Due to aggressive medical doctors, we have fought PC since August of 2003. We had the Whipple in Sept 2003 cancer was aggressively back in Aug 2003 - they were suspicious at the 6 month check up.
My suggestions:
1. Keep notes of what the doctors say. Be more aggressive than this cancer!!!!!!
2. search the iternet for news
3. We low carbed since cancers feed on sugar
4. We watch the CA-19-9 count, changing chemos when it rises.
5. We monitor temperature, blood pressure, blood sugar levels and amount of water intake daily (we strive for 64oz)
We have fought thru:
1. Swelling from congestive heart failure Sept 2005)
2. Loss of blood from blood thinners
3. Blood clots in the leg (put in filters Nov 2007)
4. Shingles July 2007
5. Pneumonia (Sept 2007)
6. Would not, could not eat (Nov 2007 - Mar 2008) We eat ALOT of hot cereal cooked with whole milk instead of water. Oatmeal, cream of wheat Coco Wheats with an extra tablespoon of unsweetned chocolate per serving added to the milk.
7. Fluid in the lining of the lung Jan 2008 - present) Drained about once a month
8.Currently we are dealing with a partially collapsed lung, enlarged spleen,
THE GOOD NEWS is that the doctors think it may have stablized, the AT scans are showing that tumors look about the same.
Our CA 19-9 count is 10,300 down from 59,000 in late last year.
We have been on lots of chemos, but current we are having mixed drugs.
Avastin and Gemzar on day one with accompanying nausea medicines ,
the next day Oxliplatin(?) over 3-4 hours because of nausea.
Hope this encourages someone and helps us all - there are long term survivors out there. I would love to hear from some, please reply to this post or the message board with how long your fight has been with successes alng the way.
Bless all of you, this is not a journey for wimps.