Am I being toooo positive?

little sis · New User Joined: 15 Oct 2007 Posts: 3

Hi there,

New here.

My sister was unexpectedly diagnosed with liver and pancreatic cancer about a two months ago. I am a negative person by nature. I am trying to be so positve, but at the same time I don't want to minimize the reality of what is going on here. Where is the balance?

How do I be supportive/empathize and stay positive at the same time?

I mean hope is all we have right?...and it is very important for someone living with cancer to stay positive.

Thanks for reading and helping in advance.

brainman · Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 12:24 am Post subject: Re: Am I being toooo positive?

Hi little sis,

First, I am very sorry about your sisters cancer. Can you clarify something for me? It is very rare for someone to have two primary cancers at the same time. My off the cuff guess is that she has pancreatic cancer that has metastasized to her liver. Am I right?

Second, it is very hard to know whether of not you are being supportive AND realistic at the same time. As you can sense yourself, it is a matter of balance. Hope IS always right. However, true hope does not discount the reality of the situation. Regardless of whether your sister has two cancer or just one that has spread to other organs, her prognosis is not too good. There are members of this forum that have lived for several years with a Grade IV Pancreatic Cancer and your sister can do the same. She need to consult with her doctor to determine how aggressive she wants to be with her cancer(s). Life will never be the same for her but she IS still alive. When you and your sister fully understand that and accept it, you have found true Hope and are in balance.

I am thinking about and praying for you and your sister. Keep us informed.
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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
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little sis · New User Joined: 15 Oct 2007 Posts: 3

Hi again

This is all so new....fortunately I guess. My sister went in to have her gallballder removed and they found all this. It has been thought all along that she has pancreatic cancer that spread to the liver....although, there was a mass on her liver last fall that she was assured was simply a cyst, which I think was quite different.

However, she does not show the signs of a typical pc patient...so, now they are thinking it is primary liver and it is possible, small albeit that she has simply a mass in the pancreas, that is non-malignant. They are to do a pancreatic biopsy via endoscopy this month. (not to many people do this)

It is strange though, a lot of things, with regards to the liver site. Her liver enzymes are normal, it is not in the bile duct, a lot of things really, even with the pancreas. I told her this is good that she is not the norm, for a lot of reasons. I used to a be a drug rep for many years and know too much sometimes about survival rates and such. When you have a stranger case that is when all the tumor boards want to hear your case and work on it and give more ideas.

She does not even seem sick except for we know what she has inside her....Wanted to share something I thought to be profound. Someone recently said to me..."people are a lot like tea bags, because when you put them in a little or lot of hot water, you see just how strong they really are."

brainman · Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 1:45 pm Post subject: Re: Am I being toooo positive?

Yes, the possibility of it being a primary liver cancer is there too. Without a biopsy of both this growth in her liver and pancrease you will not know for sure.

I to have worked closely with medical professional and have attended many tumor board conferences... including one about my case. When my mother was diagnosed with a GBM just a few years after I was diagnosed with a grade II glioma, it was like hearing my doctor tell me about my cancer all over again... literally word for word. Of course, with a GBM her prognosis was much worse than mine. In fact, she died in 1998, 2 months after her diagnosis.

It is strange that your sister is not having any of the classical symptoms of either pancreatic problems and liver problems. I hope it remains that way for a long time.

I am moving your thread to the pancreatic cancer forum. If it turns out to be a primary liver cancer, I will move it again Wink

.
_________________
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/

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

Hello

First, sorry to hear about her. But I wanted to point out that you should try not to make any conclusions at this point, since she is still being evaluated. I recognize this is not easy, but things can cahnge drastically when we doctors receive further information from tests. Hopefully things will change for the better.

Wish her good luck !

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

In · Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 7:45 am Post subject: Re: Am I being toooo positive?

I agree with Leo- and he knows Wink

Try to wait and see- try to relax as much as posible- i know thats so hard.

good luck
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Thinking of you Inica

*Administrator*

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Sternum~
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little sis · New User Joined: 15 Oct 2007 Posts: 3

The original doctors were WRONG. She only has liver cancer....they were wrong about the pancreatic cancer. Never give up hope!

2prissygirls · New User Joined: 21 Jan 2008 Posts: 2

Hello! I just was reading about your sister. I am so glad to hear that it is liver cancer and not pancreatic cancer. I am just curious to know how is she doing as my father has pancreatic cancer, stage 4. However, he does not have normal symptoms like pain, jaundice, etc. and I wonder if he could be misdiagnosised as well. Please let me know how things are for you and your sister. Cancer is so tough deal with.

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