Family, friends and carers
A forum for family, friends and carers' of pancreatic cancer patients.
654 topics in this forum
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Hit by a double whammy and struggling 1 2
by john27- 28 replies
- 19.8k views
Hi all, I really need to get this out as I think I'm going mad. My family has been hit by cancer twice recently. My younger sister Jo was diagnosed with breast cancer just around Christmas time and has since had a mastectomy and reconstruction, she is now into a pretty heavy chemo course but bearing up well so far and the prognosis is hopeful. As if that wasn't enough now Mum has been diagnosed with PC. She is so important to us I can't imagine life without her there, when I do, I burst into tears and my heart really hurts.. It all started with a suspected gallstone, if only, I dont live near my mum so the first I heard was a phone call from Jo saying Mum was in and …
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Waiting
by Mandy- 2 replies
- 3.9k views
Hi , my Dad has been newly diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer I know little more. Ilive in Australia and and just waiting on a prognosis all the information that I am obsessively reading looks very bleak on other webites. very glad I stumbled across this website.
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- 14 replies
- 9.7k views
Hi Last week out of the blue after a very short period of feeling unwell, my Mum was diagnosed with pc with liver and kidney secondaries. Originally she went to the hospital with a swollen ankle. Blood tests were taken which showed liver changes. A scan was arranged and WHAM, our world fell apart. She saw a consultant yesterday who confirmed diagnosis but she has to be refered to another hospital as they do not deal with pc at our local one. She has been told that chemotherapy "would" be the only treatment offered but not for definate it will. I, like others on here have trawled the internet hoping that the next site I visit re pc will give better news than the…
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Any help, advice or support please.
by melhod- 16 replies
- 12k views
Hi all, sorry if this is a long read but I am struggling and any support would be greatly appreciated. I am 34 and my wonderful partner was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer 8 weeks ago. At the end of September 2010 my partner who is 51 was suffering with a lingering cold and began getting pains in his chest/abdomen, he went to the GP who told him he had probably pulled a muscle due to coughing. When the pain didn't subside after some persuation becuase he felt he was being silly over a pulled muscle he returned to the GP at the end of October who decided to do tests. My partner had an ultrasound in December which the GP said showed a cyst and a CT would be needed to deci…
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New to this and need help
by tennis99- 3 replies
- 4.8k views
My Dad has just been diagnosed with PC he is 66 years old, He was in hospital earlier in the year and an MRI scan has picked up the tumours (there are 2) but I believe them to be quite small. He has no symptoms yet and he has hed a biopsy we are waiting for an appointment at the local pc centre to possibly discuss all the options, including the op.I would like to know about peoples experience of the op in particular. Thanks all for their posts it has only been a few days since diagnosis but I have been and read posts on here several times and although very upsetting it has been very helpful.
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Am I being unreasonable
by wobblybobbly- 23 replies
- 15.4k views
Hi Well, it will be a week tomorrow since my Dad had his liver biopsy - they have given him an appt to see Oncologist next week to discuss the results. This seems like such a long time to wait, as I hear of other starting treatment (chemo) within just days. It has been nearly 2 weeks since my dad was diagnosed. Whatsmore, when he had his liver biopsy they said his blood sugar was very high, but nothing more was said, and nothing done about it. The good news is the pain has been sorted out to some degree with ibuprofen and from what I understand my dad has had a pain free few days - however the constant tiredness he is finding quite hard, so he went to see his GP to…
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hello to everyone
by lynbo- 4 replies
- 4.8k views
Hi Nicki, Ellie, Millyjo, Lizzy, Helen, Lesley Ann, etc etc (sorry if i have missed anyone) Just to say, hello, and im thinking of you all. Cannot sleep, its nearly 1am - again! Love Lynne xxxx
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So afraid
by LizzyD- 9 replies
- 7k views
My husband Ivan was dianosed with PC after his bile duct blocked last October. He had a stent fitted very successfully but was not offered the Whipple because of his age. He was offered Chemo but was told that that the prognosis was 6 to 8 months without chemo and 10 to 12 months with. Because of the side effects of the chemo and the relatively short gain he made the dicision to decline the chemo. He did quite well until Feb when one day he couldn't pass water. He was admitted to hospital and diagnosed with prostate cancer and fitted with a permanent catheter. No treatment for the prostate was offered. When the GP realised this he remonstrated with the consultant as it is…
