My Husband May Have Pancreatic Cancer

hi my name is viviana my husband went into the hospital for kidney stones and when they did the cat scan they found a mass on his tail end of his pancreas and a mass on his adranel gland, my husband's father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and after a year of chemo he passed away.my husband is only 30 years old but he drinks a great deal and smokes way to much.the doctors told him that it could be cancerous and it may not.where going  crazy because we don't know anything right now.he had a cat scan and then he had a second cat scan with dye injected in his vein to get a clearer picture and it is definetly a mass.he has and appointment to go to have an open mri done.because he is very closterphobic to have a closed one.about a year ago he was out of work due to pain in his abdomen and around to his lower back.he still gets this pain but not as bad.his urine is the color of tea but he has no other symptoms.after the mri depending on what they say we are going to tell the doctor that we want a biopsy done to make sure it's not cancer.but the doctor doesn't really think that it looks good because of his fathers history.about 7 years ago my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and at first the doctor told her that it was nothing just a cyst from her underwire bra.when i asked for him to remove it any way because she was uncomfortable he got mad at me and said that he wouldn't do that.we went to another doctor after the lump started to get bigger and come to find out she had breast cancer stage5 and they gave her chomotherapy but after 3 months she passed away she was only 45years old.i don't want to make the same mistake with my husband.does anyone out there have any suggestions for me,i feel so alone in all this.i'm usually considered the stong one who holds everything together and i'm trying to be for my family but it is very hard for me i feel like i want to fall apart i don't know what to do thank you for any help you can give me i greatly appreciate it .thank you viviana

this site might help

http://pathology.jhu.edu/PANCREAS_CHAT/

Dear Viv -

My husband was diagnosed with pc lst January, underwent a whipple and chemo.  It was a long haul for all of us, but of course the real hard part fell on him. 

If it comes down to it is cancer - ask lots of questions.  Make a list, write it down, ask for the drs/nurses to explain what you don't understand.  If your husband is a candidate for surgery; ask the surgeon how many lymph nodes he tests.  The more, the better.  Find an oncologist that both you and your husband like.  He will be spending alot of time there. 

 Stay in touch with your friends - do not tough this out alone.  Let people help you.  If anyone asks is there anything they can do for you - let them.  Meals, take your dog for a walk.  Come over and keep you company, run a load of laundry.  Friends and family want to help, but generally don't know what to offer..... there is always some little thing that will mean a lot to you and your husband.

 Keep your chin up, say a prayer and I will pray for the two of you as well.

k