mamasdaughter's Journey with Pancreatic Cancer
- 1 Oh No Icon Oh No
- 2 Drug or Chemo Therapy Icon Drug or Chemo Therapy
- 3 Side Effects Icon Side Effects
- 4 Side Effects Icon Side Effects
- 5 Side Effects Icon Side Effects
- 6 Side Effects Icon Side Effects
- 7 Side Effects Icon Side Effects
- 8 Procedure or Surgery Icon Procedure or Surgery
- 9 Celebration Icon Celebration
- 10 Celebration Icon Celebration
- 11 Oh No Icon Oh No
- 12 Oh No Icon Oh No
- 13 Loss Icon Loss
- 14 Decision Point Icon Decision Point
- 15 Oh No Icon Oh No
- 16 Other Care Icon Other Care
- 17 Loss Icon Loss
- 18 Loss Icon Loss
Caregiver: Pancreatic Cancer
Patient Info: Living with cancer as a chronic illness (undergoing adjuvant therapy), Diagnosed: almost 11 years ago, Female, Age: 71, Stage IV
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Experience Icon Descriptions
Procedure: Drag this icon to show a procedure.
Radiation: Drag this icon to show a specific radiation therapy experience.
Drug Therapy: Drag this icon to show a specific drug therapy experience.
Clinical Trial: Drag this icon to show a clinical trial experience.
Side Effect: Drag this icon to show experience with a specific side effect.
Oh No: Drag this icon to show when something bad happened (e.g., cancer’s back, lost job).
Celebration: Drag this icon to show when something good happened (e.g., last treatment, hair is back).
Loss: Drag this icon to show a time of loss (e.g., lost hair, lost loved one).
Decision Point: Drag this icon to show a time when you had to make a tough decision.
Other Care: Draft this icon to show a time when you needed other care (e.g., hospice, psychotherapy).
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Cancer has spread/Metastasized
Oh No
My mom was diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer in June 2011. Multiple tumors on liver, head of pancreas enlarged and lymph node in the adrenal gland enlarged.
Chemotherapy
Drug or Chemo Therapy
Started Gemzar (IV therapy) and Xeloda (pill). Treatments every Thursday for a few hours. Three weeks on, one week off.
Chemo brain
Side Effects
Very confused. Seemed to always know where she was, but sometimes didn't know why she was there. (example, we were in WalMart and she just looked at me and said "What are we doing here?"
Mouth sores
Side Effects
This person has yet to add any details about this experience.
Nausea/Vomiting
Side Effects
This person has yet to add any details about this experience.
Rash
Side Effects
This person has yet to add any details about this experience.
Skin changes
Side Effects
This person has yet to add any details about this experience.
Implant chemotherapy port
Procedure or Surgery
This person has yet to add any details about this experience.
Cancer is shrinking
Celebration
Tumors and lymph node reduced in size for the first 10 months or so of treatment.
Anniversary
Celebration
This person has yet to add any details about this experience.
Cancer is back/Recurred
Oh No
With pancreatic cancer there is no going away, I guess. But in June of 2012 scans showed a slight increase in size of lymph node. Decided instead of waiting 3 months for next scan they would scan again in 2 months. In August of 2012 scans showed the Gemzar/Xeloda combo was no longer working. We are going to try a new therapy.
Blood clot in lungs and leg-chemo put on hold
Oh No
Mom was rushed to ER by ambulance after collapsing. After many tests, they diagnosed her with a HUGE blood clot in her lungs and multiple clots in her leg. She was hospitalized for 5 days, undergoing heparin treatment. She has been sent home on Lovenox injections that she will have to take for the remainder of her life. Due to her health and the clotting, chemo has been put on hold. We meet with oncologist next week for plan B...or is it C? Well, whatever it is, it's "what's next".
Body part/function
Loss
Not necessarily a body part or function, but mom was informed that she will never drive again. A little bit of an issue for such an independent woman, but we will manage.
To DNR or not to DNR
Decision Point
Alot of talk this week about whether we should or should not put a DNR in place. Mom collapsing from blood clots in her leg and lungs caused quite a stir. Still thinking about this... :/
Cancer has spread/Metastasized
Oh No
Cancer has metastasized to the bones. Having alot of pain that even morphine isn't helping relieve. Switched over to liquid oxy (oxy-fast) and that seems to be doing a better job.
Hospice
Other Care
We brought Hospice on board a couple weeks ago and it was the best decision ever made. It has been such a relief. And the nurses and aides love Mama and her sassiness. She is giving them a run for their money!
Body part/function
Loss
Mama is, for the most part, bedridden. Catheter has been put in place. Too many falls and too much of a fall risk to continue letting her out of bed too often. She feels she has lost her independence and her dignity. It's been an emotional experience for all of us on one level or another.
Lost loved one
Loss
Mama passed away on November 4 around 9:30 p.m. It was very peaceful and just not as horrible as we were all expecting. Still sad, but comforting to know that even in her death she was still taking care of us. She was an amazing woman and I stand in awe of her, always have, but now just even more.