What to do, where to go.

Arnie1 · New User Joined: 11 Sep 2007 Posts: 2

In mid July, my mother-in-law got a stent for a sudden case of jaundice. Then we were sent to a "top" surgeon for removal of a mass in her pancreas. He said he couldn't operate, because it was too close to vessels (arteries, I guess). The biopsy taken by the gastroenterologist, who inserted the stent, came back negative. The "top" surgeon was certain it was cancer and he arranged for another biopsy (two weeks later). After waiting 4 hours, they decided they needed to do it with contrast, which they couldn't do, because of a known allergy. After more waiting, another doctor did a CT with contrast and decided that the location made it impossible to do a biopsy through her belly. After more waiting, they did the biopsy by endoscopy and (after more waiting) it again came back negative. Now they are suggesting that they do surgery to get a better biopsy. It is now two months since the jaundice and we can't even get treatment! Her back pain is getting worse and we are very upset over the constant delays. What do we do? Do we have the surgery or head (immediately) to a major cancer center? We are in South Florida, but only a few hours from Orlando, Tanpa or Jacksonville. Thanks.

brainman · Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2007 8:13 pm Post subject: Re: What to do, where to go.

I am so sorry to hear about your mother-in-laws condition. I assume then that she is not currently at a major cancer center? Is she in any condition to be moved? If so, ask her current medical team for a referral to one. I am sure there are great medical centers in a number of nearby locations.

Pancreatic Cancer is one of the worst cancers to diagnose. Often, it does require surgery to obtain a good sample.

I will keep your mother-in-law 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 Oligodendoglioma 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/

freeio · Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2007 3:35 am Post subject: on negative biopsies

In my case all of the early biopsies came back negative for cancer too. This happens because the biopsy needles are small and easily miss the cancerous part. The first time that they were able to accurately diagnose my pancreatic cancer was after a Whipple Procedure, when the pathologist could check everything which the surgeon removed (which was quite a lot of me).

I advise anyone in your situation to immediately go to a major cancer center, because there they know what to look for, know where to look, have the best diagnostic tools and staff who are highly skilled in this area. From the time my GP suspected pancreatic cancer to the time I was at Kirklin Clinic/UAB Hospital in Birmingham was about two weeks, and from then on, Kirklin has handled the whole matter.

I am alive three years after a diagnosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. I am in stage IV, but am still mostly functional, and actually able to telecommute to work every day. So when it is dealt with early and aggressively, there is at least the hope of medium-term survival for pancreatic cancer cases.

My pancreatic cancer blog listed below may be of interest to you. It is exceedingly frank, and covers a number of topics which are might answer some questions for you. The only drawback is that three years of blog is kind of long.

I Hope this helps.

Marty
_________________
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whipple procedure, Oct. 21, 2004
28 days of radiation
56 days of Chemo using Xeloda
diagnosed as progressive recurrent pancreatic adenocarcinoma (Stage IV) Jun. 20, 2006
was treated with gemcitabine, oxaliplatin, and tarceva, which all failed.
Cancer blog: http://diehlmartin.com/cancer.html

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