Mother Diagnosed Yesterday...I need your help!

My Mother was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer yesterday and I now seek your help!

 

She is in a Los Angeles County hospital receiving care. The Surgeon has explained that exploratory surgery will be necessary to understand if it is contained to only the head of the Pancreas, spread into the ducts and/or nodes. He has explained that there are several options including the Whipple Method, radiation and/or drugs.

 

I have read many different treatment suggestions in the message board including BTC (Bovine Tracheal Cartilage) and Davanat that appear promising.

 

Here are my questions:

• Should we seek treatment at UCLA if the insurance will cover it?
• Is Surgery (the Whipple Method) a recommended 1st step?
• Are there other treatments besides the Whipple Method, BTC (Bovine Tracheal Cartilage) and Davanat that have shown results or appear promising?
• Is there anything we should or could be doing for her now that would help guild me and my Brother as we enter into this new life?
• Anything I missed…please let me know.

 

Thank you for reading this and taking the time to respond to our family! God Bless!

Lets assume adenocarcinoma since it is most common.  You really need a stage which will happen after surgery.  In early stage disease, a whipple is the best option.  Unfortunately most patients are not diagnosed at this stage.  By stage 4 where there are distant mets, the disease is not really cureable.  There have been some advances in chemo/radiation which have extended survival, but its still dismal.  Let us know when you have more info.

Hang in there, I know exactly how you are feeling.  When my mother was diagnosed, we wanted to know everything we could, of course, right away.  It takes time to get test results, and even then, every case is different.  My mom was one of the fortunate ones to be eligible for the Whipple, we were lucky.  That was in April of 06.  She now has mets to liver, but is fighting with amazing strength.  There is hope, don't give up...and let us know when you have more information.  This message board is wonderful.  YOu will be in all of our thoughts and prayers.