DaddysGrl

I too was searching for any information regarding the CA-19.  FOr some reason it was not easy getting information regarding this blood test.  I see your number has decreased from 700 to 300s.  That's great news! This means that treatment is showing progress and progress is a miracle with this type of cancer.  My father too has pancreatic cancer and reason I became interested in this CA-19 number was a few doctors visits ago my father was conteplating the idea of stopping his chemo when the doctor encouraged him to continue due to the sucess that the treatment posed changing his CA-19 number from 3160 to 1600.  Not understanding what a normal number for this test was, this difference in number to me seemed to be a miracle and landed our doctor hero of the day for convincing my father to continue and stay on the program.  After a wonderful visit and hopeful few days, I eventually found out normal numbers for this test and quickly came down from the clouds.  I chose not to tell my father and continued rallying around this wonderful number decrease and progress.  Every bit of hope helps and this little bit goes a long way making each morning a little easier and and gentler.  I hope to see your numbers continue to decrease..and my fathers number to reach your starting point and maybe even lower.  You never know.. miracles happen every day! and I believe that it can happen to any one of us!  Just keep praying, keep positive, and keep living for My dad is still right here in front of me!  I can touch him and he is warm , talk to him and he talks back to me, I can hug him and feel his love and hear his breath.  Every breath he takes is a miracle to me and The greatest gift!  Remember to celebrate having our loved ones here with us and please remember to Live! God Bless and take care of yourself during this time, I will pray for You!.

I do understand the whole diarrhea situation for my father has had the same problem.  Just yesteday he was at the cancer center getting hydrated through IV for 4 hours due to the diarrhea that seems to come back faithfully with out fail.  My question fto you is what chemo treatment is your mother taking and is she taking chemo with combo of the tarceva pill.  The tarceva is what's causing the diarrhea for my father and his doctor prepared him for that prior.  Each time my father has a spell immediately following his bathroom visit he takes 2 immodium.  We also do not hesitate to call the doctor if it persists for more than a day and immediately he's scheduled to come in and rehydrate.  I can only share with you my experience with this, ofcoarse, your doctor shoud be better to explain a remedy to your problem.  Don't be afraid to be persistant and if you don't understand keep asking questions until you do understand.  Remember, this is new to all of us or most of us touched by this disease and there is no wrong question.  This is your mother and i can see you are desperate to help her, be active in asking what you can do and how you can help her, until you get an answer that provides you with some peace of mind and heart.  You are doing the right thing by posting your message and asking for some guidance.  Our experiences and sharing them help others involved with cancer.  Remember to ask your doctor until you question is perfectly clear to you.  Good luck and god bless you and your mother.

My father diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer 12 weeks ago started treatment combo of Tarceva and Gemc chemo and is on his 6th wk treatment.  He is having a difficult time with his treatment.  He is 74 with his weight declining to 130 pds, becoming weaker and many times to tired to get up out of bed, aswell as suffering all the side effects that come along with treatment.  Upon our last visit with the Doctor my father contiplated the choice of continuing with treatment or stopping for fear that it is not making a difference other then causing his last days here with us to be miserable and unbearable.  The doctor then reassured him that the treatment is working very effectively and that he should continues providing us with a blood test result called the CA-125 in which made a huge decrease from 6330.5 down to 1765.6.  We were happy seeing that this was a huge jump and a miracle.  Not understanding much about these numbers, I am now concerned that this was not as huge as we'd hoped or thought it to be. Trying to get more information on this, i've been reading on patients experiences in this count.  Many patients being concerned with their CA-125 number being 100 or even 57, not coming close to the thousands mark.  My fathers CA-125 is still standing at 1765.6 although dropping around 5000 points to 1765.6.  Did it go from extremely horrible to just horrible?  Is there a good chance that it will continue to drop in this extreme manner and is it possible to get down to 35?  Or will it pateu at the hundreds, being that it was so high to begin with.  Any information would be appreciated.  Some insight or experience would really help us to cope and understand.  Thank you for taking time to read my post and reply.  god bless

