my wife and i are wondering

markl007us · Regular Joined: 19 Aug 2006 Posts: 20

Well, hello again to all of you. It has been several months since I have logged in here to see what is going on with all of you. I see so many new cases and I see that this terrible disease keeps affecting many lives along the way.

My wife is now 14 months along the way with inoperable pancreatic cancer. She was given 6 - 12 months to live in August 2006. We stopped chemo in February 2007 because of so many complications with it in her body. The tumor is still about 3 1/2 inches in diameter and has not grown as of two weeks ago. Everyone is taking that as good news but I am not so quick to decide. I just dont want to get knocked off my feet again like I did the first time.

She is taking a lot of pain meds to control the pain from the tumor. She takes 15 oxycodone, 15 xanax, 10 demerol, 10 ml liquid morphine each day as well as wear 4 - 100 mcg duragesic patches every three days. It is mind boggling what she takes to control the pain and still has break through pain!!

I do know that she is at the stage where she has such terrible nightmares every time she falls asleep and she even has trouble staying in a conversation while she is awake, which is surely from the meds. She has good days and bad days. But we keep plugging along not knowing what to expect each day.

I would love someones input as to what might be happening. Good to share with all of you once again and may God bless you all

Mark

brainman · Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2007 3:16 pm Post subject: Re: my wife and i are wondering

Mark, I am so sorry that your wife is suffering so much pain. My goodness, she is on a lot of pain medications!! She must really be a strong woman to have lived this long after first diagnosis. I do hope that the good days are more than the bad ones. I also hope that you are doing your best to make whatever days she still has left good quality days.

God be with you and your wife. The two of you are in my thoughts and prayers.
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skychief · New User Joined: 17 Oct 2007 Posts: 5

Mark, I'm very new to the site. My identical twin brother has pancreatic metastatic to the liver. On his last scan Oct 11th, the narative said extensive metastaic disease to the liver-largest lesion 8cm. Pancreatic head mass measured 8.5cmx9.5cm. His cancer has been nonresponsive to 5 months of Gemzar/Tarceva and last week the Dr. said he didn't see more than 6 more months with or without chemo. My brother elected to try a Gemzar/Taxatere/Xelota chemo but it was so toxic he only had 1 tretment and spent 2 days the following week getting a hydration intravenous treatment. He is only 115lbs -down from 165. and I would like to see his quality of life improve. He is at the same # of oxycodone as your wife and is continuing to think he needs chemo to survive. It is good to hear that your wife has had almost 8 months w/o chemo. and has no regrets. Is her cancer limited to the pancrease or has it spread?
I'll add her to my prayers. Good luck!

markl007us · Regular Joined: 19 Aug 2006 Posts: 20

Thanks for the reply sky chief. Her cancer is around two veins in the pancreas and has attached to the stomach wall. SDo far it has not spread. I know it is certainly a nasty disease. I will pray for the best for your brother. The one thing my wife and I found is that with the Gemzar and tarceva and Xeloda we found that she was fighting the side effects of the medicine and not the disease. This became evident when we stopped it all and now their has been no advancement. Thanks again for your comments.

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