need information and support (pancreatic cancer) - Cancer: Pancreatic & Liver Message Board

AnnieJ · 07-25-2008, 10:57 AM

My FIL was diagnosed with pan cancer in December. He had been ill for a year (he refused to go to the doc wanted to heal holistic). The removed a "huge" tumor. He has had chemo IV and some type of "chemo pill" to try and decrease the spread of this cancer. His last MRI showed cancer on his colon and liver and he told us yesterday that "it's in his blood". My husband and I aren't sure what this means and what the prognosis is. Does anyone have advice or thoughts? We just don't know what to expect next or how long he has left.

MaryLiz50 · 07-28-2008, 08:16 AM

Annie - My stepchildren's mother was diagnosed just over a year ago with stage IV pancreatic cancer with liver involvement. She did IV chemo and is taking oral chemo. She recently has been having issues with fluid retention and they think it is due to either blockage in her liver or her liver is starting to shut down. All the research I have done and from what you are saying - he will likely go quickly. If your husband's family has not been in contact with hospice, they should probably do so. Unfortunately, pancreatic cancer is a horrible unrelenting disease and the survival rates for are still extremely low. I think I saw something on the web that said the 5 year survival is only 2% and that is if it is caught in its very early stage, which it rarely is.

God bless you and your family.