PRAYERS PLEASE....

[Miki8]

My husband has undergone 7 weeks of chemo (gemzar) treatments to try and shrink the tumor which is wrapped around a vein and touching an artery...we go to dr again this tuesday (Nov 22) to see if it has worked....I know he must be scared to death because I know I am.....

[cathdw1]

Hello Miki8,I fully understand what you are going through, i am suffering with thjs devastating cancer , i was advised that chemo would'nt work as there is only a 25% chance that it would do anything . The tumour i have is also wrapped around 2 veins , i know exactly what i'm dealing with as my brother passed almost 3 years ago with the same cancer, Iwish you and your husband the very best and hope the treatment as shrunk it , its a hard journey for everyone who's family's have to deal with it .

[Miki8 in reply to cathdw1]

Hi cathdw1.....I am so sorry that you are dealing with this dreadful cancer...they also told my husband only 25% chance but is trying anyway...I am also so sorry about your brother...I hope you dont mind me asking, but I think about this...how long did your brother live after his diagnosis...Did he suffer alot???? I have no idea what to expect either way.....Hey...maybe if this chemo has helped with my husband, maybe you should try too....This is all so confusing...I keep reading stuff on the internet and that usually is not a good thing....Well....here's hoping we get good news tommorow...

[cathdw1 in reply to Miki8]

Hi Miki8 , Cath here iam always logging on to this site so feel free to contact me at any time .My brother was50 when he passed , he lived 14 months from diagnosis , he had a lot of good days and not so good . we are thinking there is a genetic link as its very unusual for 2 siblings to have it , my family are r

egistering for a trial at EUROPAC to try and identify the genes . Iwish you both the very best with results .

[Miki8 in reply to cathdw1]

Cath...good news..the tomor has shrunk 50% and pulled away from the vein...we are going to UVA Dec 13th to see if the dr will do the whipple procedure to remove it...I was thinking maybe they should try to do this with you too...He has been having Gemzar treatments (he only had 7 treatments for it to shrink this much)...they also told him only 25% chance...I dont know..maybe it is something to look into..his original tumor was over 2 cm and is now 1 cm...I am still concerned if they do the procedure..I have heard it is very invasive...Let me know if the dr says that maybe this may help u too...I pray for help for all suffering with this...

[vanessareeves in reply to cathdw1]

Hi cathdw1, Gem Cap is well tolerated have they offered you some treatment ? This would buy some time without making you feel too ill, is an operation out of the question as well ?

You sound like a very positive person I truley hope you have good family around you for support too.

Your in my thoughts too, best wishes and positive thoughts. Nessy x

[Miki8 in reply to vanessareeves]

Hi Nessy...The gemzar treatments have shrunk the tumor 50%!!!! They believe that it has also pulled away from the vein it was attached too...so we are going back to UVA on Dec 13th to see if the surgeon thinks he can do it now....Today has been a good day though with hearing this positive news..Now I will really be thankful on thanksgiving and my birthday is the 28th and my husband having a shot at this is all I can ask for... I am hoping that cathdw1 may be able to try something like this...

[vanessareeves in reply to Miki8]

That's amazing , so pleased for you , nice to hear good news for some people and not negative news , make sure you go and celebrate tonight , I hope Cath can have some treatment too .

Mum starts her next treatment of chemo on thursday she has had 3 treatments so far , but although the tumor is only 3 cms she has some secondary tumors in the liver so at least the Gem Cap is covering all areas of the cancer but she wont get the opportunity for the op, unless we get a miracle.

I'm so pleased for you both though , I'll keep everything crossed for you on the 13th. Nessy x

[Miki8 in reply to vanessareeves]

You never know...miracles do happen...your mum (and you) are in my thoughts and prayers..

[Bradbury]

My thought's are with you and all who are suffering from this dreadful cancer.

Best wishes Bradbury

[Miki8 in reply to Bradbury]

Thank you very much....

[THEBJ]

My wife was diagnosed with PC in mid June, and died in the first week of July, so I fully appreciate the worry your husband must be suffering from. Although not totally religious, I will offer up a prayer that you both receive good news on 22nd November.

Kind regards,

TheBJ

[Miki8 in reply to THEBJ]

Thank you....I am so sorry about your wife...that is awful....

[vanessareeves in reply to THEBJ]

Hi BJ, so sorry to hear about your wife , that is so sudden, you must still be in shock . I hope you dont mind me asking , was she ill for a long time before diagnosis ? Or like most people did she have no symptoms like most people.

Best wishes, Nessy

[THEBJ in reply to vanessareeves]

Nessy,

That you for your kind enquiry. I apologise that my response is long, but I hope the text will offer the explanation. My wife was the picture of health, woke up one morning saying she did not feel well (a totally rare occurrence), and I managed to get an appointment with the doctor that morning. After examining my wife, the GP telephoned the Royal Surrey to have her admitted immediately.

