On 4/30/2008
Operista wrote:
Hello,
My husbands CA 19 level was 1, 600 in Feb. when first diagnosed with Stage IV before chemo, went down to 816 on 3-31-08 after the start of chemo and are now 2,273 during chemo.
Just had scans and there is only a tumor in the tail of the pancreas with no other tumors showing anywhere, but the biopsy in Feb. showed a node in the liver; which they tell us, he is not elliegible for surgery.
Is this normal? Does this happen to other peoples CA levels?
My sister's CA 19-9 level was 104,176 and after 4 Chemo treatments of Gemzar (Gemcidabine) her levels rose to 127 thousand and something.
Ask the Dr was your husbands numbers mean and what it means for his prognosis. Also.....I am a proponent of getting the opinion of a major Cancer Center, one that deals with this type of cancer, like Mayo Clinic, John's Hopkins, or Dana Farber, etc.
A Whipple can be preformed on some bile duct/pancreatic cancer patients which would remove some of the pancreas (or all in some cases, I think), the duodenum, bile ducts and they can remove some of the liver (in some cases this amount is over 50% depending upon the severity and the health of the patient, I think). The Whipple is a drastic surgery and causes it's own dilemma and can put the patient in the hospital for many weeks. Recovery is long and the cancer has been known to return.
Get info from professionals........Call Mayo: 507-284-4137- Mayo will not take a patient that is currently being treated with Chemo, radiation, etc, but if the current treatment is not effective and the Drs are looking to alter the treatment plans then Mayo will set up an appointment to evaluate the patient with their expert team and make recommendations for an alternative treatment plan which can be performed at Mayo or at the patient's home clinic or a cancer center near the patient's home.
I do wish you the best in your search for the best treatment for your husband. God bless you on this journey-you, your husband and your families.
My sister's voice
eaglessoar