I want to tell you about my mom's journey...tell me if she is a typical pancreatic patient and what to typically expect. I know that only GOD knows in the end...but any kind of experience that you can share that is similar will help me in knowing what the future holds.
My mom has many problems. She's 75. She was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer the week before mother's day (May 11). We went to Houston to a great doc for two stents, no whipple. She wasn't a candidate because of her general health. She has Congestive Heart Failure, Diabetes, extreme rheumatoid arthritis, kidney problems, unexplained dizziness, neuropathy. She had 3 weeks of radiation and chemo in pill form before she ended up in the hospital again. They wanted to put in a feeding tube to her side. She said no, and the cancer doctor said that she needed the tube or she wouldn't make it. She made the tough decision - well it was an easy decision for HER - to go home and enlist Hospice's help. The first week and a half were bad, I was sure she wouldn't make it. She barely would drink water and wouldn't eat anything. Just her breathing, the continuous vomiting, water diarrhea, and her voice was weak. She's in diapers which is hard for her to accept. Well, the last week has been a total 180! She's eating eggs, lunches, frozen yogurt, and supper too! I'm really happy about this, but reluctant to get hopeful because I was starting to accept things and I'm scared to hope that she may be around longer. Her 2 cm growth on the head of her pancreas has shrank substantially - the scan she had before she went to hospice showed that...but it also said "diffuse fatty infiltration of the liver now suspected" which I googled and I think it means it was spreading to her liver...also it said "generalized bowel distention probably an ileus" which could be it spread there(?) too. I don't know but read that ILEUS means blockage.
Have any of you seen a turn around like this when you thought it was over? She's feeling good considering. She's too weak to walk or even stand yet, but is using the bedside potty with help. The Hospice nurse said she could coast along like this for a while (???) before things change. I know pancreatic cancer is painful in the end, but since her tumor has shrunk maybe she'll avoid that(?) I know that no one knows any answers - I've heard "take one day at a time" so many times I want to scream!! But has anyone had a similar journey with their parents or loved ones? Can you tell me how long they were better before they were worse? I've been spending days and nights at their house but have left her the last two nights with just my dad because of how well she is doing. It's fascinating to me. She's had so many people praying for her that I give Him the thanks for this time with her...but I guess I just wanted to ask for communication from people who have been there/done that, you know?
Anything you can share? Thanks in advance. I need it :)
susan - barbara's daughter