Let me give you all a brief idea what has been going on in my life. My 56 year old Mother (breast cancer survivor in '04) started getting lower
abdominal pains and a stomach ache a couple months ago that did not get any better after two days. After a trip to the ER and a abdomen x-ray, they
saw that her Pancreas was slightly enlarged and her blood tests revealed that her lipids (i think) were slightly high as well. It was contributed to
that she possibly had bad wine a couple nights before and that was the cause. She was released and all was fine for 2 months. Now about three and a
half weeks ago, the stomach ache came back, as did the abdominal pain. Back to the ER because she just had a feeling something was up. While she was
there, they gave her a CT-Scan this time, and saw a distinct cloudy something around her pancreas. She was then admitted for about a week. During that
time she had blood tests and an MRI, which then showed that it was in fact a tumor, growing very close to the main duct that goes to the spleen. The
tumor was then biopsied and we prayed and prayed it was not cancer, scariest week ever waiting for the results.
The results came back negative for cancer on the tumor. She jumped up and hugged us all, called everyone so happy to tell the news it was not cancer.
We were so happy and she found out she still has to get the tumor removed from the pancreas and a possibility that the spleen will have to be removed
as well because of the tumor growing around/into the main artery or duct going to the spleen.
About a week ago she talked to the surgeon and found out that was in fact the case, part of her pancreas would have to be removed with the tumor and
the spleen would come out as well. That alone scared my Mom but we were all supportive of her. My brother (24), sister (21) and me (28) and the rest
of our family.
Monday was the day we all got up at 4:30am to bring her to the hospital to have the procedure done. We stayed for a little while until other family
came and then some of us went home to get a couple hours of sleep. Then we got the call it was done around 11am and rushed back, we walked in her room
and were surprised she wasn't in ICU. She looked so good, couldn't talk very well because of the tube down her throat during the procedure, but
happy it was over. Still drowsy coming off of the anesthetics, but happy. We anxiously awaited the Surgeon to come in to tell us how it all went.
About an hour later, just my Sister and I were in the room when her Surgeon came in the room. She sat down next to my mom in her bed and started to
talk about the procedure and then said they found spots on her liver.... Biopsied them and they came back cancerous... which also means the tumor on
the pancreas is also cancerous.... they did not continue any more, did not remove the spleen or part of the pancreas because it has to be treated
before you can remove anything.
So I just sat there stunned, and my world came crashing down as well as my mothers. I'll never forget that look in her eyes. My sister just started
crying and ran out of the room. All I could think to say to my mom was that it was all going to be ok while I held her hand.
So... We do not yet know what the stage is, my mom will meet with the Oncologist next week to find the pathology and the proper way to treat this with
chemo most likely. The doctors said she is very healthy otherwise.
The worst part is she has no health insurance, lost her job not too long ago and is on unemployment which will soon end.
Her name is Carla.
What I'm calling out for is anyone, spiritual healers, religious people, just anyone that think they can do anything, pray, chant, anything to send
positive energy to her, just anything would make me and my family eternally grateful.
My Mother is our core, She is the strongest person that we all look up to and is an amazing person throughout. Thank you for taking time to read
this.
Basically from what I know now: "Patients diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer can be broadly divided into two groups:
1. Stage IVA pancreatic cancer is locally confined, but involves adjacent organs or blood vessels, thereby hindering surgical removal. Stage IVA
pancreatic cancer is also referred to as localized or locally advanced.
2. Stage IVB pancreatic cancer has spread to distant organs, most commonly the liver. Stage IVB pancreatic cancer is also called metastatic.
The goal of treatment for patients with localized IVA disease is to induce a remission, or a disease free period that may last months or years.
Management of patients with stage IVB disease is often aimed at controlling symptoms and pain from the cancer.
Stage IV pancreatic cancer is generally not removable by surgery and is therefore rarely curable and often difficult to control. A surgical procedure
may be possible to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life in some patients, but the recommended treatment for advanced pancreatic cancer is
typically chemotherapy. The standard chemotherapy drug for the treatment of pancreatic cancer is Gemzar.
The following is a general overview of the treatment for Stage IV pancreatic cancer. Treatment may consist of surgery, radiation, chemotherapy,
biological therapy, or a combination of these treatment techniques. Multi modality treatment, is treatment using two or more techniques, is
increasingly recognized as an important approach for improving a patients chance of cure or prolonging survival.
Treatment for stage IVA pancreatic cancer may include palliative surgery, chemotherapy, which is chemotherapy and radiation delivered together.
Chemotherapy is the use of anti cancer drugs to destroy cancer cells throughout the body. Radiation therapy uses high energy X-rays to kill cancer
cells at the location in the body where the X-rays are focused. Occasionally, a surgical bypass procedure may alleviate complications of the cancer,
such as, jaundice, intestinal obstruction, or pain, thereby improving quality of life."
Please flag and spread the word about this thread, please.
[edit on 12-8-2010 by porschedrifter]