Update/ Correction

My husbands "spot was less than one inch 1/3" is what they told him, i'm sorry I initially thought he said it was 2cm.  I don't know if this changes anything.  I was told waiting for 6 months is the normal protocal.......since it could be a cyst or benign and as long as it doesn't get any bigger it is ok.  They also said because of the great imaging technology today it could have been there for many years an we would never have known it.  He has had many gastric proplems over the past few years and his dad died in his late 50's from un-detected colon cancer.  Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Deb

Hi there. I continue to be a bit scared by the "wait six months."  If you go to Craig's Cause www.craigscause.ca and click on "Ask a Question" you can ask a surgeon/researcher your question again.  You usually get response back within under a week, unless the surgery schedule is crazy but you certainly would not have to wait 6 months :)  You did state that it is Pancreatic Cancer??  Usually even with beign tumours they still perform the whipple because of the odds of it turning cancerous.  Please don't wait....... I hope this helps.

 

On 7/19/2007 Stefanie wrote:

Hi there. I continue to be a bit scared by the "wait six months."  If you go to Craig's Cause www.craigscause.ca and click on "Ask a Question" you can ask a surgeon/researcher your question again.  You usually get response back within under a week, unless the surgery schedule is crazy but you certainly would not have to wait 6 months :)  You did state that it is Pancreatic Cancer??  Usually even with beign tumours they still perform the whipple because of the odds of it turning cancerous.  Please don't wait....... I hope this helps.

 

 

On 7/19/2007 Stefanie wrote:

Hi there. I continue to be a bit scared by the "wait six months."  If you go to Craig's Cause www.craigscause.ca and click on "Ask a Question" you can ask a surgeon/researcher your question again.  You usually get response back within under a week, unless the surgery schedule is crazy but you certainly would not have to wait 6 months :)  You did state that it is Pancreatic Cancer??  Usually even with beign tumours they still perform the whipple because of the odds of it turning cancerous.  Please don't wait....... I hope this helps.

 

THANKS FOR YOUR INPUT. THEY HAVE NOT SAID THE C WORD AS OF YET.  HE IS SEEING A UROLOGIST TOMORROW, SO IHOPE HE SUGGESTS A SECOND OPINION.  I'LL GO TO CRAIGSCAUSE THANKS SO MUCH

I urge you to get another opinion.  I've heard stories like this too often regarding "watch and wait" where it turns out to be a malignancy.  What would be the down side of getting a scan at this point?  If it turns out to be okay that will be great!   If not, it's always better to deal with it early.  I would follow your instincts.  Don't be afraid to be assertive and proactive.  I've made that mistake in the past and have regretted it.  If I can pass this advice on to even one person, it will be an accomplishment.

Good luck to both of you.

"Assertive" and "proactive" are indeed the watchwords here.  Too often we let the medical profession intimidate us with their attitude and their knowledge.  You may have a very "nice" doctor, but, hey, this is your husband's life!

Please, please get a second opinion.

 

Susan

Hi

When my Dad was told he had a mass on his pancreas I started to research what it may be, most sites pointed to pancreatic cancer and unfortunatly this was what it was.

Ask for the CA19-9 results of any blood test (if they say they hav'nt got it as them to test it). This is what they use as a tumour marker for pancreatic cancer.

Also ask them about a laparoscopy (description below).

A laparoscope is similar to an endoscope.  It is a long tube with a camera at one end and an eye piece at the other.  For this investigation, you are likely to have a short general anaesthetic.  The test is done by making several small cuts (incisions) in your abdomen.  The doctor puts the laparoscope through these incisions and examines you from the inside.  Sometimes the doctor uses an ultrasound probe with the laparoscope.  This is called laparoscopic ultrasound.  The ultrasound helps the doctor to identify any suspicious looking areas and take a sample of cells to examine.

We are from the UK so the above may be called something different in the US, but any decent surgeon will know what its called. Go armed with all the information you can as Doctors find it harder to put people off when they appear to know what they are talking about.

Fingers crossed that it is benign, but 6 months is far to long to wait to confirm this.

Sue

I am glad the mass is not so big.  Maybe you do have some time.  The best thing to do is do your research.  Find a really good doctor who deals with the pancreas and masses.  I had the slow growing cancer.  I do not know how long I had it.  But I know and everyone who knows me, has known I have been sick most of my life.  I am glad I have had the whipple and my cancer is gone.  Now I pray for it to stay gone, but it had spread to my liver and I will be tested forever to keep an eye on it.  I pray for peace and wisdom for your family.  Dawnella