Looking for some clarity on my aunt's diagnosis

[mwall314]

My aunt was diagnosed last November, and was initially given six months to live. I'm trying to work out the medical side of things, but she gets quite confused whenever she speaks with the doctor, and her husband is useless so it's not even worth asking him what the doctor has said.

She's quite young still, she only turned 59 last Christmas, and they have given her six chemotherapy treatments. Since then they've said that her 'markers' have gone down from 34 to 11, but she went for her scan and when she went to get the results they had lost them! I'm fuming, and I've said I'll call the hospital and tell them that they need to sort this out as my aunt doesn't have as long as everyone else does to wait for another scan and then the results, but she's told me to leave it as she doesn't want to cause a fuss and have a bad rapport with the hospital staff.

I'm just hoping that someone with more experience can let me know what they think it sounds like - it seems that she's responding well to the chemo, but it's difficult to get an understanding from my aunt with what's going on and she doesn't want me to call the doctor. Could she be getting better, or is this false hope? I know that with the info I've given it's hard to get a full idea, so I'm not looking for a definitive answer. I'm just hoping that someone who knows enough about this to give me an idea.

Thanks

M

[PCUK Nurse Rachel R]

Hi mwall314,

It's Rachel here, I'm one of the nurses that works on the support line at the charity. I am sorry to hear about your Aunt's diagnosis and of the difficulties getting her latest CT result.

If you would find it helpful to chat to me, or one of the other nurses on the support line, or wish to email us directly then we would be more than happy to talk to you in more detail and offer some thoughts and suggestions. Our contact details are below. I appreciate it can be incredibly difficult when you feel the best thing is to try and sort things out but your loved one is not wishing to make a fuss, despite how valid and important this is.

Kind wishes,

Rachel

Pancreatic Cancer Specialist Nurse

Pancreatic Cancer UK Support Line: Freephone 0808 801 0707 (Mon, Tues, Thur, Fri from 09:00 - 16:00hrs and Wed from 10:00 - 18:00hrs)

or email: nurse@pancreaticcancer.org.uk

[Vasil]

Dear mwall, i am sorry to hear about your aunt's condition. Please keep in mind that doctors are very sceptical about this disease. Usually they say it's hopeless. My father was given a few months only but now it's been almost a year post diagnosis and he is feeling quite well. Don't trust everything that doctors say. Thinking of you.