Can a person survive pancreatic cancer?

Dear Penny, I am sure your husband is so looking forwrd to his last treatment. That is one of the dates that I will never forget...May 29, 2001...the day of my last treatment. The recovery process from the treatments was very long for me. As I understand it, the body eradicates the chemo drug through your sweat, your urine, etc. But the radiation treatments can have long lasting side effects. Even today, after four years, I am in a constant state of mild nausea, I fatigue very easily, and I have pain in my incision area. I also suffer from neuropathy. My feet have such numbness, tingling and shooting pain. Sometimes I lay in bed at night with my knees pulled up to my chest and just shake my feet. But Penny...I look at these things as merely minor inconveniences that I have learned to live with...I am alive and have survived one of the most deadliest cancers out there. Novemeber 3rd was my four year anniversary from surgery. Hopefully your husband will recover quickly...everyone is different. I went back to work while I was under my second go around of chemo. At first I was part-time, and then after treaments I went full-time. that lasted for about one year, and then I just couldn't do it anymore...I retired on social security disabilty at the age of 58. My best to you and your husband, and if you have any questons or would like to communicate further, please feel free. Best Regards, Russ

Dear Russ Congrats on your success with surviving PC. My mother was diagnosed on 11/29/04 when the doctor could not do the whipple surgery. My mother's tumor is in the body of the pancreas. The only reason it could not be taken out is because the tumor is wrapped around a vein. To this day the cancer has not spread to any other organ nor has it shown up in the blood. The radiologist thinks he can shrink the tumor. My parents went for a second opinion at Mayo in Rochester, MN. and were told there is no cure for PC and my mom would live probably a couple of months. Very cold very matter of fact. With these two different opinions it is very hard to know what to expect. I can not just give up and believe it is all over. My mom is feeling fine right now except for having being told she has only months to live. Thank you for you encouraging story.

Dear Russ Congrats on your success with surviving PC. My mother was diagnosed on 11/29/04 when the doctor could not do the whipple surgery. My mother's tumor is in the body of the pancreas. The only reason it could not be taken out is because the tumor is wrapped around a vein. To this day the cancer has not spread to any other organ nor has it shown up in the blood. The radiologist thinks he can shrink the tumor. My parents went for a second opinion at Mayo in Rochester, MN. and were told there is no cure for PC and my mom would live probably a couple of months. Very cold very matter of fact. With these two different opinions it is very hard to know what to expect. I can not just give up and believe it is all over. My mom is feeling fine right now except for having being told she has only months to live. Thank you for you encouraging story.

Mom completed Whipple 1/26 at Penn. Lots of pain and discomfort. Biggest issue is nausea...can't seem to control. Zofran, adavan, compazine...does anyone have thoughts? We can't seem to find a pattern. Emotionally, she is a wreck with the nausea. Any thoughts are apprecated.

Hi there, Your husband's situation sounds exactly like my father's. It's amazing how many people have the same symptoms and treatment. I hope for miraculous healings..

Your message is just what my husband is going through. Just wondering how everything is doing.

 

On 8/3/2004 Russell wrote:

I am a pancreatic cancer survivor. I was diagnosed, (at age 56), and operated on in November 2000. They removed 40% of my pancreas, my entire spleen, a slice of my kidney, and 5 lymph nodes. Fortunately for me the cancer only spread to the first lymph node...the others were clear. After surgery...I had 24 hour infusion of chemo, (5fu), for 5 weeks, and radiation 5 days a week during the same 5 weeks. It was devastating!! The second go around of chemo was gemzar for 9 weeks...one day a week. My last chemo treatment was May 29, 2001. I continue to have blood work done every 90 days, and cat scans are done every 6 months. It has been 3 years/ 9 months, and I continue to be cancer free. YES...pancreatic cancer can be cured!!!! Tell your husband to fight this horrible disease as hard as he can...and to keep the faith. Russ

Hi, I am so happy to see your results!!! What you wrote gives me hope that my mom will get better, she had whipple surgery at jefferson hospital in philly about 6 months ago,he said he was gonna stop it once he started because the cancer was around the vein on the pancreas but he did it and it turned out ok I guess. The DR did find cancer in the lymp nods near the pancreas and did basically the same chemo and radiation treatment you had. She did the weeks of treatment and now started the 2 weeks on and 1 week off treatment of chemo but it dropped her white blood count to nothing so they gave her a shot and that helped but now they are not sure if they want to continue with the chemo because of the side affects. You had surgery in University of Penn in Philly right? Are you close to south jersey? I was wondering if you could get back to me because I have sever anxiety over this situation and want more info and I would love to hear from you. Please get back to me when you can. Thank You Very Much, Have a great day. Mark

 

 

On 2/22/2005 Craig k wrote:

Mom completed Whipple 1/26 at Penn. Lots of pain and discomfort. Biggest issue is nausea...can't seem to control. Zofran, adavan, compazine...does anyone have thoughts? We can't seem to find a pattern. Emotionally, she is a wreck with the nausea. Any thoughts are apprecated.

Hello.  My Mom completed the Whipple on 2/13 at NY Presbyterian and her biggest issue for the last few weeks has been nausea & dizziness.  Like your Mom, the doctors can't seem to get this under control.  She's trying Regalin, Zofron, patches behind the ears, etc.  Nothing seems to consistently help.  Were you able to find something that worked? 

Hi

My mother passed away in January of 06.   The cancer returned.   A misread CT scan in October of 05, led to her not being a candidate for the cyber knife.   My family had been told that if the cancer returned and did not spread they would use the cyber knife.  She had back aches in October of 05 and they did a CT scan but told my mom it didn't look like the tumor was active.   After the back aches got worst in November they did another scan which was read by a different doctor and he said that the cancer was back and it looked like it had begun to spread in the bile duct.   We had her 14 months after the diagnosis.   We had a wonderful time with her during those months...she visited California with me, we had holidays and we got to say everything that was in our hearts.   She died peacifully in my arms.   She was a very wonderful brave and loving woman!

How are things going for you?   Thank you so much for replynig to me.