My husband was 48 years old and healthy, we thought. All of a sudden he began to loose weight and had backaches, and stomach problems. We went to the family doctor who sent us for cat scans of the abdominal region from chest to pelvis. Yep - found a mass. Sep of 2003 we had the Whipple followed by 5FU and radiation for the standard treatment time . Cancer count was back to ZERO! In 11 months the count was up again and there were masses in his lungs, and a tumor in his neck. Since that time we have been on Gemzar, Tarceva, Xeloda, Tamoxifen, taxotere, Ironotecan(?). Pancreatic cancer mutates so that chemos are not effective after a while. Now the cancer has spread thru the bones. We have fought the complications of congestive heart failure due the body swelling with lasix and jobst anti embolism stockings. (He almost died before they realized that it was congestive heart failure and not cancer complications) We laughed and rejoiced over the pimples of Tarceva because that meant it was working. We fought the extremely dried out skin of his feet while on Xeloda with specially compounded Urea cream. We fought the cancer itself with lo carbing - cancer feeds on sugar/carbohydrates.
With this message board, I have heard of cayenne pepper from http://www.farmacopia.com. His CA 19-9 was at 59,0000 in one month the cayenne brought the count back down to 33,000. We were on ironotecan(?) and continued that with the addition of the pepper. Next month the count went up to 36,000. Don't know what is going on with that. Over the years I have also heard of PawPaw, gravoiola, the budwig diet as being good for pancreatic cancer. Hubby would have none of this until we were on the last chemo and the numbers are sky high. We may be too late.
He has been moderately healthy until last Sep. Since that time we have experienced pneumonia, shingles, blood clots (in the leg) that broke up and sent fragments into his lungs before we found out that he had clots.
The latest nasty that the cancer has sent our way, it that his lung lining is making too much fluid and over filling the cavity. We have had to had the fluid removed about once every three weeks. They usually remove 2 liters of fluid at a time and it is painful. On top of all of this he is 6ft 3in and has dropped to 156 pounds with no appetite. We have used protein shakes twice a day. We are fighting this battle as hard as we can, but it is very hard both of us. I don't know how much more strength he has, I fight when he can't. There are huge medical ramifications - health and monetary.
Of a positive note we both have a strong faith and know that prayers of family and friends have brought us this far. We do not know what God's plan is for my husband. We believe that our job is to fight this cancer with all the ammunition that we have at hand.
I have wept and prayed with many on this board. We are all struggling to give our loved ones the best possible care.
May God Bless all who read this and aid them on their journey.