Recurrence of pancreatic cancer post-Whipple

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Hi,

My lovely Mum was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2023 after a 4cm tumor was found on her pancreas. She had the whipple operation and managed 8 rounds of chemo afterwards before she had to stop due to serious side effects, and a CT scan last February showed no evidence of disease.

However, she’s now having near constant lower back pain on her left side and is taking paracetamol. She had the CA19-9 marker test recently (no one had mentioned it to her before) which has come back as over 1000 (the normal range is around 37 I believe?) and we are waiting for the results of her CT scan but sadly we are expecting to hear that the cancer has returned as is very common with this awful disease.

Has anyone else been in this position and what were the treatment options offered? We are looking at possible clinical trials that she may be eligible for, although quite a few are for people who weren’t eligible for the whipple.

Anjohannes 2 days ago

Hi Flowers_88y ,

My husband had his Whipple in April 22.Post Whipple he had 6 months chemo ( 3 weeks on , one off), He did well, was in remission.

April-May, 23 he was having follow up tests and in June, we got confirmation that it was back and metastisised to his liver. So chemo started again, he had some horrible side effects ( rashes, neuropathy, breathlessness), but his weight was stable.We were told he could have a liver ablation in Feb/March 2024 to blitz the last small tumour.This he had, but thereafter followed months of infections, sepsis, hospital stays, A&E sojourns in general hospitals to get triaged to the specialist cancer hospital and a 20kg weight loss.

After 8 months, it’s back again with complications, we are waiting to see if he can have chemo again, but he is very weak.

Check Pancreatic Cancer Ik, tgere are 2 trials on there.We’d be doing ok if my husband hadn’t picked up an infection post the ablation.So zi wish you well.You have to keep fighting for your Mum. Look after yourself, you need to stay strong for your Mum.

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