Family, friends and carers
A forum for family, friends and carers' of pancreatic cancer patients.
649 topics in this forum
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Message for Graham
by Ellie- 0 replies
- 2.7k views
Hi Graham Sorry I didn't reply to your last post. I'm usually on here a lot, but just lately I haven't spent much time online so didn't respond to you. How are you feeling at the moment? Thanks for telling us about your experience and what you've been through. It's not surprising that you feel depressed, after all that's happened. You seem to have coped with the trauma of the whipple really well and getting back on your feet quickly. My husband went through what you did, having anxiety with his chemo, and I've heard of others feeling the same way, too. It's hardly surprising that now things have settled down you are starting to worry and get anxious about the…
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its all over now for us
by cariadfi- 5 replies
- 4.7k views
Hello all. I wanted to let you know that my most wonderfull husband Jamie of 38 years he passed away on sunday morning at home here with his family, he only lasted 7 months from the first diagnossis, it has been a long hard struggle as did not respond to any treatments, he fought bravely and never complained, went down hill fast especially these last 2 months, i will not go into all the gory details, as i find it hard to accept. He was a good and kind husband and father, grandfather, friend to many always helped people , our children are in bits, even though they are now adults.and though we all knew he was not going to survive this awfull cancer we had hoped he would h…
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Six months since Chris left
by Trevor- 2 replies
- 3.6k views
Hi Everybody (especially Nicki, Ellie, Lorraine, Pauline & Sue) I'm sorry I've not been in contact for ages but as it is six months today (Friday 9th July) since Chris passed away it seems to appropriate to post on here. This site was such a support to me last year anything I can write that helps support people going through the same nightmare seems worthwhile! As a number of my friends have asked me whether I would continue with the updates that I did last year when Chris was ill I feel this may be an appropriate moment to bring you up to date with “life after Chris”. I have to say I am amazed that anyone thinks my life is interesting enough to continue that …
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Four months and he is gone
by wendyh- 6 replies
- 5.8k views
My husband, Barry, was diagnosed in mid-February with advance pancreatic cancer. He passed away on 26th June. I was only really coming to terms with him having the illness and becoming his full time carer when - that's it, all over. The whole family is devastated. Barry and I knew at the end of May that chemo was not working but our son had his GCSEs so we waited until he had finised those to tell everyone. Within a few days of telling he family and friends just how serious the situation was, he was gone. They are all still in shock, as am I. I had thought we would have longer. Although my estimations shortened as time went by. "perhaps we will have Christmas" the…
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- 10 replies
- 6.9k views
Ever wished that you could just disappear? That's how I feel right now. There doesn't seem to be one area of my life where there isn't catastrophe looming: - Ted's tumour markers are higher than ever - My elder daughter's fiance (bearing in mind that she's getting married in 4 DAYS) has turned round and said he's not sure whether he can go through with the wedding - My two daughters have had a fight and aren't talking but both expect good Ol' Mum to take 'their side' - I have a time critical crucial project at work which is falling apart - my best friend and confidant has passed away from a neurological disorder The straw that broke the camel's back was a real…
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What to Expect
by SteveApp- 1 reply
- 6.4k views
Hi i wondered if any of you could help me, i am in a difficult position. My mother was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer some 2 years ago. Over Christmas of 2008 she had a Whipple operation and then subsequently some Chemotherapy. Last year she told me in July that the tumor was still there and that the Doctors were not going to do any more for her. they gave her 8 months to live. I live 150 miles a way from my mum, she is Italian, does not particularly understand a great deal of the terminology, wants to stay in her own house and refuses a lot of the help i try to give her. I can't get to see her as often as i want due to work commitments, but speak with her every day…
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airport security
by clair2305- 2 replies
- 6k views
dear all, just a quickie from my fone.....what's peoples experiences with airport security and medications, we're a bit worried about tomorrow with all the medication including mst, oramorph, capecitabine and insulin. We do have a doctors letter but this is the first time we've flown since blue's diagnosis
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new carer support
by cariadfi- 3 replies
- 3.8k views
Hello to everyone,I am sorry to say that I am a new reader of the topics regarding our loved ones, I have been reading all your inputs recently and my heart goes out to you all as i am in the same boat!, My darling husband James was diagnosed on new years eve with this dreadful cancer! as expected we did not go to our friends to party but had to break the news to our two children who are adults now but still took it hard as they love their dad very much. We are now five months on, and after chemo and two blood transfusions and numerous other side effects, James had another scan two weeks ago to see if the tumor had shrunk, but unfortunately not! so he has gone through al…
