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Pancreatic cancer

Zuluzulu
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My husband has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer age 52 as well as type 3 diabetes. 

Has lost so much weight/muscle and finding it a struggle to gain weight.

Food is really challenging as he has lost his taste plus battles with either nausea/sickness and diarrhoea  after chemo.

We are 6 chemo sessions in and 6 more to go.

Tumour has attached itself around main artery so have been told its inoperable. 

If it does shrink then radiotherapy is an option. 

Its advance cancer. 

I'm really struggling mentally with the whole thing but trying to put a brave face on to the world. 

The not knowing and living in limbo is so hard. 

He's still working and amazes me.

Anyone else fancy a chat in same boat. X

  • Hi Zuluzulu,

    Welcome to Cancer Chat. I'm sorry to hear of your situation - this sounds tough and I hope you're doing as OK as can be.

    I'm glad that you've found the forum and I hope it can be helpful for you. We're always here whenever you need support - even if it's just to write things down.

    I can see you've been chatting to some others on here which is great. You can use the search bar at the top of the page to find other relevant discussions, if you'd like to.

    My reply here will give your post a little boost, so a few more people should see it and hopefully you'll get more replies.

    If ever you need additional support, do also take a look at the resources offered by Macmillan and Maggie's - who also have local support centres.

    Wishing you all the best,

    Ben
    Cancer Chat Moderator

  • Offline

    Hello

    My brother has stage 4 metastatic pancreatic cancer. It's metastasis to his liver and lungs. Im his main carer since his wife died last March. 

    It really is hard caring for a loved one with this particular cancer as it's so virilant.  I feel like screaming  someday

    It's so unpredictable.  One minute he wants to eat, then he's in pain. His sugars are all over the place. He gets angry and takes it out on anyone near him, mainly me. I cry.....a lot. But I love him

    Hes my only brother.  I've no other family other than husband and 2 children who are grown up and living their own lives. 

    I've no one who really understands 

    Take care of yourself 

    Sandra

  • Offline in reply to Sandmick

    Hi Sandra

    I hear you darling.

    This is such a cruel cancer, well any cancer is false stop.

    Sorry to hear your struggling with how your brother can be some times.

    You know deep down he doesn't mean it . Its frustrating and feels at times your treading on eggs shell's.

    I totally understand where your coming from.

    Is he in pain in his back? 

    Is he having chemo and if so how many has ge had. 

    My husband did suffer alot with back pain but now that seems to have subsided, wether that's the morphine and other pain killers plus chemo helping.

    Im always happy to chat and feel free to ask me any questions that you think might help you.

    Take care x

  • Offline in reply to Zuluzulu

    Hi  

    Thank you Zulu. No he's not in pain just very tired. Hes had 2 rounds of different chemotherapy. Folfirinox which shrank the tumour and he was able to have a whipples procedure.  He was then clear until April this year

    It's metastasised into his lungs and liver

    He had gemcitabine. The tumours continued to grow so they have stopped treatment 

    I don't know what the next steps will be now?

    The Oncologist recommended steroids to build up his strength but he's not taken them. He also gave him some morphine tablets but because he's not in pain...again he's not taking them.

    Is it just a case of sit and wait until he's in pain? Hes not eating much hence the tiredness. He still thinks he'll be able to be riding his motor  bikes soon. Hes in a bit of denial I think. Xx

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