CancerCompass message board discussion started by David H. on 9/4/2002 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,602,0.htm Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ Are there any new treatments or developments in the treatment of this type of cancer? I have a close relative who has just been diagnosed with this type of cancer. David H. Wed, 04 Sep 2002 00:00:00 GMT I have a dear friend of 27 years with pancreatic cancer. She has been dx. for about one year, taking chemotherapy treatments. Is there any new treatment that could save her life? Mekoso Mon, 04 Aug 2003 00:00:00 GMT Yes there are many successfully used alternative treatments. jonas k. Sun, 10 Aug 2003 00:00:00 GMT My husband has recently been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer spread to the liver. He is in chemotherapy getting Gemcitimine (Gemzar) he goes 3 weeks on (once a week) and one week off. He foes not have bad side effects. We are hopeful that this treatment will prolong his life for 5-10 years. We are optimistic he looks good and feels good. He is on a study. He is 53 years old. I don't think there is a cure but longevity has improved greatly.what your friend is on. God bless. Lovingmore Fri, 16 Jul 2004 00:00:00 GMT 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 Russell Tue, 03 Aug 2004 00:00:00 GMT Russ, what a wonderful outcome. Was your chemo and radiation immediately after surgery, or did you wait for surgical recovery? Also, where did you receive treatment? My husband also treated a late stage IV pancreatic cancer aggressively with chemo and surgery. Following surgery, his blood counts would not support necessary chemo and the cancer appears to have overtaken him. We applaud your good news. Dawn S. Stephen S. Tue, 28 Sep 2004 00:00:00 GMT Dear Dawn S. They delayed my treatments of radiation and chemo until after the holidays, (x-mas 2000)...so I began treatments about 2 months after surgery. My surgery was done at the University of Penn and that is where my oncologist is located. Since I had 24 hour infusion of chemo the doctor arranged for a nurse to come out to the house once a week to change my chemo cartridge and clean out my port. Also since I live in New Jersey he arranged for my radiation treatments to be done a little closer to home. Both were done at the same time for 5 weeks. After that I went back to the University of Penn for another go around of chemo. I continue to go there today for my checkups. In fact I just had one last week, and the cat scans are still negative. I am so sorry to hear about your husband. That is the horrible thing about pancreatic cancer. Early detection is so difficult and unfortunately the survival rate is so low. I will pray for his comfort and well being. I feel so fortunate to have survived as long as I have, and at the same time feel compelled to reach out to others who have cancer. It is a horrible disease and it takes every bit of your physical and mental well being to continue the good fight. It is a constant emotional roller coaster. If you would like to communicate further with me, PLEASE feel free to do so. Best regards and thanks for the kind words...Russ Russell Tue, 28 Sep 2004 00:00:00 GMT Hello, I thought I'd send you a message to see how your husband is doing? My mother was to have whipple surgery on Nov. 1 and after the surgery, the doctor told us that he did not remove anything because the pancreatic cancer (peri-ampullary) had spread to her liver. We are very shocked when we heard the news because nothing confirmed that she had cancer before the surgery. We are waiting for her to recuperate from her surgery which takes about a month and then will meet with the cancer specialists. I was wondering if you might be able to give us some information as to what to expect, how you're coping and how your husband is doing. Thank you, Paresha Paresha Wed, 10 Nov 2004 00:00:00 GMT I read your post. Congratulations! I have just completed Gemzar and radiation. I was diagnosed and received the Whipple procedure in August. Have you done anything different in your diet? exercise? Charlenej Wed, 17 Nov 2004 00:00:00 GMT To Russ: My husband has had the same surgery you described with out kidney involvement he is have radiation and chemo much the same as you he is very discouraged and losing weight, we are at the end of radiation treatment only 6 more to go and 3 chemo treatments coinciding with the last three radiation. After that it will be weekly chemo for 4 months How long did it take for you to start to recover. Please answer. Penny W. Oldgal56 Sat, 27 Nov 2004 00:00:00 GMT 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 Russell Sat, 27 Nov 2004 00:00:00 GMT 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. Shari Fri, 31 Dec 2004 00:00:00 GMT 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. Shari Fri, 31 Dec 2004 00:00:00 GMT 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. Craig k Tue, 22 Feb 2005 00:00:00 GMT 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.. Albraz Sun, 16 Apr 2006 00:00:00 GMT Your message is just what my husband is going through. Just wondering how everything is doing. Chrispam Mon, 08 May 2006 00:00:00 GMT  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. RussHi, 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   1MADMAN65 Thu, 06 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT  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?  Michael122 Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT HiMy 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. Shari Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT