Asking for a little prayer...

[Desert Tortoise]

Linda, I'm so sorry. I don't have any information to share but I do have my prayers and I'm a big believer in those.

It will be a long road with lots of ups and downs. With a good medical team and the love and support of friends and family (fellow TErs), the burden will lighten.

You are in my prayers,
dt

[nscrbug]

So today's appointment with the medical oncologist was...in my sister's own words..."a real slap in the face". Yeah...it's bad. The tumor is in the body of the pancreas and is wrapped around several important blood vessels that feed other nearby organs...therefore, it cannot be removed. Because of this, it is classified as Stage III cancer. Ironically, it has not spread to other areas...that we know of. But because of the blood vessels involved, it's a serious situation. Obviously, we will be seeking a 2nd opinion with a surgical oncologist to determine if it really is inoperable. As for prognosis, the doctor didn't seem like she wanted to pinpoint a timeframe, but kept throwing out "10.5 months" as an "average"...and that was WITH a chemo/radiation program.

I still have hope that seeing a surgical oncologist might see things differently and be able to offer another option for her. She is due to get a detailed CT scan of the pancreas on Wednesday, to get a clearer image of the blood vessels...hopefully this scan will bring a glimmer of hope.

Thank you all again for your thoughts & prayers!

Linda

[indysteel]

Wow, Linda. That's a lot for you and your sister to take in. I hope the CT scan proves helpful and more hopeful than today's consult. I'm sure I speak for everyone here in saying that we're rooting for her. Thoughts and prayers and (((()))).

[zoom-zoom]

Wow, Linda. That's a lot for you and your sister to take in. I hope the CT scan proves helpful and more hopeful than today's consult. I'm sure I speak for everyone here in saying that we're rooting for her. Thoughts and prayers and (((()))).

For certain. (((Linda))) I hope the 2nd opinion gives a more positive prognosis for your sister.

[Possegal]

A comprehensive cancer center is a great place for your sister to be seen. I'm glad she's going to an appointment there. Ask the surgeon if there is potential that if chemo/radiation shrinks the tumor enough, could it then make surgery an option? I have no idea, but that has happened with people I know with other cancers. My sister wasn't a surgery candidate for another reason but then after the chemo/radiation, she was. It wasn't successful, but they were able to try. But she's still doing very well. She doesn't have pancreatic mind you, but sometimes it helps to hear of other people doing well beyond what the median survival time is.

And that is the only number a doctor can really give you, median survival. At this time, half of the people with this stage of this disease are still alive, half are not. Then there are many reasons why what happens to the population isn't indicative of what will happen to any one person. No one person is a statistic. No doctor knows how long anyone has to live. They know what the population statistics tell them. I'm always dismayed when I hear of doctors telling anyone "you have X months to live". This is all horrid enough, without being told a defined timeframe. My sister was told that 23 months was the median for her disease, that was hard enough. I'm glad she wasn't told that she had 23 months to live. Next week will be 49 months.

I'm so sorry you and your family are going through this. I understand all too well how it feels to sit there feeling so helpless while your sister is in a battle like this. It sounds like you are doing everything you can for her, but the powerless feeling totally s*&#s. I have a good bit of experience in this area - both professionally and 49 months as a sister to a cancer patient. If I can do anything, don't hesitate to PM me.

You and your sister are in my prayers!

[spindizzy]

Your sister has a wonderful sister. Strength and healing are sent your way.

[pll]

Thinking of you and your sister this morning. Best wishes for today's appointment.