Hope

Hi everyone,

I have stage 4 pancreatic cancer. i was diagnosed in February. I have lost alot of weight and recently have been battling diarreha. I truly believe that I can extend my life if I can get my head screwed on right. I pray, I meditate I tried to work as long as I could and I have been reading books about nutrition. I just bought some herbal tea that has testimonials of helping people but the obvious disclaimers are also posted. I want you folks to know who have posted stories of hope that they are very important to me. Will I be so blessed? Gosh, I sure hope so. I have asked Dr.s why there isn't more options with Pancreatic cancer and was told that it doesn't have as strong a lobby as many of the others do. So, I wrote all my representives e-mails.

I call myself secondtimer because I had Lymphoma in 1999 and beat it. I took a test and found that I am by and large a pessimist by nature and am working to become an optimist.

At times I have to admit that I do wish Dr.s wouldn't give us time frames. i've been basically told I have anywhere from 6 months to a year tops. Dr.s are basically scientist and report the facts as they see them. My Oncologist is a real good guy but i wish more were interested in complementary methods of healing.

Thanks again for the hope folks.

My family was devastated when my 46 y/o brother was diagnosed shortly after Christmas; however, he is having massive doses of chemotherapy every two weeks which are shrinking his tumors (he has metastases to his liver).  He tires easily but that is a small price to pay.  Honestly, when his daughter set a wedding date in August, I thought that was too far away.  Now I believe that he will walk her down the aisle, smiling all the way.  I had breast cancer 7 years ago with a mastectomy, chemo, and radiation.  I believe that a positive attitude is equally as important as good medical care.  So, if the herbal teas and meditation are meaningful for you, go for it!  Good luck to you!

Since you mentioned the tea, I was wondering if you have read anything about green tea- or EGCG and angiogenesis. I did some reading of abstracts from medical journals at www.pubmed.com and found 409 articles regarding green tea and pancreatic cancer. I have Dad on it and he likes it and believes in it so what could it hurt? With all those scientists investigating, it makes me think there's something to it. I believe your positive attitude will kick that cancer to the curb!