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Pain Relief
by CFF- 3 replies
- 4.2k views
Hi, Well having had the news that the cancer had returned post Whipples in April for my dad, we were assured that there was lots to be done for managing the pain. We seem to have gone from codeine to morphine patches + liquid in a very short space of time, 2 failed nerve blocks, gabapentine which turned him into a zombie and last week radiotherapy and nothing seems to be working. My dad's pain seems to have stabilised ish at around a 5-6 out of 10 (10 being bad) but the pain specialist seemed confident that they can get him down to a 2 out of 10! (Not sure how well this sytem is working but it least it gives me an indicator of how much better / worse my dad is feeli…
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My lovely dad......please read, please help 1 2 3
by lawalsh- 67 replies
- 41.3k views
Hi everyone, Last week my 68 year old dad was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He is waiting for a consultation with a specialist, and at the moment is actually 'on a high'. He has spent 9 months back and forth to the doctor trying to figure out his dramatic weight loss last May/June (2 stone off a 10 stone man). His diagnosis has been a relief to him, because after having test after test with no conclusion, he finally has had confirmed that he is actually ill. He believes now there will be a path to follow that he hopes and is certain will make him better. I have spent the last week reading through this forum website with what I can only describe as utter devasta…
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Brian
by Ellie- 22 replies
- 16.4k views
Today I lost my wonderful husband, Brian. I was with him at the end and it was peaceful, pain free but still a huge shock. Feeling very numb and not sure what to do with myself right now, so thought I would do this. Ellie x
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My dad -- our story
by howkay- 9 replies
- 8.6k views
Yesterday, my dad was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. Here's our story so far. My dad is 63 and has preexisting health issues (deep-vein thrombosis for which he's been taking warfarin for almost 20 years), high blood pressure and spondylosis. Although he sees his GP and practice nurse regularly, he hasn't seen a specialist or been into hospital for a 20 years. In the last 12 months there have been concerns re: diabetes and he's been taking metformin, but in the last 4 months the doctors have been unable to control his blood sugars and they have been high. He has also been becoming progressively depressed for the last 18+ months. He's had significant weigh…
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IPMT. Dad's new diagnosis.
by Annetagrab- 14 replies
- 14.2k views
My father who is 76, was diagnosed with 'inoperable pancreatic cancer' one month ago after he had a scan to see if his prostate cancer had spread. He was asked 'Have you lost any weight/, have you any discomfort?' ('No' to both) He was checked for jaundice, (he has none). The possibility of being included in a trial was mentioned and on this basis he travelled to a different hospital for a biopsy last week. The biopsy was not carried out as it is now believed that he has IPMT and that it may be operable. After originally being assigned a Macmillan nurse, and being told that getting on to a trial 'would not change anything' and experiencing all the associated trauma, we ar…
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chronic diarrhoea
by spongle15- 3 replies
- 4.8k views
Hi, I was just wondering whether anyone had expereinced what we are going through... My Dad has advanced PC which has spread to his liver. He was officially diagnosed with the biopsy results coming through about 10 days ago, although we were fairly certain that things were bad in the weeks before that once the possibilty of a tumour in the pancreas had been mentioned. Hi first symptom was chronic diarrhoea (this started early March), which now turns out to be because his tumour is blocking the pancreatic duct and therefore he has no enzymes getting into his gut to allow him to digest his food. He was prescribed Creon about a month ago, and more recently when th…
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URGENT ADVISE AFTER MUMS BEREAVEMENT
by margb5343- 3 replies
- 4.4k views
HI All I havent posted on here since Mums funeral in Feb 11 as found it was just too upsetting for me. I thought my dad and I were coping relatively ok until yesterday. He rang me on my mobile crying hysterically, saying that he couldnt get hold of mum on the phone, he just had a totally memory loss of mums illness, death, funeral, his counselling sessions everything. I rushed to his house, he was very confused saying he thought mum was still alive and had gone away for a couple of days. After about an hour, slowly things started to come back to him about mums death. It was so distressing to witness him like this. We took him to see docs last night, they tested his blo…
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Any Positive Stories?