Hello all,

My question is regarding a CA 19-9 number listed on my fathers blood work chart that has went extremely down.  My father is 74 with pancreatic cancer started treatment 7 weeks ago with 2 weeks break in between has 1 more week to go before evaluation.  He has had a difficult time getting through the treatments(combo of chemo & tarceva)which has left him extremely weak, tired, depressed, dehydrated, times vomiting, lots of diarehea, feeling of nausea, loss of appetite and wieght loss and just overall misserable.  On our last visit with the doctor my father expressed interest in stopping treatment all together weighing out the quantity of life with the quality of life at this point.  This is when the doctor suggested him contiunue treatment confirming the progress it has made and assured us that treatment is working.  He then showed us bood wrk charts taken before treatment and comparing them to current charts taken within last 2 days.  He pointed out one in particular...this was called the CA19-9.  This specific test jumped from 6330.5(c)h to 1765.6(9).  Does anybody understand this test and this decrease in number?  Is it normal to make such a large jump down with treatment?  Is this a significant difference?  If anyone has had experience with this and can explain the normal ranges of numbers or can share your personal numbers of range I would really appreciate the insight.  Any bit of information would be helpful and appreciated.  God Bless

Hi Shemay,

Funny how you mention the misconception of meal replacement shakes/protein Drinks.  Our Doctor also recomended meal replacemnet drinks.  Following his recomendation my father purchased case full and after trying this drink he immediately threw up and stayed sick for a few days.  He refused to have any more of it and just the thought made him sick.  Many times our bodies take care of these toxins that should not be entering on their own.  Obviously my fathers body was telling him that was bad stuff and must be thrown up and out immediately.  You mentioned your being raised on a farm and the pesticides possibly having it's part in the cancers developement.  I think of this often.  My father sprayed the open fields for years and tended to crops including alfalfa, corn, oats, ect for many years.  We live in the central valley 2 hrs from San Fransisco although our surroundings are not high buildings and corporate industries, instead we are surrounded by farm land, dairy farms, fields with crops and open land only a mile away from the river.  We have always felt fortunate to have had the opportunity to enjoy the farm land and the slower pace it has to offer.  Avoiding the hustle and bustle would save us from the heart attacks, shootings and dangers of the City.  Surprise, surprise....we forgot about the chemicals, pesticides, the horrible stale air thta sits in the valley with nowhere to filter out, instead becomes stagnent.  Due to the area our water is also stagnent...bad to drink.  My father drank well water for years until finally was told firmly that we were not to drink the water that it was horrible and fulll of chemicals.  So did bathing in it make a difference?  Nobody mentioned bathing in it?  Our understanding was not drink internally this liquid!... apparently the frequent daily contact to our bodies and external skin was not harmful.  Or was it? possibly?..  who knows?  All these questions..what ifs... run through our heads over and over looking desperately for the answers that we will never come to peace with answers.  Leaving us only with another puzzle piece lost and without fit in this game of life that CANCER plays with us and those dearest to our hearts.  That in which was thought to be a blessing to our lives, has shown now to have been a contribute to this disease.  Always thankful to have had meat on the table, raised and cared for.  Was this a blessing or perhaps in fact working against us all along.  We will never know the direct answers, one can only make guesses and inform ourselves of the disease and the facts that are available to us.  oh...and also, live day to day.  Some days bad, some good, all depends on how he feels, then I go about accordingly.  Amazing how when loved ones are suffering and pained, you too ache with worry and sufferings.  We can only pray and hope.  God bless you shemay and those that you love around  you .

Susana

Shemay,

Loved reading your information and facts regarding foods and proper diet.  Although I must say, I am a little confused about the subject on meat.  At my fathers last check-up a few days ago the Doctor suggested that he eat more meat..at least once a day, I presume because of the protein meat provides to the body.  Suprisingly he did not mention anything regarding processed meats or red meats.  I hear much about this subject and living on a farm with cattle, meat has been the center of our table sitting since I can remember.  If need be, although difficult, My father would eliminate or cut down on meat if best for his overall health.  We're just not sure if it should be encouraged or discouraged a bit.  I too have heard processed meats cause cancer as well as red meats. and what about chicken?   yes?...no?

