My Dad has Pancreatic Cancer

so sad · New User Joined: 01 Dec 2005 Posts: 2

I'm so sad and in shock.

One month ago he went into the hospital because he started vomiting bile. The did 2 gastroscopies and 2 colonoscopies and couldn't find the source of the obstruction. Then they did 2 CT scans with contrast and didn't see anything other than "thickening of the mesentery", which apparently isn't unusual in a 72 year old man. They did a laparotamy last Wednesday expecting to find adhesions from a previous surgery five years ago.

When the surgeon came out and told us that they'd found a mass the size of a fist on his pancreas we were stunned. They had to do a gastrojejeunostomy to allow him to eat, although one week later he still hasn't been able to.

He apparently is a very atypical presentation in that he didn't have any pain or jaundice and because it didn't show up on the CT scan.

He is going to start chemo next week, but they told us that the tumour is too big to resect.

We are meeting with the oncologist next week, at which point we'll have more answers.

All I want is for my Dad to make it home for Christmas. I just got married 6 months ago and can't believe my Dad might not even make it to January. He has lost 25 lbs and is very down (understandably).

Anyway, thanks for letting me ramble. It's been hard reading the previous posts, but good at the same time.

leo · Site Admin Joined: 23 Sep 2004 Posts: 1574

Hello

Sorry to hear about your father. Depending on the location of the tumor, it can present in different ways, such as how your father did. Hopefully he made it trough the holidays.

best regards,
Dr Leo
_________________
Leonardo F - Webmaster Cancer Forums
Disclaimer: this information is for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice.

so sad · New User Joined: 01 Dec 2005 Posts: 2

Thanks Leo, my Dad did in fact make it home for Christmas. He's doing suprisingly well actually. Even though he is stage 4, he has no pain (has never had pain) and no jaundice. He's had 3 weeks of Gemzar and is doing ok.

His biggest challenge is getting his strength back after being in bed for 7 weeks. He is eating well and is working with physio. He has a CT scan in Feb after his 2nd round of chemo, so we've got our fingers crossed.

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