Pancreatic cancer with spread to liver

So sorry to read your post. My Dad also found out he had pancreatic cancer that had spread to the liver, a devastating diagnosis. My advice to you is to keep on top of everything and push, waiting times for scans and tests then being discussed at the MDT meetings and again waiting for a consultant appointment, can be long, too long in the case of an aggressive cancer.

Is your Dad in pain and is it being managed? The palliative team were the best at pain management in those earlier days, the GP can refer you. 

Am sorry that you and your family are in this nightmare x

Thank you so much for replying. He is in no pain at all at the moment. He had stomach upset for 1/2 weeks and then developed jaundice two weeks ago. Suspected gallstones but turned out to be pancreatic cancer and they’ve just discovered something on the liver which they suspect is a spread. He had a stent inserted to relieve the blocked bile duct and currently has no symptoms, has been discharged awaiting treatment plan and is generally well. It’s so frustrating with all the scans and now we need more to confirm if it’s in the liver. The doctor has just said that it “probably is spread” ok the basis of an ultrasound. He’s had 2 ultrasounds, an MRI, a CT and an ERCP In the last ten days and now needs another MRI and PET. I feel so frustrated, like there should be more happening and more quickly. I don’t understand why they can’t just look at everything at once to figure out what’s going on. On top of that he’s Covid + so next scans can’t happen yet. I just know that every day counts with this diagnosis. He’s such a healthy man, it’s such a shock and I’m completely terrified. 

I’m so sorry I meant to say I hope you and your dad are coping as best you can 

We felt exactly the same, it’s torturous just being left to wait for another scan, test or biopsy. Hopefully your Dad is already under the correct oncology team and once the final scans are done, a forward plan can be put in motion very quickly. With your Dad being quite healthy, this will be a positive for any treatments offered.  

Hi, new to site. I have exactly the same diagnosis as your father. I'm in my late 70s, fit and healthy. I have a portacath under the skin so I could carry on swimming! I was diagnosed 1.1.23 so a long journey but I looked at it that they performed all scans that were necessary (again, just like your father's), Give him my thoughts to keep strong and keep going. I had first chemo treatment and good news that the tumour in pancreas had shrunk, but unfortunately it's the liver that is difficult to define, MRI's kept coming back "undefined" so annoying (this could be because shadows are so small hard to see cancer lumps),  but still some hope that chemo is doing its job, as latest MRI showed some reduction. Keeping fingers crossed that your father stays well and active.

Hopefully you will see my reply to GeorgieP just a few moments ago

Thank you. Yes he’s already under the oncology team and they’re deciding on a treatment plan after the next MRI and a PET. I’ll just finding it so hard trusting the doctors and keep thinking there are other roads we should be going down / research I should be doing. I have control issues and an anxiety disorder so it’s incredibly difficult to sit and wait. Thanks again

I did. So sorry to hear you are going through this but your journey so far gives me some hope. Exactly, it’s all the undefined / inconclusive and probables that are so hard to deal with. 

Hi I’m so sorry to hear your news. I feel like I’m going through the something similar right now as my mum has been diagnosed today with terminal Pancreatic Cancer which has spread to her lungs.

I’m feeling so lost right now as waiting for her to be referred to the pancreatic specialist team and hopefully we get a prognosis or plan to help my mum control this but this diagnosis has been going on for 2 months.

I’m devastated that we’re here after my mum had been treated for throat cancer 2 years ago and was given the all clear by drs at the end of Nov 2023 after her recent procedure. I just don’t know how this could have been missed or has spread so quickly. 

So sorry to hear about your Mum’s diagnosis. I know, it’s so scary when it’s only picked up when it has already spread so far. I understand your frustration with how long the diagnosis takes. For us too, it seemed to be a never ending stream of tests and scans and the news was being drip fed. I hope you get a full picture soon. Whatever the treatment plan, do ask the oncologist about clinical trials that your Mum might be eligible for. Unfortunately there were none that fit Dad. Also reach out to Pancreatic Cancer UK - there’s a nurse helpline and they are fantastic. It’s so hard to come to terms with it all. I hope you have plenty of support around you and don’t forget to look after yourself.