My dads pancreatic cancer journey

[Gemmaanne]

Hello, I am new to this forum and I am looking for some supportive feedback regarding my dads journey so far, on the 22nd of September 2024 my family fell apart to the devastating news of my dad’s pancreatic cancer diagnosis with liver metastasis at the age of 76, we are just over 5 weeks past diagnosis. On the 27th of September my dad had a stent fitted for a blocked bile duct this went well with no complications or infections, this has managed to treat the jaundice and make life more manageable with less discomfort.

 

On the 2nd of October my dad went back into hospital for a liver biopsy no results as yet, we are currently waiting to see an oncologist on the 31st of October to discuss what they can offer him treatment wise and I’m worrying so much!!! We know it’s inoperable and all we have his hope that we get as much time with him as possible with the best possible quality of life for him, my dad still has a really good appetite at the moment “which we are very thankful for” he is on a nutritional diet with added supplements also taking Creon, he isn’t suffering with sickness and he doesn’t seem to have lost a great deal of weight.

Apart from fatigue and feeling more out of breath he is doing quite well so we are worried chemo will upset all this?! I guess I’ve reached out in hope that it will give me some kind of comfort in knowing someone going through something similar may have some useful advice, my dad is my absolute world and he has a big family that love him unconditionally, he is my biggest hero so we want to do absolutely everything we can for him, I am being as strong as I can to keep him going and being positive as we keep saying we are living for today.

 

Thank you

Gemma

[Skippy]

I'm sorry to hear of your Dad's diagnosis. It's heart breaking and I'm sure your worried. I hope tomorrow gives a better clearer idea on the way foreward. My friend Sheila was 72 when diagnosed and like your Dad had the stent fitted which cleared her jaundice. She too had a good appetite and felt in the main more tired. After the ct scan the consultant was able to give her a clearer overall idea on progress of the PC 

Be strong and supportive. This site is very good to seek help and advice a bit at a time. It is a lot to take in. Creon was a great help for her indigestion. Her scans suggested 6 months but she was well and her main symptoms was tiredness. She socialised for a good 12 months before she became so tired to go out.

She was offered Palliative chemo which is spoken about in length by members, but she chose not to have any. 

I hope your news on treatment ahead is positive. 

[Gemmaanne]

On 10/31/2024 at 1:27 AM, Skippy said:

I'm sorry to hear of your Dad's diagnosis. It's heart breaking and I'm sure your worried. I hope tomorrow gives a better clearer idea on the way foreward. My friend Sheila was 72 when diagnosed and like your Dad had the stent fitted which cleared her jaundice. She too had a good appetite and felt in the main more tired. After the ct scan the consultant was able to give her a clearer overall idea on progress of the PC 

Be strong and supportive. This site is very good to seek help and advice a bit at a time. It is a lot to take in. Creon was a great help for her indigestion. Her scans suggested 6 months but she was well and her main symptoms was tiredness. She socialised for a good 12 months before she became so tired to go out.

She was offered Palliative chemo which is spoken about in length by members, but she chose not to have any. 

I hope your news on treatment ahead is positive. 

Hi Skippy, thank you for your message and your kind support, I’m truly sorry to hear about your friend Sheila this is such an awful disease with not a fare fight. Following my dad’s appointment his blood results came back ok and he had not lost any weight due to this the oncologist offered palliative chemotherapy of FOLFIRINOX on the 22nd of November, I will update again after his first cycle about this. 
For now he is eating healthy plenty of everything including added supplements.