Not sure where to start

Hi  and welcome to the Online Community, a Community that no one ever really plans to see themselves joining, and so sorry to hear about your Pancreatic Cancer diagnosis.

I think most, if not all the very many people who join the Community will totally relate to where you have been and are right now. 

A cancer diagnosis brings a lot of confusion, stress and many questions but talking with other people who are on the same type of journey helps a lot, I had a different type of cancer but the Community has various support groups so can I direct you to our Pancreatic cancer group as this is the place where you will connect with others walking the treatment journey both as patient or family.

Follow the link I've created above then choose ‘click to join' when the page opens.

You can then introduce yourself and post questions selecting '+New' or '+' (depending on your device) you can also join in with existing discussions by clicking on 'reply'. 

The Macmillan Support Services provides lots of information and support. The service is open every day 8am to 8pm and it's free to call on 0808 808 00 00 have a look by Clicking here for more information.

You can also email them, use the online chat and we also have our Ask an Expert section, but do allow two working days for replies from our expert team.

Our Online Information and Support Section  is a good place to find information covering diagnosis, treatments and pages covering most types of cancers.

All the very best.

Thank you. I will have a wander over to that forum x

Hi Tupah 

Really sorry to hear your diagnosis and the terrible problems you are having with the chemotherapy. I hope the doctors can help sort your chemo mix out to something far easier for you to cope with.

i have never had chemotherapy and I’m sure like you hope it is something I can avoid. I nursed my wife through her chemotherapy and it was a really tough time for her. She was a real fighter, I called her my Amazonian warrior. Like you the side effects were horrible and she needed all of her considerable determination and force of will to get through it, but she did. Reading your post brings back memories of consoling her during these bouts of blackness, crying our socks off together and trying to find answers to impossible questions. She got through, not plain sailing by any stretch of the imagination, but she got through it. I remember the only thing she could taste during the treatment was ginger or lemon. She had an awful metallic taste in her mouth and these were the two things that helped. Even her beloved tea couldn’t be tasted. 
don’t worry about being an octopus, you reach out for what ever help you need to get you through this awful time. Everyone needs help. I think of myself as a pretty strong person but have used sites like this one 3 times now. They really have helped me over the years and I hope you will find the same. Keep posting and I hope others here with far better advice can chip in and help you through. Not sure how you are sleeping but there is an active Awake thread where there are those of us who struggle to sleep and want to stop that avalanche of negative thoughts that creep up in the small hours

i wish you all the best and a much kinder treatment

mark

Hi Mark

Your reply is amazing. Thank you so much. And thank you for sharing your story about your wife, what a legend. I try to be strong but it's hard and exhausting. 

So far so good on the new antisickness drugs and a better night's sleep. I guess I just want to feel better immediately but that's not what it says on the tin.

I will try and I will endeavour to use the site for support and help because I really do need it.. Hopefully one day I'll be able to help others with their struggles too. 

Take care of yourself. 

Tupah x