Just lost my mum to pancreatic cancer age 58 years young

sommerville · New User Joined: 23 Feb 2007 Posts: 1

7 months ago my mum was diagnosed with a 5cm lesion on the tail of her pancreas, a biopsy reviled an aggressive cancer, resection was ruled out, as it was too close to major blood vessels. Then followed 6 weeks of Gemcitabine chemotherapy, no trials were available. After the 6 week course the CT scan showed the tumour had remained the same size. The second course of chemo (which my mum hated) had failed and showed metastasis to the liver and peritoneum. Therefore the chemo was stopped on the 24 th December 2006, My mum passed away on the 22nd February 2007. Having watched the whole process from start to finish, the worst part of this whole nightmare was pain, and the inability to control it, as opioid pain killers tend to give great bowel distress and constipation, which again leads to more pain, even with strong laxatives. If I could give any advice I would push for a celiac nerve block, my Mum did not take this but on hindsight she should have. My mum was full of life, the life and soul of a party, loved people and animals a remarkable woman and mother, and will be sorely missed by family and friends. If you have any questions about anything don’t hesitate to ask.

Diane Summers · New User Joined: 26 Jul 2005 Posts: 9

Hi,

I havent been on this forum for a while but read your posting today.

My Mum died on Christmas day 2005 also aged 58yrs old. When reading your notes it brought it back to me. She had a very similar time scale as your Mum. Again the treatment she had kept it at bay for a time and then it started spreading. Watching the suffereing and pain is not a nice experience for anyone and will stay with me the rest of my life.

I know that you mentioned the nerve block but my Mum had this done but it failed to work. Sometimes with these tumours the nerve areas are so badly damaged that the block fails. All we wanted was to stop her suffering with the pain. So she was mega disappointed that it failed to even make any difference.

Even though it is over a year now since I lost her, she was my best friend and totally miss her every day. The loss to the family and my Dad having to try build his life again is heartbreaking. Do you have a big family?

I know that it will be hard for you but what has helpd me is knowing that she isnt suffering anymore and that she is in a better place now. I hope you find the strength to look ahead.

Take care
Diane

reenie

Hi,
So sorry to hear of your loss. That's a phrase I'm sure you are hearing very often these days. Please know that although it doesn't really help, it is sent with the hope that your memories and time will make your burden easier to bear. It is brave of you to offer help to those going through this ordeal. It seems we are all in a club we never asked to join. We are also in it for such a tragically short period of time.
As far as the celiac plexus block is concerned, I will just give a little info on our experience with it- maybe someone who is on the fence will find this helpful. My husband, Sam, had great success with the CPB when they used the anesthetic, but the phenol failed. That was one of the more cruel events as the anesthetic had left him pain free for the first time in months-we were so excited to go ahead with the phenol. Sam has his done at a pain management center but they had offered to do it at Univ. of VA when he had his EUS/FNA done.All that to say, it may or may not help. There are some risks involved but Sam had no ill effects from the procedure except the heartbreak of having it not work.
Peace, Reenie

hels_bels · Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2007 2:35 am Post subject: My Mum too

Hi, my Mum was 58 too.

She was diagnosed January 2006 and had the whipple procedure in Feb 06, she was given the all clear in Sept 06’.

In Nov’ 06 it was back in anterior of her stomach and other places, she went back into hospital to try and clear the jaundice but came home Sat before xmas and went downhill very rapidly.

We were all with her at the end, she passed away on the 3rd January this year.

I still find it very hard, I am 34 and miss her so much, I used to speak to her most days and talking about what happened to her upsets me most of the time.

I have been looking for someone who is in the same situation and looks like I have found someone. So if you want to have a private chat - germanshepherds@sky.com.

Please sign the petition at the following link.

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Pancreatic/

Helen xx

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