Hi. Not really quite sure what to say. I'm 71 years old. Was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2023. Thankfully, that was fully cured by radiation. At a routine CT Scan with Thorax 6 weeks ago to check all was still ok, the young lady noticed something near my pancreas. Lucky me, I thought. I have 6 days ago had a EUS PANCREATIC FNA test. On the report I was given it said they had found a 14mm pancreatic body tumour with duct dilatation. Awaiting biopsy results from this. Needless to say, I am terrified. More scared than I ever was over the lung cancer diagnosis. I have no idea how long it has been there, I have been having CT Scans every 6 months. Anyone else had this? I know it is only small but the thought of chemotherapy and an MRI is not helping me much. Have been reading all I can, which is not a good idea, and the best way to treat this apparently is surgery. I was refused surgery for my lung cancer as the surgeon said he would loose me on the table. What if the same applies again!! Reading about the outcome for this really does not help at all. All I keep seeing is a death sentence. Can't believe it after being cleared of one cancer, another one pops its ugly head up. Any advice or information would be greatly appreciated
Hi Bubba12
My husband was sent to A&E by his GP at the beginning of September with jaundice. A CT scan showed a tumour near his pancreas. He was admitted to hospital and had a stent put into his bile duct which cleared up the jaundice. A biopsy was inconclusive, but the surgeon was pretty sure it was pancreatic cancer, so he had to have the same procedure as you which, unfortunately, confirmed that it is pancreatic cancer.
His tumour is 4cm and alongside a blood vessel so he starts chemotherapy on Monday to shrink the tumour away from the blood vessel so that he can have surgery. He will then have adjuvant chemotherapy to mop up any stray cancer cells.
I know that pancreatic cancer can have a poor outlook but his oncologist told him to forget anything he'd read as everyone's journey is individual and what happens to one person won't necessarily happen to him.
Since he was first told of his suspected diagnosis we've just tried to carry on as normal, as what else can you do really. He's fortunate that he's not in any pain and, as he says, if he didn't know he'd got cancer he wouldn't know there was anything wrong.
I know his scenario isn't the same as yours but I guess I just wanted to give you some hope that there is treatment out there if your biopsy does show pancreatic cancer.
Do you have an appointment date yet for your biopsy results?
Anne
"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"
He is nervous about the upcoming chemo but I think he's taking heart from the fact that when I had chemo for breast cancer 3 years ago I had very few side effects.
Let me know how your biopsy results go.
"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"
Sorry to hear that you have been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer Bubba12 and I agree that the initial diagnosis and thought of treatment is terrifying.
My husband had his first chemotherapy 11 days ago and generally hasn't felt too bad. No sickness but he did have a day of diarrhoea which stopped after he took some Imodium. He did suffer with fatigue for a few days but since yesterday (day 10) he's felt back to normal. Off to the hospital tomorrow to have his PICC line flushed and for bloods to be taken ahead of his next chemo on Monday.
Keep in touch, and my husband's happy to share his experiences if you want to ask anything.
"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"
Hi Bubba12
Thanks for asking after my husband.
He had his second lot of chemotherapy 9 days ago and his side effects have followed a very similar pattern except this time, thankfully, he hasn't suffered with diarrhoea.
He's still been enjoying his food so he's looking forward to the Christmas meals, although we'll be on the zero alcohol wine.
His chemo consists of having it through a drip for about 5 hours in hospital and then they attach a small pump to the PICC line which dispenses more drugs for 48 hours at home. He then has to go back in to have it disconnected. The only tablets he has are steroids and anti-sickness for a few days after his chemo but he does have to self inject a drug called filgrastim in an evening for 5 days from day 4.
Was the nurse able to give you the results of your PET scan this morning?
I hope you're able to have the best possible Christmas
Anne
"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"
I'm so sorry that you got bad news on Christmas Eve. I can't begin to imagine how that must have felt.
I'm glad that you managed to enjoy Christmas day but it must be incredibly hard knowing that there's nothing you can do to stop the cancer.
When will you know if you're going to be offered chemotherapy? I know that you think it might only offer you a few extra months but you never know what advances in treatment are just around the corner. There are many people in the living with incurable cancer group who have outlived their "sell by date", as they refer to it.
Putting on my Community Champion's hat, I think that would be a good group for you to join. It's only for patients with an incurable diagnosis so you can chat freely about anything and everything without worrying about upsetting others.
Wishing you all the best
Anne xx
"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"
