Mum diagnosed 4 weeks ago

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

My Mum has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer about 4 weeks ago. After months of suffering and testing, the CT scan came back with the news. My family couldnt accept it as she has had about 30 different blood tests and we honestly thought that if it was serious it would have shown up in this way alot earlier. Now she has been told to live life to the full. She only has a few months if that. She is on oxycontin and oxynorm morphine and numerous pain killing dugs to keep it at bay. Her chemo starts today and they are putting her on a new experimentatl drug I think it is called M200. There are 10 people in the world that are on this so we are praying that this will help.

It is very hard caring for a parent especially when you feel so helpless when the pain factor is just to much. Even though the drugs are helping, the suffering is unbearable to watch. My mum is 57 and always been the backbone of the family. My dad is finding it hard but doing everything he can for his wife. She has good days and bad. The bad days are always about ending her life and being upset about not seeing the family and friends again and that she is not ready to go. She is very alert mentally and is aware of what is happening to her. She also knows that her body is deterioating and is so down about all the drugs she is taking.

Is there anyone out there that has went through this and what I can expect in the next few months. The cancer nurses and consultants are great but they dont feel the pain I have. I have lots of resentment as she sufferened for 5 months before she was diagnosed. This was due to delays and doctors not knowing what to do for her and a total inexperience of the whole situtation. Even emergency docs not coming out as she was not classed as being an emergency. I am the strong one in the family and I am finding it difficult to deal with. Especially when I am the calming family member and all it takes is one word out of place and she is so upset and down.

Would love to hear from anyone that can help.

Di

Mae · Regular Joined: 28 Jul 2005 Posts: 22

My husband was diagnoised the last of arpil, 2005. We had a similar experience. He had an upset stomach for a few mo. took antacids and felt like it was stress. then the 1st of april he developed a lot of abd. pain we went to E.R. and they did cat scan of abd., at first they told us everything looked ok, then later that day they said they saw something a shadow on the pancreas. They ran a lot of test and dismissed him from the hops. We kept calling the Dr. over the next few weeks and finaly the Dr. had a needle bx done, the Dr said the bx was neg for ca. But then he ran a C19 it was elevated. he wanted to do another needle BX but it kept getting postponed. We went to Mayo's In two days they told us he had inorperable pancreatic ca with mets to lung and liver. Gave him a few mo. to live. We came home and have started chemo. gemzar. So far he has had three treatemnts. He is unable to have a treatement every week its every two. He still tries to work some every day. his pain and nausea is controled with Meds. he is loosing wt quickley and finaly the Dr put him on megaec. the megaec has helped some. I try to enjoy every day with him. we know time is limited but are hoping the gemzaar works and slows the process down. it is very hard most days but I try. i do not know how I will continue if we don't get more time. But try to remember the words of mother treresa " God wil not give you more than you can handle I just wish he did not trust me so much." I am 51yrs old and cannot envision my life without him. He is my strength & I am the stength for my family an friends. I try to read uplifting sotries or as i call them beating the odds like( gemzar.com Randy Steins Life Story) good luck and we will all pray for you.
Hugs Mae

cninos · New User Joined: 29 Jul 2005 Posts: 4

Hi Diane,

If it's worth anything, my father has been receiving treatments of M200 for stage IV melanoma. He is involved with a clinical trial of the drug in Tucson, AZ, and is due for a scan next Tuesday, 8/2. We'll know then if the drug is working. He was the first patient in AZ to receive the M200 drug and is using it in combination with DTIC.

Carla

cninos · New User Joined: 29 Jul 2005 Posts: 4

Hi Diane,

Just to follow-up, the M-200 clinical trial cancer drug seems to be working for my father. The melanoma tumor on his liver seems to be shrinking. I hope it will have the same results for your mother. Take care.

Carla

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

Hi Carla,

Thanks for letting me know. My Mum is still having chemo and M200. She is due to get scan in a few weeks to see if the treatment is working. She seems to be ok. She has still lost weight but her general well being is better. Her stomache is still big which is where the tumour is. She is weak and sometimes falls over. I also noticed that her hands shake but she takes gabapenton for the nerve control pain which I think is one of the side effects. Also she is taking steriods for the liver.

Hope m200 is working for your dad and fingers crossed it is reducing the tumour.

Di

cninos · New User Joined: 29 Jul 2005 Posts: 4

Hi Di,

Please let me know how the scan turns out for your mom. My dad has had a 5 percent shrinkage of the tumor so far and I can only hope your mom has the same effect, if not better. How is the M200 being administered? Is it in combination with another drug? Please know I'll be thinking of you and your mom. I'm hoping this M200 is the new cancer wonder drug!

Carla

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

Hi Carla,

My Mum got her scan results of her treatment. The tumour has not increased in size it has stayed the same. Not sure if this is due to the chemo or the M200 drug but the main thing is that it has contained it for now. The only problem is that she is sleeping more and very tired and weak. The docs have decided to increase the steriods to give her more energy and hopefully keep her going for the now. She will get another scan in a few months and if the tumour has grown then she will be taken off all the teatment. Fingers crossed eh!

Hows your dad been?

Di

cninos · New User Joined: 29 Jul 2005 Posts: 4

Hi Di,

I'm so glad to hear about your mom. I can only hope the tumor will now start to shrink for her. She sounds like a strong woman.

Unfortunately, the news isn't good about my dad. He developed complications and they discovered the tumor has grown. As a result, the doctor took him off the treatment and has sent him home. I'm just devastated. All we can do now is make him as comfortable as possible. I am trying to get a second opinion and I hope to hear from that doctor soon. All we can do is hope and pray at this point.

Please keep me posted on your mom. I really hope she pulls through this!

Carla

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

Hi Carla,

I am so sorry about your Dad's treatment. You must be devastated. I was really worried that the docs would say the same to us this week so I did prepare myself for the worst. I know that this is only a temp. situation but it is giving me some "extra" time with her. Each day is a blessing.

It is such a terrible illness that it is rare for anyone getting through it. And its people like you and I that know the suffering they face each day.

Keep being strong. You have to be for your Dad and the rest of your family. You will have inner strength that will keep you going through this difficult time.

Di

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

Hi Carola,

My Mum died on Christmas day. It was a very sad time for the family. That was her goal to see Christmas. Now she aint sufferring anymore but I miss her.

Hows your Dad.

Take Care
Di

amycock · New User Joined: 28 Mar 2006 Posts: 1 Location: Boston, MA

My father was just diagnosed on March 7th and started chemo on March 23rd. It is stage IV and has already spread to the liver. This weekend he has been both very sick and very tired. He picked up a bit today. Can anyone shed any light in similar circumstances this could help? My father is 70 and I know this could only be a matter of a couple of months... thank you

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