Pancreatic cancer (also called cancer of the pancreas) is represented by the growth of a malignant tumour within the small pancreas organ. Each year about 31,00...
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mom with pancreatic cancer
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My Mom was dxd with metastatic pancreatic cancer in Jan '08. I was told she has 2 tumors in her pancreas with mets to her liver and duodenum. She has a stent in her bililary tract.
She is 78 years old and with early alzheimer's as well. I am an only child with 2 children & husband. I moved her from an assisted living apartment to a nursing home on the advice of her physicians. I was told she had less than 6 months to live. Amazingly, she is currently asymptomatic. Her doctors said she is not a chemo or surgery candidate. I left my job to spend time with her. I am tired and worn out. My question is how long can she be asymptomatic with all of this cancer? Her physician does not want to repeat anymore ct scans. Hospice is visiting. I am wondering if I should move her to an assisted living type of facility where should be more independent, her physician is against it. I just need advice about this. Posted on 05/14/08, 11:05 pm |
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hi, Julie, my husband also has pancreatic cancer. He did have surgery but now it has spread to his brain. If hospice is visiting, ask the hospice nurse for advice. I am so sorry about your Mom. I personnally would keep her where she is, alzheimer's patients already have enough going on and they need consistence...same routine, bed, "place". The hospice nurse would know best. I will keep you in my prayers! Let me know how things go...
Kathy 
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Kathy,
Thanks so much for the prayers and advice! My thoughts and prayers are with you as well.The Hospice team is great and I will bend their ears. Thanks so much. Julie
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Hi Julie, I'm so sorry about your mom. I lost my mother to this horrible disease. I agree with Kathy, advice form hospice it good advise but it really doesn't sound like she should be moved. My mother was not a candidate for surgery and even with chemo it spread to her lungs and we lost her in 5 months. I'll say a prayer for you and your mom. You enjoy the time that you have with your mom. You will never regret it. Debbie
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Hi Julie, I'm so sorry to read about your Mom. I agree with others posted here. You should probably keep your Mom in the nursing home. I an also a registered nurse. Does this nursing home offer hospice that can come and go? If she has longer than 6-9 months to live they can come back and see her when she really needs it. Pancreatic cancer is usually very terminal at this stage and patients don't live long but, I have learned from this web site that some patients can live over a year or longer. My twin sister has pancreatic cancer and has had the surgery and is a stage 2 on chemo. My Dad is in a nursing home with Alzheimers. Share as much time with you Mom as you can do. Try to get some rest. Can you afford to stay off your job for a while? Your Mom is blessed that she is feeling no pain and doing well at this time. I will pray for you and your MOM. She will need you soon enough..... you sound like a great daughter. Bless you.
Pat
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Thank you Debbie & Pat for your
prayers and advice. I spoke with Hospice today and my Mom's palliative care physician today and I am going to leave her at the nursing facility for now. The Hospice Team is great and they visit weekly for now. It has been almost 5 months since my Mom was diagnosed. She has liver mets so she is stage IV. What I can't beleive is that she is not symptomatic to speak of. She has occasional back pain, but I take her out to eat every day and she has a great appetite! Her physician thinks she only has months to live; and when the symptoms do start it will be quick. I honestly didn't think she would last this long much less do this well! I know each pancreatic cancer patient is different. I will keep you both in my prayers. Thanks so much. Julie
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You are welcome sweetie. You are right, each person may have different symptoms. I am glad for her and you that she is doing better than expected. Enjoy these moments with your mom. Keep us posted, ok? Debbie
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I have been through this EXACT scenario. We were told at dx that she had 2 months and she ended up dying 20 months later. Asymptomatic for about 6 months before a very rapid decline last July. I would move her and get the help. We kept thinking it was the end and we quit work to be with her. In retrospect, home health care or assisted living would have allowed us to work and stay connected to our personal support networks while knowing that she was getting any care she needed.
I am sad to say that when the end nears, you will know it. Dont have specifics, because everyone is different, but it will be very obvious physically, THAT is the time to be there fll time. It mercifully goes fast when it happens. The systen shuts down and the 2-5 days that it takes will feel like an eternity but hospics gives you very powerful meds for pain and they are really in a twilight state. I can only tell you that being exhausted now is not helpful. You will need every ounce of your strength. My warmest thoughts are with you. If you havent visited the Johns Hopkins message boaords for Pan Cancer, do so. They are great people. My thoughts are with you and your family- Caroline
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hey a woman who has survived pancreatic cancer will be on in a few minutes...should be very interesting:)
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