CAT Scan to see if chemo is working

Hi, i am caregiver for a 44 year old single mom of a 6 year old.  February 15, she was diagnosed with Stage IV (last stage) of pancreatic cancer.  It was inoperable.  The surgeon performed a procedure to deaden the nerve ending so her pain would not be so intense.  She was on Tarceva and Gemcitabine (2 different types of chemo).  The doctor was very strict on her taking the Tarceva one a day (pill form) and the Gemcitabine (every 7 days).  She could NEVER take the Gemcitabine every 7 days, so the doctor started giving it to her every 14 days until her stomach started swelling a week ago.  Now she is going to have a CAT scan Tuesday and get the results Wednesday.  Her outlook is not good according to the private meeting my husband and I had with the doctor.  Has anyone known anyone to survive this type of cancer.  She is a single mom and her son needs her.  I can not get her to sit down and talk about getting her affairs in order.  I need some help.  Mary 

 

   

Maryvan59 where is she being treated? She needs to find a place that deals pancreatic cancer. Please go to PANCAN.org to get infomation about specialists in her area. They can also give you advice as well. The Gemzar and Tarceva only seems to work in a small amount of people. Depending on the type of the tumor meaning is adenocarcinoma islete, etc..

 

I wish you the best..Lostsmiles

They discontinued her chemo treatments because the cancer is growing instead of  getting smaller.  She is now saying there is something that is making her breathing a 'little' uncomfortable.   Her stomach is getting larger and she is wear maternity tops.  Her ankles and feet are swelling too.  I can not get her to enroll in hospice and the doctor has given up and says the clincial trials will do her more harm than good.  Does anyone out there know more than I do??  She was diagnosed in February, 2007, and they could not operate because the tumor had encased the pancreas and the large opening .  Has anyone gone through this... she has a 6 years old son and she does not have the $$$ to fly all over the place.