
THE JOHNS HOPKINS MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS
Pancreas Cancer Web
JEAN/OK
I am a 62 Y/o female. In 2003 I lost my 86 y/o dad. In 2005 I lost my 82 y/o
mom. I have been in nursing for 40 yrs. I was working in the nursing center
where my mom was. I had started loosing wt during this time, but thought it
was the stress of work & caring for parents. Had back pain under lt shoulder,
nausea, & no appetite. I was not aware of pancreatic cancer at all. Pain
became so bad, ended up in ER on 9/29/04. They treated the pain,& suggested I
see my family Dr. Got appt. that day. He scheduled GB series. Was OK. Next
day scheduled CT. Ct showed tumor with metastatic encasement of the celiac
aterial trunk & branching vasculature. Saw the surgeon & scheduled for
exploratory surg. Unable to remove, but biopsy positive for carcinoma. After
6 weeks recoperation from surg. started chemo with Gemar in Nov 2004. I was
TOLD prognosis was about 2 yrs. & the chemo would only keep the tumor from
spreading. In Feb. 2005 CT scan showed tumor shrunk a little. My oncologist
was reserved & said 'it was just a little bit'. I said 'I'll take it'. On
5/16/2005 CT showed tumor resolved. My oncologist was very surprised & stated
'You know this isn't the norm' I stated ' And God doesn't always work in the
norm'. I have had a great support group of family, friends, & even
strangers. I have been married 43 yrs. My husband has had serious medical
problems for last 11 yrs. I have cared for him at home. I stayed active & did
volunteer work at different places during chemo txs. as I felt like it. I
believe in being positive to help in the healing. On 3/16/2006 Ct scan showed
new mass with hydronephrosis bilatterally. Meaning the lymph nodes were
enlarged in the pelvis, blocking the uretors, & causing the urine to be
retained in the kidneys. Saw the urologist & had stents placed for 6 wks.
Took chemo txs during this time. Next CT showed tumor shrunk a little. Lymph
nodes shrunk. Had stents removed. On 11/16/2006 CT showed tumor gone. Each of
the tumors were in different areas. First on tail, Second on head. I am not
actively working, but still do volunteer work for different areas. I can at
least call people if I don't feel like getting out. My CA19-9 results are
slowly climbing again, but I will cross that bridge later. I live in Ada, OK.
pop around 15,000. We have a good rural hospital & are so blessed to have
oncology here. I have so many 'chemo friends' that have to travel for their
txs & know how taxing the trip can be. I pray for a cure of this & all
cancers.
Posted 01/10/2007 10:01 am by Jean/OK
E-mail Address: jeantrobaugh@yahoo.com
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