My father diag. w/ panc.cancer a couple months ago started chemo-Tri along with the tarceva pills.  It will be almost 4 weeks now since he started treatment. I've heard of the nightmares and effects that come with the chemo and prepared myself for the nausea, itchy skin, peeling, burning, constipation, runs, pain, ect.  Suprisingly enough..nothing.  It's almost as if he feels better after taking the chemo.  I'm not sure how to feel about this.  Ofcoarse I am  happy he is not suffering with these side effects..but...I wonder if the absent of these side effects are possibly because the chemo is working and making him better stopping growth or if  we are just managing the pain with pain medication and the symptoms of No Symptoms are an indication of no effect or change in his condition.  Anybody with some good results from chemo?  I've never heard of chemo making anybody feel better!  Is this possible?  Any experiences or imput I would appreciate it. thank you for taking the time.  

 Susana

My father 74, has pancreatic cancer, started chemo and tarceva pills 2 weeks ago.  within the last 6 months he has lost 40 pds and weighs 129pds.  The doctor gave him pills to increase his appetite and he's also taking something for nausea.  He has been eating much better and not so much nausea in which I am so happy about!..My problem is- I get confused on all the information I get regarding food and what's best for them.  It all starts to sound like everything is bad for you or causes cancer.  THey say  that protein is good for you but no red meats, then I hear fish is wonderful as specially fresh fish but no processed meats..those are bad..so I gather that the only meat you should eat is chicken and fish??  Also, nothing white is good. for example, no rice, no white potatoe, no bread, no mash potatoe.  But, I hear sweet potatoe is very good for cancer patients.  and, whole grain bread is good, but not whole wheat or white.  Reason is that Sugar is really bad for cancer patients cause it feeds the cancer!(horrible visual, isn't it?)  See and all this white food turns into sugar as it breaks down in your body.  Then I hear veg and fruit is good for you.  Then I hear not too much fruit because that also breaks into sugars if you have too much.  and how about dairy products?.. I believe that is good for you in moderation, but, milk makes my father sick and cheese bloats him.  He loves ice-cream but is unable to eat that anymore.  Poor guy, if I were him I would lose my appetite too with all these rules and confusion after you're done trying to figure it all out it's time to take a nap and me too! Help....anybody with some easy to follow info?  I'm desperate for some information I could follow..like the good ol days!  Or just any answers to my confusion.  THankyou so much for taking the time to read my post.

Susana

  My brothers friend who had PC somehow discovered this miracle drug only available in Mexico so drove there  to pick some up.  The chemo was not wking for him he had nothing to lose.  Well, it's beem almost 4 years and he still is taking and feeling great.  Then just yesterday I heard of another similiar story with the same thing only to be purchased in mexico because not yet passed by FDA.  Has anyone heard of this..know what it's called, any info at all....Before I drive to Mexico  thankyou

Susana

My father  74,  spent most of his life time outdoors, working on the farm, checking his cattle, or walking through the alfalfa.  He was blessed with good health  through his life,  last wk was the first time he had ever stayed at a Hospital.  IThis did not sit well with him.  they did not encourage him to walk or move around, so his body got more and more used to that,  Due to the many days spent sitting has made him unwilling to move around much at all . Yesterday, I noticed he was picking up his feet and then slowly stepping down almost as if he was concentrating on walking or like a child first learning how to walk.  This bothered me.  Possibly his legs are getting stiff from sitting all day and not moving throughout the day.  When this first started i encouraged him to walk, but have stopped for fear it might do him worse due to the pain.  I'm not sure what to do!  Any advice or words of wisdom?  Do I get the whip out(The little one) and push the poor guy so he doesn't lose his ability to walk..or do i leave him be and give hime peace with possible regrets later. ahh  help...I appreciate it.

Susana