Palliative chemo for my mum

Hi  I've got a different cancer to your mum's but thought answering your post would " bump" it up a little.

You'll probably know pancreatic cancer is a relatively fast grower, so like you I'm wondering why a treatment gap. But if they're going to rescan in the New Year, they're still keeping an eye on her n it means she's a chance of having a decent Xmas dinner ( always assuming there's any Xmas fare in the shops!)

If she's been living life pretty normally, then a wee gap may do no harm?

Sorry, I've arged myself round n round, haven't I?

If any of this makes any sense,take from it what you find useful 

Hopefully someone else will chip in too 

Sue

Thank you x

Hi Wimpund89, I am sorry to hear of your Mum's diagnosis and it is good that she is responding to treatment and the tumours are reducing.  From my involvement on forums over the past few years on PC it is quite common to stop treatment for a while to give the body a rest. And as Buttercup says by scanning your Mum in the New Year they are keeping an eye on her.

I recommend that you call the Pancreatic Cancer UK helpline on 0808 801 0707. Have a look at their website too. The nurses on the helpline are experts on PC and I found chatting to them really excellent.

Squeaky

Thanks @squeaky for that info

Thanks so much. I will speak with them. 

Hi there,

As the chemo used to tackle PC tends to be pretty intense, I'm sure they are thinking of her general health in terms of giving her a break.

Its great that currently it has helped reduce the tumours, what good news, but lots of chemo will naturally take its toll with fatigue, resillience  to infection, appetite and sickness, diarrhoea, neuropathy etc etc.

Pancreatic cancer is  a nasty one, we know, and does tend to be quite rapid in its growth but i'm sure the clinicians have her best interests at heart. If you are concerned, is there a number you can call about her care? The team at PCUK are also very helpful.

Now the chemo is having a positive effect and doing its stuff, its time to have a rest from it, to build strength back up and have some well deserved time off!

She won't be left to it, they will monitoring her and no doubt if she needs further intervention, that will be put in place.

I'm so pleased that she is doing well and the tumours have reduced, I hope she continues doing well and responding to treatment.

Thank you for this. We got a second opinion and he’s suggested we request a scan during December, so she’s not going more than 3 months without a scan.