What to expect?

Hi sweet fruit, 

I read your post and it was almost the exact way my own mum found out about her diagnosis. She had the stent which cleared the jaundice but unfortunately because of her weight and bmi being very low an operation to take away the cancer  I think it's called the whipple procedure was ruled out. In fact we left oncology without a treatment plan.  Initially like your mum was in no pain but struggled with an appetite and got tired easily. 

My mum is a fighter and insisted on trying chemotherapy,  unfortunately 3days in she picked up an infection so the chemo was stopped. She started again once the infection had cleared and got to 3rd week before we had to stop again as again was hospitalised with an infection.  

It's been about 4 months since diagnosis and I remember feeling angry at how long things would be progressing and worry the cancer would be getting bigger or spreading. Mum got depressed and felt like she'd been forgotten about. 

I struggled so much in having conversations with my mum about the time she has left and her quality of life as the chemo has only kept her indoors or in hospital.  She is tired all the time and has no energy to get out and about do nice things make happy memories.  I hold on to any positive information but ultimately she is deteriorating. 

She is actually in the hospital now and has just been told she has diabetes and will have to inject herself daily and the symptoms she's been experiencing like weeing alot,   always thirsty,  weight loss, always tired may get better once she is properly meditated and my hope is that it's the diabetes not the cancer which is why her health has been deteriorating.

1. Even though she has not got through a whole chemo program we are hoping the scan she is having tomorrow shows some kind of improvement otherwise I'm not sure if it will start again. I want this decision to be my mums not having this choice I believe will be negative on her mental health. I'm hoping she will get her appetite back gain and retain weight as right now she is under 6 stone and has nothing to fight any side effects from either the chemo or the diabetes. 
2. I'll be honest I get alot of information online usually I am unable to speak  to her medical team or specialist nurses without having to leave messages by the time we do days has passed and by then iv usually sorced information else where. Having this online support is very comforting, I'm my mums main carer and I also care for dad so do not get alot of time to be chasing phone calls or sitting in a queue so when I sit down on a evening I know there is someone out there going through what I am and the time of day I am able to reach out doesn't matter.

You are not on your own,

Sending hugs

Turkish delight 

Thank you so much for your detailed reply! It's all so confusing isn't it? 

Since finding out more I am just so shocked at how common this type of cancer is! It's a real eye opener