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so horrible :'(
by LittleMountainGoat- 1 reply
- 3k views
Hello, first post. My dad's dying. He's 75, and was diagnosed with inoperable PC in January following a period of hospitalisation for jaundice where he was given a stent. He's also not a suitable candidate for chemo. He was told that radiotherapy was an option, but it would involve travelling to Oxford over an hour away every time, which, for reasons below, just wasn't an option. My parents waited until I visited them until they told me. That was on March 27th. I live a couple of hundred miles away (I'm in South Wales, and they're in Bucks). I've been back twice since then, and my next trip is planned for the weekend of Father's Day this month. He's lost the abilit…
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1 Year On
by pauline- 2 replies
- 3.4k views
Hi All Well it's been 1 year since my dad passed away, life has changed so much. life so empty without him. Every day i relive the last few weeks and still tears me apart thinking was there some thing else that could have been done to help the pain he was in, the gulit i feel is so much ( should have done more to help.... should have spent more time with him...... should never of moved away .......... should have told him more that i loved him more than words could ever say..... ) i can't belive how time has flown by the support i have had from all of you has been amazing i would never have got through the last 15 months without you thank you all soo much you …
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What next? 1 2
by Ellie- 29 replies
- 21.9k views
Hi all We saw Brian's specialist last week. It wasn't the best news.....the chemo seems to have stopped working and his tumours have grown very slightly. They still class them as "stable" at the moment. I was so hoping they would have shrunk, like after his last chemo sessions. It seems there is one more option to take and that is another chemo combination - Capecitabine + Oxaliplatin. Apparently, a Professor at the top cancer hospital in Leeds feels this can be of help in some patients - around 20% will benefit. Has anyone heard of this? I am going to do some research myself shortly. The thing is that Brian, deep down, does not want to have any more treatm…
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Dad - the latest
by Sue- 1 reply
- 3k views
Hello and thanks for the support following my 'New and confused' post. Things have moved on quite a bit since then... Dad finally confirmed his decision of not wanting to go ahead with the Whipple. He knew what the decision meant and took it with absolute conviction. It was hard to do, but everyone, including his GP and hospice doctor backed and supported it which he needed. Following that decision being made, he was admitted for an emergency stent as his jaundice symptoms were getting worse and the GP was concerned that if it was left any longer he wouldn't be fit enough to have it at all. The hope was to improve his quality of life and give him a few weeks/months …
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Dad
by Karen- 1 reply
- 3.1k views
Hi guys, thought i would update you on dad. We met with the consultant yesterday with the results of his scan to see how the chemo has worked, his cancer has grown from 4.2cm to 5cm, so i am guessing the chemo has slowed it down although it hasn't shrunk it. He has now has 10 sessions of chemo with 2 more to go, he couldn't have it this week because of cellulitis in his ankles. I have been researching different treatments for pancreatic cancer on the net and have learnt sutent has proven to be effective in slowing the cancer down and is used in treating a cancer of the digestive system gastrointestinal stromal tumor and advanced kidney cancer. Does anyone know if this is …
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New and Confused....
by Sue- 3 replies
- 4k views
Hello, my name is Sue and I am new to this site, as indeed I am new to pancreatic cancer. My Dad was diagnosed (without biopsy, but with tumour at head of pancreas, some symptoms and extremely high likelihood of PC) about five weeks ago. We went to the doctor because he had lost his appetite (unprecedented for him) and had lost a lot of weight over a relatively short period. An ultrasound showed a dilated bile duct, a follow up CT scan didn't show anything sinister, but a cautionary endoscopy showed a small tumour at the head of the pancreas. We have been left with a difficult choice - the surgeon believed the tumour to be resectable and said that a Whipple could be pe…
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Cinnamon Trust
by snow_drop- 0 replies
- 3.2k views
The Cinnamon Trust is a UK national charity caring for the pets of elderly and terminally ill people. Volunteers help with dog walking, feeding, fostering pets, pet food collect etc. If you know anyone who requires the support of this charity then please visit the Cinnamon Trust website where you can find further details. http://www.cinnamon.org.uk/home.html Best wishes to all.
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my dad
by pauline- 23 replies
- 16.6k views
hi we were only told 3 months ago that my dad has p/c it had already spread to the liver and other parts we are all so angry with the gp because he has been going back and forth to the doctors for the last 1 year we were told upto a year with chemo but he hadn't really started (he had 1 lot) when they said nothing else can be done then told he has 4-8 weeks left how can this be he was a very fit man going to the gym 3 times aweek to now sleeping most of the time , none of us can get our head around things. many thanks for reading this Pauline
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So scared!!!
