Comments on: Pancreatic Cancers to Patrick Swayze and Steve Jobs

By: Karen

Karen — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 23:45:52 +0000

I lost my husband to pancreatic cancer also. He was diagnosed in Jan.08 and passed away Nov.24th. He stayed in alot of pain and like Chris mentioned he hurt so bad he could not even lay down. If i had it to do all over again, i would not recommend the chemo and radiation for i truely think that hurt him more than it helped him. He had 30 treatments and it did not do a thing but spread even more. I really feel if he had not found out he had it, he would have lived a lot longer. It is very hard to watch a loved one suffer and die from this horrible cancer. My heart and prayers go out to anyone and everyone that has had to see this happen to a loved one.

By: jm

jm — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 13:42:17 +0000

My sister, 33, wife and mother of a 4yr old, was diagnosed Oct 08 and died July 09. Like Jobs, she had a similar diagnosis, stage IV, metastatic to her liver. She had 100% coverage in her health plan, yet was NOT offered the option of a whipple, intrathecal chemo, and in fact, in MN, a transplant was not provided as an option, especially with metastatic cancer. Whipple procedure does not guarantee cancer removal. Nor does a transplant if the cancer cells are in your bloodstream. Watch out for Obama’s health plan. Today we already have ‘preferencial’ medicine. Social medicine will only make procedures and outcomes more selective and elitist.
I agree with “Chris” – 6/30/09. No one deserves to live more than another. I wish no one the life experience of watching your vital, life filled loved one literally waste to skin and bones while enduring unimaginable physical pain while their muscles are eaten by cancer and atrophy takes away structure and body funtion, and replaced with inflammation, cancerous fluid retention. My hope for all diagnosed a life well lived and extended life. Become active in the health care system. Be active in research and politics. In the end we all die. No one should have to die at the hands of cancer.

By: italian doctor

italian doctor — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 11:37:20 +0000

I can understand Dr. Hawkins’ position, who fear to loose money with Obama reform, but is still acceptable that in USA more than 50 millions citizens cannot access cure? I believe it is unaccettable in a civil contry. In all other most important country of the world health care is able to cover all the citizens, and this is important. Of course perhaps Steve Jobs wont be able to have a liver transplant, but all other people, no regard for age, sex or money, will receive all the cure they really need, FREE OF CHARGE

By: KAOS

KAOS — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 23:11:27 +0000

I have a female friend who’s 5 male family members have all died of pancreatic cancer. There must be a genetic link. My Mother died of Pancreatic Cancer. I think that C-19 blood test should be routinely administered to those that have lost a family member to pancreatic cancer. It would not have helped my Mother as she was the first in our family, but I hope it may save my children. Also administering the C-19 blood test to those patients that repeatedly seek medical assistance because of abdominal pain, should be a standard of care.

By: Ruth

Ruth — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:29:04 +0000

The difference in pancreatic cancer is the location of the tumor. In the head of the pancrease makes it a fast growing with metastization rapid, the other can have surgery with hope. It’s a misdiagnosed cancer since it mimics acid reflux, pulled muscles, indigestion, back pain, and gall baldder issues. It can be diagnosed earlier if a C-19 blood test was done, since it is a “tumor marker” test. Most people do not consider “cancer” to be the cause of these physical ailments. I believe the blood test should be done along with the routine blood work, then it will be an earlier diagnoses.

By: mmburgoyne

mmburgoyne — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:20:12 +0000

I am so happy for steve, he should do well. I wish him the best. Patrick on the other hand has a sad fate awaiting him. I pray that he doesn’t experience pain and that he has some wonderful days with his family. I’m sure he treasures every moment he has. God bless them both. PB

By: farooq gandhi

farooq gandhi — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:56:44 +0000

death is inevitable. it is part of life cycle. what we are trying to do is interfere with lifes natural cycle. and that causes more pain. science should try to prolong life only upto to a certain point and leave the rest to nature to take its own course of action especially during these high tech research like DNA and genetics.

By: Martin

Martin — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:13:17 +0000

C’est la vie

By: Mary ann Harrison

Mary ann Harrison — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 09:52:52 +0000

This is excellent information but I can’t tell who posted it or wrote it and I would like to know so I can be sure it’s trustworthy. If the above info is correct it helps explain things in a thorough and concise manor.

By: chris l

chris l — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 04:28:11 +0000

My husband died at age 41 of Stage 4 pancreatic cancer with metasis to the liver. His symptoms were similar to Patrick Swayze’s.
I am now a 37 year old widow with 3 children ages 6-15. I would not wish this illness on my worst enemy. He was diagnosed on Nov.3rd 2008 and passed away Feb. 1st of this year. In less than 3 months, I watched my 185lb. husband whittle down to skin and bones. He slept at our kichen table for the last 3 months of his life because the pain was too unbearable to lay down. No medications could alleviate the pain enough to even sleep in a hospital bed. Our children had the misfortune of watching their father waste away. I would like to pose some questions to you. If you could do anything to prolong your life if stricken with this illness, wouldn’t you do it? Even if you can live with liver metasis for 10 years, does that mean your quality of life is good for all those years? Unless you’ve walked in their shoes or witnessed the loss of a loved one with pancreatic cancer, I would seriously think first before posing such questions. Besides, IS ANYONE’S LIFE WORTH QUESTIONING?