by anita_m- 7 replies
- 6.2k views
I wondered if there was any interest in starting a collection of positive stories or 'moments' that might help to lift our spirits in the difficult times? I find it so hard to find any 'bright side' with this illness. Perhaps there is something from your day that you are thankful about ? Or maybe you might just want to share something special about your loved one who is fighting PC? Just an idea...a hope that, in amongst the horror, we might collectively find some hope...I've started mine below: Today I went to a counselling appointment for the first time and, despite my scepticism, I found a welcoming and supportive listener who was able to help me talk through…
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Confused and shocked
by Maisie- 3 replies
- 4.8k views
Hi, This is my first post and I feel very confused and helpless. Last week my mum was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer that has spread to her liver. Although it's inoperable, she will start chemo on Wednesday to 'give her more time'. This has come out of the blue and so we are still very shocked.(The only symptoms are pain on her right side and losing weight - she's naturally petite but now 43 kilos). My parents are dealing with this very differently! My dad is in denial and is very positive about everything and my mum is the opposite - preparing for 'the end'. Yesterday she was clearing her wardrobe to save me doing it when she's gone(!). They are both very vague with…
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My Dad
by SteelCityBaggie- 4 replies
- 4.8k views
My Dad is 65 this year. I lived with him when he split from my mother when I was 16. Soon after that I went to University. I lived with him for a year before moving off to another university and settling in the city where I am now, about an hours drive away. We have season tickets to West Brom and go to every home match along with either my daughter or adoptive son. He has been taking me to the footy since I was 8. I am always there to help him with his computer problems, and he is always there if I have problems wih my business like I did a few years back. We don't phone each other every day, we are not that sort of family, but we are there for each other when the needs …
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Thank you
by spongle15- 4 replies
- 4.7k views
I stumbled across this site last night while trying to find our something about Creon, the medicine used to replace pancreatic enzymes. Thank you so much to all of you, your courage, optimism, honesty and love came flooding out to me and for the first time since entering the shadow of Pancreatic Cancer felt like there were others who understood how I am feeling. A week ago my Dad was told that he had a large inoperable tumour in his pancreas that goes around the artery, and that it looks likely that it has spread to his liver. He has had biopsies taken and we are painfully waiting for the results. He has been suffering from terrible diarrhoea for over 3 months now an…
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Some good news
by DRAD3- 3 replies
- 4.4k views
Hi all and especially newcomers who need some positive news and hope to hang on to. Gary's CT scan results have shown the tumour has shrunk. He is taking part in the SCALOP trial which has been 3 cycles of GEMCAP chemo. He has now been given the go-ahead to begin radiotherapy where we now begin to blast the sucker - see how it likes that! The battle continues and we intend to keep winning. I have posted a detailed reply to Mike on the Clinical Trials part of the forum for anyone who wants to know more about GEMCAP and Gary's experience of it. Anyone who can let us know what to expect with radiotherapy, please do. Forewarned is forearmed! Can I just thank Ellie and…
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please help me
by jadco- 17 replies
- 12.5k views
My lovely mum has been told she has 6mts. She is my best friend and I can't stop crying. I am taking sleeping tablets at night and anti-depressants during the day and I still can't cope. I am barely functioning. Everyone else seems to be coping with this news - or at least they are managing it but I can't stop crying. I feel helpless. I just want to have some peace of mind so I can face this with her and support her. Please help me, please
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The next stage of the rollercoaster! 1 2
by emma- 29 replies
- 21.9k views
It seems like such alot has happened since I last posted on here. As you know after being told on his post chemo scan that all looked clear, my dads tumor marker kept rising, after several more scans a teeny tiny lesion was found on his liver at the ensd of November. we were told this by the radiologist we had gone to see about radiotherapy to the seat of the pancreas, he then proceeded to tell us that in these cases they measured lifespan in months rather than years and if pushed he would guess 6 months, just what we needed to hear the week before christmas! We then went back to see our lovely oncologist who said that there was a new treatment in second stage trials call…
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Will my mum get to meet her first grandchild?
by Charlotte- 11 replies
- 8.9k views
Hello everyone. My 63-year-old mum was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer on Wednesday, after a CT scan showed a mass on her pancreas and lesions on her liver. They're doing the biopsy very soon, hopefully either today or tomorrow, along with an operation to bypass the blockage in her small intestine so that food and bile can get down. We love food in our family, and at one point they'd told us she'd probably never be able to eat again, so that is some comfort. Once she's healed from that they'll start on the chemo, which will hopefully keep her going for a bit longer. We are all completely shocked and devastated, as I'm sure many of you will be able to relate to.…
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Let's support each other, after loss..
by LittleMissOptimistic- 17 replies
- 13.1k views
Dear all, Hello. I posted again almost two years ago reporting my mother had been diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer a year ago (then). My mother has been gone one year now, as of yesterday. She was 59, I was 22. I cannot begin to tell you how devastated I am. But if anyone, I know that some of you may very well be able to sympathise. I have had such incredible trouble dealing with this, even talking about it. I realise there must be others in a similar situation and would very much like to open a discussion supporting each other. I am indeed here to give anyone anything I can, I know very well how much we all need it. My best, Ella
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Nerve Blocks
by CFF- 4 replies
- 5.4k views
Hi, My dad was diagnosed with pc and had the Whipples op Christmas 2010 followed by chemotherapy last year. Unfortunately the cancer has returned around the pancreatic area - cells are developing gradually which is good news and his vital organs are all currently clear but the cells are near a blood vessell (which I interpret as not good). I used the site at the time of the Whipples op and many, particularly Juliana who is well known, treasured and much missed for many who use this forum, were very helpful in providing information and support. Since then I have felt quite 'drawn' to the site and followed threads regularly even in the few months where my dad was g…