New Diagnosis

Hi,

New to this had jaundice a couple of weeks ago and had a ercp found mass on pancrease and liver.Had a endescope ultrasound to get biopsy and am waiting on results.Now what?

My ca 19 9 a was 351

I am 46 and have been healthy .Had gallbladder out  in 2002.

I hope to get results today and have appt with oncologist.What dietary supplements should I be looking into?

I have mild indegestion and am on nexium but no other real syptoms.The doc who did ercp says I am not a candidate for surgery but I have a second opinion at a The James cancer center in Columbus Ohio next week.

I would love any advise .

I would love to know when you were diagnosed and how old you are?

Thanks

I would see a naturopathic Doctors to assist the traditional medicine.  Getting your food from real food sources is far better than supplements.  Vitamin C and E seem to be particullary bad for treating cancer, but fruits and vegetables due help keep the immune system stronger.  Their is a lot of info out their, but  the most promissing work seems to come from high quantities of Cruciferious vegetables that have show good success in providing a poor environment for cancer to thrive in.  I have read that black cohosh and CoQ10 have shown promise worth investigating.  Broccoli sprouts has shown the most powerful cancer fighting effects and can also be  purchased in a supplements.  I was told by the Mayo Clinic to reduce processed sugar intake. Your primary goal is obviously to stay strong and keep your immune function strong to fight the cancer and chemo.  Check out the Pub Med site and reliable research web sites.

Good Luck, 

Miss Renee,  I am so sorry to hear of your illness and I am
praying that it is  early enough for you to have chemo and
radiation so you will be a candidate for surgery  I also would
advise you to get a second opinion so you will know you are on the
right medical path.  You are very young to have pancreatic cancer
and so am I at age 55. I was diagnosed one year ago and I am doing
great right now.   I am glad that the doctors are on this very
fast and will help you witht the indegistion and chemo will help with
that as well.  The only thing I take is Boost or ensure to
supplement my diet.   I would like you to to to the John
Hopkins board at 
http://pathology.jhu.edu/pancreas/Fundraising.php     
  go to the discussion at the upper right corner.  There are
many pancreatic cancer scenireos that I am sure that someone there has
the exact stats that you have.  I.wish you well.

T ake care,

Janice 

Miss Renee,

I was 50 at time of diagnosis.  Now 55, almost 56 and I'm OK.

I'm glad you are going for a second opinion, and I hope you are a candidate for surgery after all.  I'm surprised the ERCP doctor said you were not a candidate for surgery without a PET scan.  I had ultrasound, ERCP and PET scan and then a test to check for main artery/vein involvement (can't remember name of it, they put die in your veins and take images) before they determined agreed I was a candidate for the surgery. 

I had similar symptoms as you.  I was healthy.  Non smoker.  Had digestive problems and went to a doctor for help.  They gave me Previcid to help with acid reflux.  Shortly after that I became jaundiced.  In less than two weeks from that, I was in for surgery.  

As far as nutrition.  My suggestion is to simply eat a good well balanced diet.  You may want to eat extra high quality protein , since it seems people with PC often have low protein numbers.  Mine were at least. I'm not sure there are any magic food combinations.  Just try to eat enough of whatever appeals to you and agrees with your digestion to keep up your strength and maintain your weight if possible.  

Another poster mentioned John's Hopkins discussion group.  I agree, the folks over there are great and most often quick to respond to questions.

I hope you get good news from the second opinion.  Best wishes.

My mom passed away from pc 12/23/2007.  We are in the cleveland, OH area.  If they can do the whipple, do it.  That is your only hope!!  We saw Dr. Shulak he is the head of the University Hospital Transplant dept.  Unfortunately they could not remove her tumor as it was too big and had was in the vessel and he advised the tumor was advanced due to the pancrease being so discolored.