by Karen- 3 replies
- 4.6k views
Hi guys.. I'm new to this site and after having a read and a sob at some of the sad stories on here have suggested my mum joins just so she realises she is not alone. My wonderful dad, Ray, has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, it is to far advanced to operate, its spread to his liver and lymph nodes, they are starting chemo next week to attempt to slow the growth down and ease his pain.. this is all such a shock, he's 62 and has been fit and healthy apart from kidney stones and diabetes that became insulin controlled last year..(now we realise it was probably the cancer that had bought the diabetes on) I am struggling with all of this, i adore my dad and do not w…
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Volunteers required.....
by rach- 0 replies
- 3.2k views
Hi all! I'm organising a concert called music4life, to be held on Saturday 19th June 2010, in Margate in sunny (hopefully!) Kent. It is to raise awareness and money for both Pancreatic Cancer UK and The Pilgrims Hospices in Kent. I'm organising it in memory of my amazing mum who sadly passed away on 18 June 2009, 4 days after my 29th birthday, to raise funds for two organisations who have been brilliant support and sources of information to my mum in her last days, and for me in the long days following. I am wondering if anyone on here is fairly local, and would be willing to help out for a few hours to man a stand with information and promotional/fundraising mate…
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It's tough 1 2
by Trevor- 36 replies
- 24.4k views
Hi All Late at night - 1.00am Sunday morning - & it's been a bitch of a weekend. Saw Chris's oncologist's registrar on Friday who couldn't get her into hospital that afternoon. She's had the weekend coping with at least 4 litres of fluid in her lungs. Her breathing is ok but in truth only when she is sitting. If she moves (ie walks to loo, all of 10 metres), then it's 10 minutes of breathing difficulties.Yesterday was so hard, it's the first time I've felt like "I can't go on", just let Chris be put out of her pain. Registrar told us to "turn up" at New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton on Monday morning. She wrote us an admission letter but we have no appointment, so n…
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Relief
by Nardobd- 7 replies
- 5.8k views
Ted had his post-stent appointment with the consultant yesterday. His jaundice has almost completely gone and his CA19-9 tumour markers are back down to 80. The consultant says that the stent itself can cause a slight rise in tumour markers so he's not at all concerned. It's the sort of news we were praying for (a miracle would be nice but I'll settle for stability). Thanks to everyone for their support. Nicki
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Happy New Year/Decade
by Juliana- 3 replies
- 4.6k views
Hello to all the ladies and gents on the forum, I would just like to wish you all a Happy New Decade, I know most of us are going through very trying times, but I truly wish that we all experience some good health, and happiness in the not so distant future that awaits us. *raises a glass* Juliana x
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Advice Post Operation
by Guest CFF- 4 replies
- 4.7k views
Hi, My dad has recently been diagnosed with PC and is having the Whipples op on Christmas eve. His spirits seem quite low going into the operation, unsurprisingly, after months of extreme jaundice, weight loss etc and I know he is scared about what's going to happen. Whilst a difficult time me and my family are pleased that the operation is a possibility and I know that others are not so fortunate. I was hoping for some advice really on realistically what's going to happen post op - is this operation really a cure or is it likely that the cancer will return somewhere else? And is my dad likely to return to 'normal functioning' i.e. have the same energy, weight, e…
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life is so hard
by pauline- 1 reply
- 3.3k views
hi all , wanted to come on and say what i'm feeling at the moment........... where do i start....as you know my dad passed away from p/c 6 months ago that was very hard and still is every day without him he was my rock......... now my best friend of 9 years has the same thing and has been told 3 months tops left..... what can i do i'm feeling like everything with dad has come flooding back and them feelings i had then are as strong now if not stronger then what they were back then.... i'm also torn in two of what to say because she keeps asking me to tell her how bad it is going to be for her family and is wanting me with her at the end I can't do it i fee…
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Advice please
by LTSmith- 12 replies
- 10.2k views
Hi my name is Lorraine and my mother was diagnosed with terminal Pancreatic cancer in September of this year after several months of being in extreme pain. She has just spent the last 10 days in a hospice as the drugs they were giving her no longer work. I have never experience death or illness with my family or friends and am finding it very difficult to understand. My Mum was a real doer who ran various organisations supporting our community and has recently been awarded an outstanding citizen award by our major. My dad was the wind beneath her wings and always in the back ground supporting her. Since being diagnosed he just crys and is so scared both of her d…
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- 4 replies
- 5k views
In March of this Year my step dad was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer, he had a successful whipples in April and has now just finished 6 months of Chemo (Capcetabine and something else..) Two weeks ago we got the results of his CT scan Which was all clear. He is now scheduled to begin Radiotherapy and chemo combined due to the fact that the tumor was so close to the vein, but his tumor marker keeps going up, it was a steady 10 or 11 all through the chemo and now it is just over 70. The consultant has never known this happen before and has looked repeatedly at teh scan results and can still not see anything. He is scheduled for a PET scan next Tuesday. Does anyone have an…