A very warm welcome to the forum Sarah although I'm sorry to hear about your mum's diagnosis.

We have some general information about survival for pancreatic cancer on our website but if you'd like to discuss this or anything else that's been playing on your mind, then do feel free to give our cancer nurses a call on 0808 800 4040, Monday - Friday between 9a.m - 5p.m. They're very insightful and will do all they can to help.

I know this must be incredibly tough but our community are here for you and will do all they can to support you on this journey.

Kind regards,

Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator

Hello Sarah,

Nobody knows how long anyone has. My own statistics were pretty poor as my breast cancer had spread widely throughout both of my lungs and liver and more, so stage 4 metastatic yes...all those words I had never understood before. But I tried to focus on surviving as long as possible. And decided I would try to edge myself into the group of people surviving if at all possible. So my focus was turned towards hope and focus on healthy living to support my chemo and treatment.

It must be rubbish for you and your mum right now. I feel that anything I say will be pretty inadequate, and I'm sorry for that, but the moderators and nurses on here, as well as a bunch of us ordinary non medical people will always do their best to help and reassure you wherever we can.

Sending you and your mum all best wishes from here,

Mary x

Thank you so much for your reply. I'm sorry that you are going through this with your mum too. It's absolutely awful and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. Ironically, my mum has also been through this as her mum (my grandma) was diagnosed with the same thing and passed away around 18months after being diagnosed. 

Me & my mum are extremely close, we live 3 doors apart and see each other every day. I genuinely don't know how my children, siblings and  myself will survive without her. 

Mum was diagnosed last Monday. After having an 'uncomfortable' type of feeling in her side, feeling a bit rubbish etc she went to A&E, they found markers in her blood, sent her for a scan where they found shadows on her liver. From there it went to having a CT scan and being diagnosed. Since the diagnosis nothing more has really been said. They sent her for some bloods doing a few days after & said they need to do a liver biopsy but never really said anything else. I need a step by step plan with a timescale to be able to sort things out in my head and prepare myself (and mum)  in the days, weeks, months and hopefully years to come. 

I will definitely get in touch with the Pancreatic cancer team and see if they can shed some light into what to expect. I know everyone's journey is different so they can't be specific but if I get as much info as I can at least I'll be more prepared.

Many thanks again for your reply & I wish you and your mum the best in this difficult time xx

Hi Sarah, I am also a Sarah and my Dad strangely found out that he had pancreatic cancer on the day that you posted this message, how is your mum doing? My Dad had a consultation yesterday and starts Chemo on Tuesday, he doesn't want to know his prognosis! My Dad is 79 but really fit, golfs 3 times a week and walks a lot too! He can't bear the smell of food so isn't eating a lot, is your mum the same? I haven't spoken to anyone so would love to know more and understand if there are any things we should be doing, trying. Any help or advise would be greatly appreciated X

Hiya, this site here is very good www.pancreaticcancer.org.uk/.../

The nurses on there are pancratic nurses and it also has forums with people in your very situation, and your mum's.

Hi Sarah, thank you for your reply. Mum isn't too good today, she's in a bit of discomfort at the top of her stomach (like underneath the breast bone) she's very phlegmy (don't know if that's a symptom) isnt really eating, can't keep much down but at the same time is craving weird things like tinned peaches! She was extremely upset this morning saying that she thinks it's very advanced and that she hasn't got long left. My mum is only 59, works in a physically demanding full time job, so this has just knocked us all for 6. We've not really had any information regarding what comes next, prognosis (which we don't want to know) or when chemo will start. But I suppose they won't know either until they have done the liver biopsy as it's spread to her liver. I just feel like nothing is being done urgently enough. I think everyone in the same situation will have felt the same but I want things doing right now!!! If she hasn't got long left I want to be able to spend as much time with her as possible rather than sat waiting for phone calls and appointments! 

Im sorry you're going through this with your Dad. It's such an awful situation. We have had so many deaths in the family since December...Mum in law, grandad, uncle, father in law and now this. Just not fair at all x

Oh no, I am sorry she is having a bad day, my Dad is liking tinned fruit and icecream and likes rice pudding, my mum has also got him some complan which he is having with full fat milk to keep his weight up. He has lost about and stone but has managed not to lose anymore weight in the last few weeks, his doctor was quite pleased with him yesterday. He burps a lot and is only eating small meals, he really enjoys his breakfast and has porridge and fruit. He had a biopsy soon after he was diagnosed, they said they would take it from the liver but they didn't they took it from the pancreas, they said it was easier!? The cancer has spread to his liver and lymph nodes. We start chemo on Tuesday, do you know what will happen next? When was your mum diagnosed? I hope this info helps, my dad has had a dietician call in and help him with his food, he was told he has diabetes too.

Keep me posted, hoping that we can help each other with what we learn, I hope your mum has a better day tomorrow X

Hi , my partner was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2017 , massive shock came out of the blue , only symptom was sudden onset of jaundice . Eventually had massive op then chemo . All well for a while then after regular cts we were told it was back !! Had radiation therapy , regular cts and bloods ( I was told but not him that he had about a year to live ) that was 2 and a half years ago . Recently had a blocked bile duct and a massive weight loss but cancer still in same place it returned to and not really changed , although tumour markers increase with each blood test . Anyway to cut a long story short he is now 57 , had a difficult stent recently put in to help bilirubin drain and now been diagnosed as insulin dependant diabetic . Due to tumour markers increasing is now to start palliative chemo next Tuesday , currently feeling well therefore reluctant to start the chemo . What I'm trying to say is that no one really knows how each individual will go through their cancer journey , statistics are only that !!! . I have noticed that compared to some people we meet in hospital he has a much more positive view and enjoys every minute of life when he's feeling well ( I try and hide any negative feelings from him , difficult at times ) . I havnt any answer but he's 5 years down the line  , we have met drs that are surprised at that but everyone is different . Hope is essential in any cancer diagnosis and I hope this gives you some , take care and look after yourself too .

Hi Sarah,

Hope you don't mind me chipping in ... pancreatic cancer runs in my family.

I think prognosis can depend on where in the pancreas the tumour is. It can also be highly individual.

I am so sorry you are going through this. Sending hugs xxx