Mom has stage IV PC

mlmarino · New User Joined: 27 Oct 2007 Posts: 2 Location: Wisconsin

I can relate to all of you and I have been trying so desperately to find out answers and ways to comfort my mom. I watched her deteriorate thru summer, suffering since May, back n forth to doctors who kept telling her to excercise more to get her back strong, which she faithfully did amidst the unbearable pain. As Sept approached she became so ill with vomiting she was taken to the ER where they finally did a cat scan only to find Pancreas cancer which spread to spleen and liver. The doctor who had failed to listen and basically misdiagnosed her had the audacity to come into the room a few days later to see how she was.....now I may not be in the medical field but to me the symptoms were on the wall.....and he should have ordered tests 4 months ago, she knew something was wrong no one would listen. I am completely disgusted with the medical horror stories. Why aren't these tests ordered at the onset of any type of excrutiating pain? She has incredible insurance which would have covered these tests had they been ordered. I have come to the conclusion it is best to be your own doctor, insist and demand testing, if no one listens, go elsewhere, after all it is life and death we are talking about.
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Melissa

mlmarino · New User Joined: 27 Oct 2007 Posts: 2 Location: Wisconsin

anyone know how to get more space? Once diagnosed with IV and after an initial hosp stay for 2 weeks to get the clots under control she was sent home and told to arrange for hospice and prepare for end of life. My mom is 78 was very active, did not drink or smoke, did not have diabetes so where did this come from? I did read an article from John Hopkins about a new discovery linking an "aspirin a day" to PC cancer. She has had heart issues for years and has been on coumidin as well as an aspirin a day for many years not sure if they are related but one has to wonder. John Hopkins also indicating PC cancer is under funded yet it is the 17th leading cancer affecting 5 per 100,000 people. My mom lives alone but close by and between my brother and other sister we are able to check in frequently. She is deteriorating quickly, on 2nd week of Gemzar, not sure if she can survive another week and whether or not it is worth it? One good day out of 7 I guess is the norm. Not able to eat due to vomiting, crying uncontrollably and emotional. I feel helpless any suggestions for the vomiting? I have tried everything. She vomits ensure and only is able to keep water down. This is a horrible disease. I have been searching for answers as doctors are vague. Marty's story was amazing, god bless his soul he is no longer suffering! He is the reason I am here!
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Melissa

brainman · Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2007 2:26 pm Post subject: Re: Mom has stage IV PC

Melissa, I am very sorry about your mother's cancer. Pancreatic cancer stage IV is a very bad cancer to have because it causes so much pain. Unfortunately, our most informed member on PC just died after surviving for over 2 1/2 years with stage IV. He was a fighter and a man of great courage, love, and faith. It takes all of those and aggressive treatment to survive that long. It sounds like your doctors have given up on your mother. Have you asked for a second opinion? Is she at a major medical center? At her advanced age, she may not be strong enough to tolerate aggressive chemotherapy. However, she is still alive. Make the most of every day you still have with her.

You and your mother are in my thoughts and prayers.

I split off your posts and started a topic of your own so that people can reply to you without hijacking the other topic.
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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
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

wannaknow · Regular Joined: 19 Oct 2007 Posts: 24

M: So sorry to hear about your Mom & her suffering.
The Conclusion You wrote in your 1st post is the approach (unfortunately) the patient & family have to use at every stage of every illness.

Given the circumstances (doctors less than helpful to date) maybe it would be good to contact Hospice. From all reports, they listen well, can be a great resource (ie; what to do, doctors to contact, etc) & also know how to provide comfort in many ways to the patient & family. Getting your Mom's discomfort & stomach distress under control asap is very important. They will also help calm her to some degree

I'm in no way suggesting giving up but it will take away that "all alone feeling" & "oh my god what do we do now". Hopefully You can find a new doctor (internal medicine, cancer specialist or oncologist) ie; referral from ER radiologist that took the scan so that you can have more detailed discussions (yes, 2nd opinion) on what options are available, how much the other organs are involved. If you are not close enough to a major cancer center, it may require travel but well worth it.

In my Mother's case, I took the report copies of the various tests and used the internet to educate myself on the terms & possible options.
Best wishes.........keep fighting.

brainman · Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2007 7:26 pm Post subject: Re: Mom has stage IV PC

The services of a hospice will require a doctor's order but I have now doubt that a doctor will write one for your mother. That will be a key indicator for you as well since in most cases hospice does not get involved until a doctor thinks that the patient has less than six months to live. That does not mean that hospice will end its services to your mother after six months. It just means that in the best assessment of the doctors the patient will probably not live longer than six months.
_________________
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/

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