Anyone Go To Md Anderson??

My sister has pancreatic cancer and just been diagnosed. Her dr has referred her to a dr at MD Anderson but she has not heard from them yet. It has only been a week but I thought things moved a little faster than that. I was wondering if anyone else has gone to MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and their experience? Any information would be helpful. Thanks!

No, don't know anyone having gone there. If I were you I'd call the Dr.'s office and make sure that he has received the referral. Sorry about your sister, my husband also has pancreatic cancer his was on the tail end. He had 60% removed and is doing chemo(gemzar and tarciva) right now since it spread to his liver. You are in my prayers. Don't wait call them. Letty

Yes, I have gone to m.d.anderson as I have Pancreatic Cancer too and I can say they are very good there and take very good care of you there and they are very concerned but it does take a little bit to get in I was dignoised in nov 12 and i was there seeing the drs. and they do more testing and that wason the 29th of nov it may be a couple of weeks its such a big place but they get to you real quick most of the time.i'm really pleased with their care.
My sister has kidney cancer and she just had a new procedure done there to save her kidney and they taken very good care of her and she is doing good from her surgery and she is a nurse and has been done lots of nursing and is working for the State in the nursing now and she said she had never had such through testing and care so be encouraged they will do all they can for your sister and I wish you and your sister the best I go the 18 and 19 of July for my on going testing getting me ready for panceratic surgery of the islet cell and they will remove part of my stomach,small intestant,andthe head of the pancreas I had gained weight so I have to lose some so I can go through the surgery with greater sucess I didnt lose I gained weight.

Hi,
Thank you for responding to me. It gives me some relief in knowing that this is a good place once she is able to get there. Did you have to have Chemotherapy and Radiation too before your surgery? My sisters cancer is in the body of the pancreas and wrapped around the mesenteric artery which has me concerned if they will be able to do surgery with it around the artery. We feel like we are just sitting here not knowing what is going to happen which I am sure many of you know what I am talking about.
I am so sorry that you and your sister are both having to deal with this. I will pray that everything will go well with both of you and thank you again for taking the time to write me.

I have had 6 chemo shots to help see if it will shrink the tumor in the head of my pancreas and he wanted me to lose 50 lbs and I am working on that at this time as well as getting the shots and the last cat scan it was stable not grown any and due on another cat scan on the 18 of this month so we will see if it has grown or still the same, I have a cyst thats filled with lympth fluid and its in the front of the pancreas and a hemangomia on the Liver they thought at first was cancer was biopsy and wasn't have one in my spleen and on the outside of the spleen but they are not as worried as they are about the pancreas at this time and the lympocell. I haven't had surgery yet and I really don't look forward to it but I'm praying and lots of prayers are going up for me that god will be with me and see me thru it.
I'll be praying for your sister too gods our only hope with the help of the good doctors.
our family has been in shock and upset since I was diagnosed and then in may my baby sister found out she had the kidney cancer so I know how upsetting it can all be I still feel like I'm in a dream world that isn't true.

Do the chemo treatments for pancreatic cancer make you sick? Do you lose your hair as with other chemo treatments? Also do you get radiation along with the chemo or does that come afterwards? Sorry for all the questions!
Thanks for the info though.
JW

No, so far so good I still have my Hair its coming out quite a bit but I still have it and thats been 6 months ago I started taking the shots. the shot I'm being given is Sandostatin LA DEPOT,its a new shot and very, very expensive so far it has not had a great effect on me phyically that I can tell. I still feel pretty good I get real tired but I was already doing that before they started giving me the shots.I don't know if they will give me radiation after surgery or not but they aren't before I know the Dr. said no.
Where your sisters is at in the pancreas, that depend on the type of treatment and what they do for her and how far advanced it is.
where does your sister live and do you know anything about Houston I can give ya'll a few pointers that will help since we have been there quite a bit and know where to stay and where not to stay and places that is nice and not nice to stay at.

It is a wonderful treatment facility. Very caring. Have patience. Both of my parents go there, one for lung cancer, one for pancreatic cancer. My best friend has also gone along with her sister for breast cancer. They have received the best care possible. All are doing well at the present time.

Hello, you mentioned you know of places to stay while at MD Anderson. I am planning on being there for a week sometime in the next couple of months. I have pancreatic cancer and am hoping they can help me. Thanks for any information you can provide.

Diane

Hello my name is Bill. Was diagnosed esophageal cancer. On 12/14/04 I had a colonoscopy with nothing found. On 08/23/05 had a EGD and the nurse said sometimes they do 2 for 1. If I would have known would have both done last year and maybe things would have been different.

I am planning to go to Anderson within the next month or so. I am going to bring my RV and camp. Do you know of any nice campgrounds or area's where campgrounds might be.

Thanks for any help.

Bill