Following three days of tests, the hospital informed us my wife had PC and probably 4 months at most, but she would not see Xmas. We accepted the prognosis and thought at least that gave us time to put our affairs etc in order. Unfortunately, two weeks later once again she felt unwell, and I called the surgery for a home visit as she was unable to even travel to the surgery. Again, the GP (both of whom were brilliant) arranged immediate admission to the RSCH, which was on Monday, 4th July. On Wednesday, 6th July I was informed that instead of 4 months, the doctors were now looking at a few weeks. On Thursday 7th July I was asked if the family were going to visit, and I said yes they were coming on Saturday, 9th. I was advised by the Registrar that it would be better if the family could visit on Friday 8th July, which they duly did.

I left my wife at 4:15, on 8th July, stopped on the way home to advise close friends that it was unlikely they would be able to visit on the Saturday. I then drove home, and received a telephone call at 6.00pm asking me to return to the RSCH - unfortunately, by the time I got back to RSCH (Friday night traffic) I was too late! However, she did look peaceful and was smiling.

Although my "public persona" is, he is dealing with it extremely well, my "private persona" is totally different. The strength of family and very long term friends have given me the strength to carry on through the bad as well as the good days.

Thank you for your enquiry.

Kind regards,

BJ

[Miki8 in reply to THEBJ]

Oh my goodness....I cant believe how quickly this hits and claims peoples lives...What happened with you and your wife is what I fear for my husband...although things are looking good now, I wont trust this until it is gone...I am scared for him if he gets the whipple even though he needs it because it seems like such an awful surgery...I dont know....I am like you with the "public and private personas"...It is so hard...I am so very sorry about what happened with your wife....I will keep you in my thoughts..

[MyCaroline in reply to THEBJ]

Dear BJ

Please accept my sincere condolences, I sadly know your pain. My father was diagnosed in July this year and passed away 22 days later, it was such a shock the speed of it gives you no time to prepare. I too try in public to be all strong but at home in private I am heartbroken. They say times a healer but at the moment I'm not so convinced, but I do hope in time the pain will ease for all of us.

Look after yourself

[editfmrt in reply to THEBJ]

Dear BJ. The pain of losing a spouse is unbearable and those that have not experienced it do not realise how every aspect of life is altered so dramatically for the one left behind. It must have been dreadful for you to not reach the hospital in time but I do hope you can take comfort in the thought that she did not suffer and linger for weeks or months. The smile and look of peace was a sign or a message to you that she was spared all of that.

People say things get easier with time and that really is not a comfort when you are in the midst of grief and are certain things will never get better. People also say very stupid things in their quest to be helpful.

I still miss my husband dreadfully after losing him to PC six years ago. All I can say is that I have learned to live with and deal with the raw pain and sadness to the extent that my private persona is more in line with the public view....

My thoughts are with you xxx

[THEBJ in reply to editfmrt]

Dear editfmrt,

Thank you for your post - your very kind thoughts and explanation of the feelings you experienced and continue to feel, give me hope and inspiration.

Best wishes,

BJ

[kennymorris]

Miki8

My prayers are with you tomorrow and I hope hope hope it is good news stay positive and lets all pray together for good news.

Kenny

[Miki8 in reply to kennymorris]

Thank you so much...

[Bradbury]

Good luck for tomorrow, hope you get good news

Best wishes Bradbury

[Miki8 in reply to Bradbury]

Thank you...will try to post results tommorow...

[Maggie25]

Miki

My thoughts and prayers are with you for tomorrow. I so hope you get some good news.

Maggie x

[Miki8 in reply to Maggie25]

Thank you Maggie...

[vanessareeves in reply to Miki8]

Hi Miki, I hope you get some good news today and that the cancer has shrunk, dont loose hope because it could be 3 months before you see any difference in the tumor size, that's what they told mum anyway . We've been to Liverpool today to see on of the top proffessors Mr Palmer , really nice chap he works with John Neotholomus who heads to pancreatic research etc , it's a no go for mum on the trial as they have closed the trial the telo vac trial hasn't worked too well so they closed it early , results were dissapointing using the body's immune system to fight the cancer , they said that Gem Cap was still the best and most appropriate treatment , so we stick with it for now. Best of luck I have my fingers crossed for you . Nessy x

[Miki8]

Thank you to all of you for your thoughts and prayers...My husbands tumor has shrunk 50% and now they may do the whipple procedure on him to get this awful, nasty cancer out of him....

[Bradbury]

Hi Vanessa,

Please tell me, What is Gem Cap?

Thank you bradbury

[Miki8 in reply to Bradbury]

I know you asked Vanessa, but it may be a capsule form of the gemzar chemo iv treatments...

[vanessareeves in reply to Bradbury]

Hi Bradbury, Gem Cap is form of chemotherapy known as Gemcitabene taken as an intravenous infusion once a week followed with a tablet which is taken called capcitabene every day for 3 weeks then you have 1 week off both in a 1 month cycle. If that makes sense. Nessy.

[Bradbury]

Miki8

What a great result, 50%,shrinkage, that is great, I am so pleased for you, I hope Cathwd1, my sister, can also first, get some treatment and have a positive result.

Best wishes to you all.

Bradbury

[kennymorris]

Miki8

Well done I cannot put into words how happy i am for you both and it gives us all hope after hearing your great news. Stay positive and let's hope we all have the strength to get through what has been put before us.

Kenny