where too ) her doctor told her the only care she would require would be palliative. In the 4 weeks she has gone for a further CT scan , a biopsy but has only seen a consultant once ( this was about week 2 ) Her doctor didn't contact the local palliative nurse/ hospice until last week ! So until the local pa…
-
Palliative care
by SarahKS- 3 replies
- 5k views
My Dad (75 years old) has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer with liver metastases and blood clots to both lungs following treatment with gemcitabine. He has decided to take a break from chemotherapy as he has such poor quality of life on it. Does anyone have experience of this, please? His oncologist has said Macmillans will care for him, but we don't know what to expect and if his quality of life will improve. It is horrible to see my Dad suffer so. Thank you.
-
Biopsy
by Morwenna- 4 replies
- 5.3k views
Dad had his biopsy today and the tumour is 7cm long and they suspect its pressing the the stomach wall,does this mean it will have spread to the stomach?? also he has a cyst on his bile duct which they aspirated! 7cm sounds big to me, especially as the pancreas is only small!! Not sure what to think at the moment and not sure how I feel. He gets all his results and sees the oncologist on the 27th December so we will know more then. Love to you all Morwenna x
-
My Dad just diagnosed
by Morwenna- 18 replies
- 14.4k views
Hi to everyone, My Dad was diagnosed with PC 3 weeks ago and this website has been such a support to me and reading all your stories has really helped so thank you My poor Dad has been fit and healthy all his life so to see him so poorly is such a shock!! He is only 62. Back in August he had some blood tests because he had been feeling unwell and was diagnosed with diabetes which we thought was strange as he is very slim and eats healthily, his blood sugars would not regulate so he was put on insulin but it didn't improve. Then he turned jaundice so was sent for more tests and scans, he had a stent put in a few weeks ago and was feeling better but is so thin!!! Yesterd…
-
First post
by Wife- 4 replies
- 5.2k views
My husband was diagnosed in September and it feels like a life ago. He is inoperable and onle receiving paliative care. I am desperate and trembling. Manage to sleep only little bits and wake up to the nightmare. Have lived together for more than 35 years and cannot imagine life without him; he is my north, my rock, everything. People keep on saying they can imagine how I feel. How can they? My children are broken. Why is this happening? He has a beautiful mind and so much to give. Neither of us is 60 yet. Why must our inmense happiness end so soon? And the world goes on. How unfair!
-
New Diagnosis
by egerrish- 2 replies
- 4.3k views
Hello. I am new to this forum and have spent most of the morning looking through posts. My 73 year old mum got jaundice in August and after lots of tests a tumour on the head of her pancreas was discovered. She was told it was small and no evidence of spread and could have the whipple op to try to remove it. She had surgery last Thursday where it was discovered that the cancer has spread to her liver and they could not do whipple. Instead they decided to do a bypass op which will apparently relieve problems later when the pancreas tumour grows. The doctor says she is very unlucky as the tumour on pancreas is still small. She doesn't have much spread to her liver yet…
-
Missing my mother so much
by ucyocho- 8 replies
- 8.4k views
Its been a week only and I am still replaying her last few awful hours in my head.I just feel they never really did anything for her. From diagnosis it was just like off you go and come back to us when you are close to the end and then we will muck up your pain relief so you don't die peacefully The hospice staff were lovely but they admitted that they got it wrong. Very sad. I don't really know how I am going to cope with it all and my husband ( who has nver lost anyone) is expecting me to be normal and keeps asking why I am still crying and that I have two 2 yr olds to take my mind off things so pull yourself together. Its tough.
-
I'm back
by lynbo- 4 replies
- 5.7k views
Hi all, people new and old, it was my husband, Andy, 2 year anniversary in August, and would have been our 4th wedding anniversary last month. So... Lots of ups and downs, tears, and frustration, but, I'm back, and feel like this forum is a little safe haven, I've experienced people 'moving on' in their lives - the people who were a part of my life when I was happily married, I feel that unless you have dealt with PC, then even with the best intentions, it's hard to understand. I'm planning my next fund raising mission, watch this space Xxxx
-
Help with my fatthers overwhelming grief
by ucyocho- 3 replies
- 4.9k views
Hi there, this is my first post and may be a long one! My mother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer about 6 weeks ago and has gone down hill very quickly. She is currently in a hospice having collapsed at home a week ago. All very sad and very hard for us all. However my sister and I are managing to cope and trying to spend some decent time with her. The problem is my father. At first he was in denial and now he has accepted it he is trying to control everything in a very aggressive and angry way. We understand how distraught he is at losing 'the love of his life' but he is completely dismissing our feelings now saying we will get over it in a couple of weeks …
-
Feeling so sad.
by Daddysgirl71- 10 replies
- 8.9k views
Hi all, I've posted before about my Dad's terrible fight with PC. We sadly lost him on 9th May just weeks after his 65th birthday. I'm writing this as I thought I was coping, believing he's away to a better place, free of pain .. I'd even go as far as saying I went into denial, pretending he was still here just on holiday! It helped me but now it's hitting me like a brick! I watched home videos tonight of him last year fit , healthy , smiling and cracking jokes like he always did and now he's gone! I miss him , I'm sad, angry and lost! I can't believe I'll never see him or speak to him or hear him call me his baby girl (I'm 41) ever again! I plod on looking after m…
-
bittersweet day
by louiepc- 1 reply
- 3.6k views
Today is my wedding anniversary, 9 years I have been married to my wonderful husband. He has been my lifeline, hope and light that has got me through this terrible time of mum's illness and her death. Writing his card today, it made me realise how incredibly lucky that I am, but also it's a sad day, remembering my mum on my wedding day, and what an integral part she played. She read a poem out for us in the church, such a lovely thing to do. I repaid the compliment on her funeral and wrote and read a poem for her. I miss her so much, and times like this brings the hurt to the forefront. Take care everyone. love louie xxx