My father - PC diagnosis in 83 year old smoker

Hi Cazzamondo and welcome to the online community

I'm sorry to read that your father has recently been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and I hope that he was able to be discharged today after having his endoscopy.

I know how difficult it can be to find information at this moment in time as generally patients aren't allowed to have anyone with them when they go to appointments. If your father gives his permission to his hospital team to talk to you, you could speak to his cancer nurse specialist (CNS) to find out what treatment, etc they are planning.

As the online community is divided up into different support groups I'm going to recommend that you also join the family and friends group where you can chat to others about the best ways they found to offer support, both to the person with cancer and to each other.

To join just click on the link I've created and then join and post in the same way as you did here. You can also respond to any existing posts by clicking on 'reply'.

x

Hello Cazzamondo

I don't post much now but I popped in and see it is quiet with responses. How did your father get on with the endoscopy?

You ask how you can support your mum and sister. My experience was to try to take one day at a time. Also if your father is up to it try to have some sort of little treat each day. Be guided by him. If he shows interest in doing something, do it. If not, just sit for a while. It seems strange to say but you will get through this OK. We all have hidden strengths.

Thank you Squeaky.

Not alot was explained to us before the endoscopy which the hospital has apologised for.  Turns out he had a stent put in, so this is now relieving the bile build up (apparently his bile was 300 when it should have been 20).  They monitored his bile levels to make sure the stent was working and then discharged himon Friday.  He was v. grouchy to stsrt with but seems to be on better form now, and the jaundice is definitely going.

We have a meeting with Dr on Thursday where hopefully they will clarify everything they know.  The scans showed a dark spot on his liver which they were looking at, and i believe they did a biopsy with the endoscopy so presumably that will give us an idea of the aggressiveness.  The Dr has indicated that it will be longer than 6 weeks, so who knows what they will.say on Thurs.

He doesn't have any pain (he says)..just v tired and noticeably thinner. Eating little bits now and again but says nothing tastes v nice anymore... even his coffees and cigarettes.

My mum is v angry about everything at the moment which isn't overly helpful to anyone, but my dad is stsrting to try to get his affairs in order (check the Will, setup signatories on bank account etc.)

Hopefully, the dr will be able to say more on Thursday. It's quite common for the spouse/partner to be angry but as you say it doesn't always help.