Comments on: Pancreatic Cancer

By: Mary Orr

Mary Orr — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 08:36:26 +0000

My mother and her younger brother both died from pancreatic cancer. The upshot of my mother’s death is that she was treated by an oncologist for “old folks leukemia” for YEARS prior to surgery scheduled to remove her gall bladder, which found the metastatic pancreatic cancer! Perhaps this is somewhat common!?!? Anyway, I have the symptoms listed above in Sandy’s reply, except for the back pain. Since there is significant family history, I think I should probably get checked; however, I’m wondering about the best way to proceed…..I was thinking about seeing a gastroenterologist because of the nausea, sweating and bowel wierdness, don’t have a lot of faith in any particular specialty physician, don’t have ANY faith in any particular clinic, etc…..What do you suggest?

By: Robert Emerson

Robert Emerson — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 08:08:43 +0000

This is one of those quiet diseases that don’t get the attention it deserves. Nor does it get the funding to help prevent or cure it. Having just read Sandy’s post I can clearly see this is not a disease to mess around with. For a doctor to just keep putting off testing to see if the person just starts to feel better on their own clearly shows me the medical field is far away from knowing much about this disease process. How do we catch it early before a certainty of fatal death? how can we have early diagnosing? What more simplier tests can help us detect it? And how can treat patients more comfortable in the later stages before death? These and many more questions need to be addressed and answered to help find a cure to this deadly disease. This is one scary disease and even tho I have no experiences with any person having this disease, it scares me and it should scare medical experts as well. Let’s start focusing right here and put the word out and start donation programs to help learn much much more of this horrible disease. I am sorry for all those who have fell victum to Pancreatic Cancer.

By: chris

chris — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:12:50 +0000

I know about this disease. it is awful to watch someone die from pancreatic cancer. I lost my sister in Oct. 07, she was diagnosed in Aug and gone 3 months later. She had so much pain but she was so strong. Never complained. We have a fundraiser every year now to get funds for early detection for this disease. I am truly sorry for your loss.

By: Sandy

Sandy — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 21:13:38 +0000

I still have a hard time understanding why there is not enough funding for the study of this disease. I lost my mom to this disease. She was told that maybe she was “just depressed” from my father’s passing. My mom would call the doctor’s office and tell them continuously that something just did not seem right. Unfortunately she knew more than they did. With many more symptoms and tests slipping through the cracks she was finally diagnosed. In her case it was too late. PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you or a family member notice an irregularity in the color of your bowel movement (which you will certainly know is not right) if you feel very nauseated and sweaty, almost as if you had been working out in the yard too long or had a violent sudden case of a flu, loss of weight and appetite, a pain like you have cracked a rib, immediately see a doctor. INSIST on getting all of the blood work necessary to rule out the pancreas or liver. And please don’t put it off. I heard stories of people living with this disease for many years. It can happen if you act wisely and be very diligent with your health care physician. Become the doctor. Do your homework. And DO NOT LET THEM DISMISS any of the symptoms to be your imagination if you truly have belief that something is just not right. If there is one thing that I can do to help with what happened to my mom and in her memory is to try to save another family from going through this horrible experience.