Turn for the worst

Keith · Regular Joined: 30 Aug 2007 Posts: 13

My wife, Gayle, has PC now in her liver. For those of you who do not know me, I'm Gayle's husband of 32 years. We are both 54. In Mid May, she had near remission of her original pc tumor. Gemzar and Tarceva regimes were kept up. Late July, she developed intestinal cramping. That led to a colonoscopy which led to surgery to unblock a tumor on her colon. However, the surgeon did a scope thru her navel and found metastisized PC all over the peritoneal cavity, her diaphram, ovaries, uterus and liver. He did a loop colostomy and got out. Since Aug. 4, with chemo stopped, the pc has spread and grown substantially. Unbelievable growth. Today she had a CT scan (more tumors) and now has jaundice. She is scheduled for a bile stent on Wednesday. Gayle has the most wonderful spirit of anyone I've ever known. I have the hard time because I know the end is coming quickly. Any advice?

In · Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 1:07 am Post subject: Re: Turn for the worst

Dear Keith.

I'm so sorry for the news about your wife- Gayle. I don't know much about PC. But I'm sure someone with more of an idea or advice will reply soon.

Reading your post, I see you have much love for your wife. It's so hard to be the partner, or loved one. So many forget that there is loved ones out there, watching and seeing us in pain. People who are left behind, who have to carry that pain alot longer then ourselves.

I wish that you and your wife, have the time you need. To share the good times, the bad, but most of all to voice that deep love. Many of us don't get that chance. I also wish that when the time comes, it's a peaceful and soft exit. From our, sometimes cruel world.

Thinking of you Inica
_________________
Thinking of you Inica

**Administrator**

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~Car Accident- Broken Back, Ribs, Spleen
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brainman · Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 5:42 am Post subject: Re: Turn for the worst

Keith, my heart breaks when I read your story. Pancreatic Cancer is among the worst cancers we have to deal with because there is usually not much hope. There are a few long-term survivors, but not many. Marty (freeio) is one of those survivors and I am sure he will reply to your post.

You and your wife are in my thoughts and prayers.
_________________
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/

Steph_mom · Regular Joined: 17 Sep 2007 Posts: 10 Location: LOUISIANA

What can words say – I am in your situation and I know this is one of the hardest things if not the hardest thing to do… to watch someone you love so deeply fade away. You are in my thoughts and prayers and my heart breaks for you. Cherish the time you have.

brainman · Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 10:40 pm Post subject: Re: Turn for the worst

Keith, I just read your reply to Steph_mom about what is going on with Gayle. I am so sorry that she is declining so fast. Does she like milk shakes? My father got to the point where an Ensure milk shake was all that he liked.

One can of Ensure (or similar product)
Ice cream (flavor of Gayle's choice)
Protein additive (like muscle builders us)
Fruit (Gayle's choice)
Blend it in a blender and drink it.

Add a multi-vitamin with essential minerals and Gayle should have all the nutrition she needs at this point. Obviously, if she wants other things to eat, give it to her. At this point, you objective is to keep her nurished and hydrated so do not worry about fats or cholesterol (unless she cannot tolerate them due to her cancer).

Best wishes. Gayle and you are still in my thoughts and prayers.
_________________
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/

Steph_mom · Regular Joined: 17 Sep 2007 Posts: 10 Location: LOUISIANA

Keith

I don't know what to say -- to close to home for what my future holds.

Just know that people you have never met are thinking and praying for your family. I feel your pain and share your frustration right along side of you. I wish words could make it easier ….

Keep us updated.

Keith · Regular Joined: 30 Aug 2007 Posts: 13

To all of you, thank you for the prayers and kindness. Today (Wed) Gayle actually wanted a cheese bisquit from McDonal's so I jetted over there and took care of that. She ate the whole thing! That's a victory around here.

Gayle is not on chemo anymore. Tumors are doing their thing, unabated, but we know where we are and in whose hands we are held in. I keep a constant vigil on her spirits and do all I can to keep her mind off her troubles. I have some landscape pros coming over today to start a butterfly garden for her. It's going to be a wonderful project and the crew is getting right on it since Gayle doesn't have long. Our lives have been filled with one person after another going out of their way to make even the smallest difference in Gayle's life. What a blessing! I hope you all have a blessed day today and that something, no matter how small, lifts you up.

Keith

brainman · Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2007 4:19 pm Post subject: Re: Turn for the worst

Keith, you and Gayle are indeed blessed to have so many wonderful people in your lives. In turn, you are a blessing to me. Although your story is a sad story, your love for Gayle is obvious to all who read your posts. Love stories always inspire Smile

_________________
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/

In · Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2007 5:27 am Post subject: Re: Turn for the worst

Keith,

Your strength is amazing, and so inspiring. Your love is so deep and true for each other. Your life as two, will eventually fade. But the love will be there forever.
So few have ever found that love- even with a full lifetime waiting. But you two have lived Love. Seen what Love is all about. How soft and pure and fragile it can be. How it can make a person grow and withstand anything.

