My husband was just diagnosed with stage 3 (T1 N1 M0) pancreatic cancer last Thursday, October 11, 2007 It's all still very new and feels like a dream still. The doctors we have dealt with so far have been stellar. 3 of our surgeons have actually responded via email to my emails on the same day sent.
We have every hope to believe that his survival rate will be in the 5 year time line. He wasn't a smoker or drinker and the tumor (2cm) is encapsulated within the pancreas with only one lymph node affected. Although the doctors have told us to hope for the best and plan for the worst.
He is a good candidate for surgery and it is scheduled for November 2nd at a top hospital that specializes in pancreatic cancers. He'll be having a Whipple procedure done, followed by chemo.
Right now he is in hospital because of a flare up of very painful pancreatitis. It's extremely hard to watch him in pain. Currently they have him on an every 2 hour dose of duladin.
I believe we are just beginning a very tough road. They say that survival rates are increasing to 40% who make it 5 years.