My Dads diagnosis

Killarney · New User Joined: 29 Aug 2008 Posts: 3

Hi, Glad I found this forum. There is a lot of helpful information which has helped me get a better understanding of my Dads condition.
To give you a bit of back ground information. My father hasn't been 100% since January, he was blaming everything from food not agreeing with him to constipation. Eventually we got him to go to his GP to get it sorted. His GP sent him to hospital where he underwent a CT scan. This showed up "spots" in his pancreas, liver and kidney. He went for a biopsy and was told the initial tests were inconclusive.
A couple of days later we had a meeting with the surgeon, I went along with my Mother and Father expecting to hear the worst. The surgeon told us the biopsy was inconclusive and they need to do another one. He did tell us that he thinks it is cancer and they need to find out where it started. My Dad was fine with this. The surgeon then asked me to go with him to organise Dads next appointment. He took me into the room next door and told me to sit down.
He told me that my Dad definately has cancer and its "very nasty". He told me that it has also spread to his lungs and that there are a number of tumors on each organ up to 3cm. He told me that by christmas my Dad is going to be in a very bad condition and its going to be his last christmas and we have to be ready for it.
My Dad is going to find out how bad things are this week when we have another meeting with the surgeon. I'm worried about how he's going to take it. The worst thing is that if you looked at my Dad you wouldn't think there is anything wrong with him. He cut the grass and cut down a tree in the garden the other day. He is in really good form.
I'm just wondering how quickly will Dad's condition worsen given the extent of the cancer.
Any feedback at all is more than welcome.
Thanks

jessica026 · Regular Joined: 17 Jan 2008 Posts: 44

i am sorry about your dad..i wish no one else would ever have to go through this.

If the drs are giving him until xmas then i can only assume that the cancer is very advanced and that he will probably progress quickly.
Of course i only have my own experience to go by and I am not a dr but in our case it went so fast...mom was at work, and feeling pretty decent and then 3 weeks later she was gone....so in our case it was FAST.

you will start noticing differences in your dad too..he will have pain, he will get tired, he will sleep alot, and you should spend all the time you can now...my mom got so tired and confused so fast that i never really got to say what i wanted to say while she was lucid.

this sounds so grimm and morbid i am sorry Sad

how old is your dad?

Killarney · New User Joined: 29 Aug 2008 Posts: 3

Hi Jessica,

Thanks for the reply. Sorry about your Mother. Dad is 70 in October, we have been talking about having a big party for him and inviting all his friends and family. I think we would have to have it in the afternoon because he goes to bed quite early now. I think we'll let him decide whether he wants one or not nearer the time.

K.

JLC · Regular Joined: 18 May 2008 Posts: 23

Killarney,

I am so sorry to hear about your dad. PC is a nasty, nasty thing. My mom passed June 5. Like Jessica's mom, my mom's experience was much quicker than we had anticipated. My best advice is love while you can, have fun while you can, enjoy him while you can. Say what you need to say. And most importantly be there for him. You, your father, and your family will be in my heart and my thoughts. Much love to you right now.

JLC.
_________________
Dad ~ diagnosed with EC in 2001 and cancer free since 2003.

Mom ~ Passed away June 2008 from pancreatic cancer.

Killarney · New User Joined: 29 Aug 2008 Posts: 3

Just giving people an update on my Dad. He was given Chemo for 3 months, weekly through a drip (name i cant recall) and a daily pill called Tarceva. When he went back for a scan the results were poor. The tumor in the pancreas had increased in size (not sure how much) but the liver had increased very significantly. The lungs were clear which is good.
The oncologist said the main concern now was the liver and he told Dad he has only months to live.
Dad has lost 4-5 stone this year and is tired all the time. He says the pain is managable. He is being referred to the local hospice for home care. He doesn't have jaundice but is eating very little if anything each day.
He seems to be getting more and more tired each day. Do all patients with pancreatic cancer suffer from jaundice? I would like to know whats going to happen next. Will he suffer the unbearable pain like so many of the stories I've read here. I would hate to see him suffer but I am trying to prepare myself for it.
At the moment I'm trying to spend as much time with him as possible and bring my 2 year old son to see him as often as I can. I'm trying to be as positive as possible in his company but its not always easy.
I will keep updating any changes.

reedy · Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 3:18 pm Post subject: Re: My Dads diagnosis

Am so sorry to hear of your dads condition. My dad was diagnosed in nov last year and passed away in june. He didn't suffer jaundice at all, it is different for everyone, my dad had trouble eating too, he tried to drink Ensure alot to compensate though, maybe you could try that or something similar for your dad, it is a complete source of nutrients.
My dad also lost alot of weight, he was just skin and bones at the end. It is hard to say about the pain, it depends where his tumors are, my dad suffered really badly, the doctors had a really hard time keeping it under control. He eventually had a syringe driver which is like an permenant iv with a little machine that delivers a constant dose of morphine and a few other things too, this helped quite a bit. Just make sure your dad doesn't let it get bad because once it gets really bad it is hard to get it under control.
We kept dad at home, which is what he wanted, it was very hard but I am glad we did as he hated hospitals and he got to go with all his loved ones with him!
I am sending you all my strength and support, if you ever need to chat or need advice please don't hesitate to ask! My email is cheriewolski@bigpond.com.

brainman · Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 3:33 pm Post subject: Re: My Dads diagnosis

Oh Killarney, I am so sorry about this dreadful news. Most pancreatic cancer patients do at one time or another have jaundice. Unfortunately, Pancreatic Cancer is one of the worse cancers a person can have because of its devastating impact of quality of life issues and because it is so hard to treat.

You and your father are in my thoughts and prayers.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendroglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

jessica026 · Regular Joined: 17 Jan 2008 Posts: 44

dont know if all paitents get jaundiced, but my was early on even before diagnosis.
her color came back to a nice rosey pink when she was really sick (strange i know)..we hadent seen her look so healthy for a long time which is wierd sice this was about 2 weeks before she passed.

daddyslittlegirl · New User Joined: 29 Dec 2008 Posts: 3 Location: Arkansas

Killarny,
I'm so sorry to hear about your dad's diagnosis. My dad was given the bad news that he has PC on December 3rd. He has had excruciating pain, but that is now well controlled with continued release pain killers. He is no longer having to take the regular pain killers for breakthrough pain. It sounds as if your dad's cancer is more advanced than my father's though. Hopefully, he will not have to deal with the unbearable pain. So far, my dad has not been jaundiced at all.

I will keep you, your dad and your family in my prayers!

Cindy

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