Your idea about the butterfly Garden is wonderful- she'll love it. I hope it goes well. Let me know how it progresses.

Thinking of you both.

Inica
_________________
Thinking of you Inica

**Administrator**

~Nose Cancer~
~Car Accident- Broken Back, Ribs, Spleen
Sternum~
~Continous Cervical Cancer~

My Story-
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=6731

Smile

9 Lives and still kicking Smile

Keith · Regular Joined: 30 Aug 2007 Posts: 13

To everyone: The butterfly garden for Gayle is progressing. As of Friday, the crew had many different bushes and plants in the ground. Much color and diversity. They had started laying rocks to line the natural water flow across my back yard. Butterflys are already flirting with the blooms.

Gayle and I went to the gastro doc on Friday. The small stent he was able to push into her blocked bile duct is not working very well (after 9 days) so tomorrow (Monday) we go in to get a metal stent that is much bigger. Hopefully the bile will drain and some of the nausea abate. Home health came out and gave her 32 mg of zofran and a liter of fluids, but it did'nt really improve the nausea. Today Gayle has eaten a pancake, small piece of sausage and is now sitting out back watching the birds and butterflys and eating a popsicle. So, other than feeling sick, life is good. Thank you all for asking about her and praying for her. We, like you, literally take each hour, each day, as it comes.

Keith

freeio

From personal experience, that blocked bile duct with its attendant backup of bile and production of biliruben is a nasty condition. I do hope that the new stent helps with that.

Having said that, enjoy every hour of every day.

Marty
_________________
-------------------------------------------------
whipple procedure, Oct. 21, 2004
28 days of radiation
56 days of Chemo using Xeloda
diagnosed as progressive recurrent pancreatic adenocarcinoma (Stage IV) Jun. 20, 2006
was treated with gemcitabine, oxaliplatin, and tarceva, which all failed.
Cancer blog: http://diehlmartin.com/cancer.html

Keith · Regular Joined: 30 Aug 2007 Posts: 13

Had a big scare. Gayle was doing good so this afternoon she encouraged me to go to a matinee (to get out of the house). When I walked out, Gayle called and was incoherent, thought it was 6 a.m. (instead of 6 p.m.) and was crying. I could tell she'd taken something I wasn't aware of. I raced home and got her out of bed. She took Lorazapam for nausea and took too many too quickly. Plus she'd taken a pain pill. I think after moving around for this little while, she's much better. Whew. Can't turn my back.

In · Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2007 8:25 pm Post subject: Re: Turn for the worst

I hope Gayle is feeling alot better now. It's so hard to have a minute to yourself- then when you do- you worry and stress the whole time.

Scary stuff when there is so many pills that can easily be confused or mixed up.

I'm so happy the Garden is going well, what a sight it must be. So relaxing, colourful and beautiful. Something to sit and watch for a while.

Inica
_________________
Thinking of you Inica

**Administrator**

~Nose Cancer~
~Car Accident- Broken Back, Ribs, Spleen
Sternum~
~Continous Cervical Cancer~

My Story-
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=6731

Smile

9 Lives and still kicking Smile

Keith · Regular Joined: 30 Aug 2007 Posts: 13

For all who are interested, the Butterfly Garden is coming along. Send me your email address and I'll send you some pics of before, now during construction, and finally....(when they're done). May give you some ideas!

Keith
kmerritt@hotmail.com

cate · New User Joined: 08 Aug 2007 Posts: 3

Hi cate here.
My hubby has reached 22 months since diagnosis and nearly 25 months since first signs viewed with hindsight.
in Feb 2006 he had billiary stent fitted and was much better, although not his full self. he gave up chemo 14 months ago. March 2007 he had a juadenal stent fitted to take the pressure off and allow food through to his small intestine. he had to be on soft food after that. He has just had that stent re done.

he is now very frail and the pain is well controlled. I don't think that we have mch longer now but i can say that we have had 15 months longer than we thought. 15 good months; he has needed caring for but he has been there at least and has enjoyed a year longer with our 22 year old daughter and me.

the billiary stent getting fixed will make a difference.
His PC was inoperable by the way and extensive etc liver and lungs affected.

keep hoping and praying; it worked for us. God Bless.

Cate xx

[quote="Keith"]My wife, Gayle, has PC now in her liver. For those of you who do not know me, I'm Gayle's husband of 32 years. We are both 54. In Mid May, she had near remission of her original pc tumor. Gemzar and Tarceva regimes were kept up. Late July, she developed intestinal cramping. That led to a colonoscopy which led to surgery to unblock a tumor on her colon. However, the surgeon did a scope thru her navel and found metastisized PC all over the peritoneal cavity, her diaphram, ovaries, uterus and liver. He did a loop colostomy and got out. Since Aug. 4, with chemo stopped, the pc has spread and grown substantially. Unbelievable growth. Today she had a CT scan (more tumors) and now has jaundice. She is scheduled for a bile stent on Wednesday. Gayle has the most wonderful spirit of anyone I've ever known. I have the hard time because I know the end is coming quickly. Any advice?[/quote]

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