it was found before she had any symptoms during a check on her liver (which is perfectly healthy) and therefore she has not had any symptoms. Does anyone know anything about survival rates etc when the symptoms havent shown yet? I have read a lot on the internet about this type of cancer but it is usually only found because of symptoms and by then it is too late. Am I kidding myself that she may have chance since they found it before symptoms? Waiting for scan results to see if it has spread. any info is much appreciated. xxx There are several important factors here that should be considered, and questions that should be addressed to the doctor in charge of your mother.
Where is the tumour in the anatomy of the pancreas? If it was found incidentally during liver tests, i would presume that it was either an USS or a CT scan. Being assymptomatic, would be inclined to say that the tumour would be in the body or the tail of the pancreas as opposed to the uncinate process, peri-ampullary, head or neck of the pancreas. The reason for this is that whilst small pancreatic tumours can often not be seen on USS or CT, signs of a dilated biliary tree often are, which would normally have led to some degree of symptoms.
What were the symptoms that caused the liver investigations? The pattern of the LFT's, if they are raised, and which ones, could have led to the investigation, but often these tests can be a sign of trouble in the head of the pancreas, or the bile ducts. That is not to cause alarm, but just to see if she had any problems with her liver, deposits from the pancreatic tumour or any other problems.
If it is in the tail of the pancreas, and there is no spread to the liver, then it is possible that the tumour may be resectable. If she hasn't already, they will perform a CT scan, which will visualise the pancreas in more detail, and the tumours position in relation to adjacent vascular structures. More commonly, and EUS (Endoscopic Ultrasound) will be performed to better assess the lesion and ensure it is not invading any structures. It is also possible to take biopsies of the pancreas at this point, in order to obtain a 100% conclusive diagnosis of the cancer, most commonly adenocarcinoma, but sometimes neuroendocrine (with better survival rates)
Even if the tumour is in the head or neck of the pancreas, if the CT shows it to be small and potentially resectable, then again, EUS will be needed to assess operability and obtain tissue diagnosis. If it was in this region, and she did develop symptoms, such as jaundice, caused by the tumour blocking the bile flow into the duodenum, then an ERCP or PTC may be needed to insert a small tube, known as a stent, to relieve these symptoms. This does not mean the tumour has become inoperable.
The reason pancreatic cancer has such a poor general survival is partly it's aggressive aetiology, but also the number of vascular structures in and around the pancreas, especially the head. SMA and V (Superior Mesenteric artery and vein) splenic vein and artery, IVC (inferior vena cava)....the list is long. If these are involved then the tumour will be inoperable.
Assuming that she is in the minority of patients, (around 10-15%) who are surgically operable, she will most likely have one of two operations. pancreatic tail neoplasms can sometimes be removed by distal pancreatectomy, and often accompanying splenectomy, but sometimes will require a whipples. This is the case for all pancreatic head cancers that are operable. The operation is very big. It takes around 6-7 hours on average and will require a stay in intensive care immediately after. It has risks, but they depend on the assessment the clinician gives your mother and aren't standard, but they will be significant. The whipples operation is the shortened term for a pancreatico-duodenectomy. This involves removing a cuff of stomach and the pyloric sphincter, some small bowel, and also the pancreas, or at least the head of. It can be carried out without removing the pylorus in some cases, which is known as a pylorus preserving panc...
Survival rates after this are around 10-15% after 5 years.
If she is not operable, then treatment will involve either the previously mentioned stenting, with the potential for chemotherapy. Standard chemotherapy is Gemcitabine, which has been shown to have a good response in around a third of patients, this being improved in the GEMCAP study, which adds cepacitabine, although NHS provision for this is patchy and may need private care.
Feel free to e-mail me any questions if i can be of use. Hope is always a good thing, don't give up. I know may cancer pacients that made it. Good luck. Cancers now are cureable, especially when detected early. My mother had a cancer detected about 6 years ago but she is still well and alive. Early detection and cure is important I'm afraid I cannot tell you sorry. I answered this only to tell you that if and when the pain gets bad for your mother-in- law tell her to kneel down and put her head forward to touch the ground....you may think this a little strange but believe me it relieves the pain.
Anyway hope springs eternal and so hopefully it may not be as bad as first thought.
A very caring daughter- in- law that is lovely im sorry to be the bearer of bad news but you want the truth. and im being honest with you.
Even for those people diagnosed in the early stages of this disease the outcome is not good. If the cancer has not spread outside of the pancreas and surgery is possible, then about 15 out of 100 people (15%) will be alive 5 years later. In those who do not live this long, it is likely that a small number of cancer cells have 鈥榚scaped鈥?from the pancreas and travelled to other parts of the body. These cells are capable of growing into other tumours later.
there is always hope and faith just dont try and fool yourself. good luck and god bless it is my understanding if the cancer is only in the tail of the pancreas,the resection done through surgery, if it has not metastasised to any other part of the body there is some hopeful results
take care of yourself, stay focused, stay positive
All the best There is hope. I am starting my own study on this disease. I hear everyday more and more cancer this and cancer that... it seems to be growing. I am gonna do a study on myself. I souly believe that the medications that they give us, the food that we eat, the pollution that we breath causes cancer! Try to change her diet to organic food. I believe in this earth and I think the sun can heal. I know all this sounds corny but this is what i truely believe. I am sorry. Check out having surgery as an option as I have read lately that there have been good results. grizzler69 seems pretty knowledgeable bout this stuff. I would have said much the same, but in laymens terms and much shorter. Stats are stats, but every case is different. I hope your step mother was diagnosed early enough to be a whipple candidate and is able to beat this disease for a while. Certain factors affect prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options.
The prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options depend on the following:
鈥?Whether or not the tumour can be removed by surgery.
鈥?The stage of the cancer (the size of the tumor and whether the cancer has spread outside the pancreas to nearby tissues or lymph nodes or to other places in the body).
鈥?The patient鈥檚 general health.
鈥?Whether the cancer has just been diagnosed or has recurred (come back).
Pancreatic cancer can be controlled only if it is found before it has spread, when it can be removed by surgery. If the cancer has spread, palliative treatment can improve the patients quality of life by controlling the symptoms and complications of this disease.
My Daughter who is an Oncologist has seen many patients who have gone into remission and are still leading normal lives. These patients have had the fortune of being diagnosed early. Though the symtons of pancreatic cancer mimic many run of the mill illness which is one of the reasons it is missed.
A biopsy is the only sure way for the doctor to know whether cancer is present. In a biopsy, the doctor removes some tissue from the pancreas. It is examined under a microscope by a pathologist, who checks for cancer cells
Sometimes an operation called a laparotomy may be needed. During this operation, the doctor can look at organs in the abdomen and can remove tissue. The laparotomy helps the doctor determine the stage, or extent, of the disease. Knowing the stage helps the doctor plan treatment.
Whatever happens never give up. My Daughter and I have experienced many cancer patients who have gone into remission. so sorry to hear about your step-mum. i know some people who have got through cancer.
we found out that my mother had cancer in the October & she died by the January. but she was showing signes of being ill a few months b4 hand. a fall down the stairs triggerd her's off
Hope all goes well with your step mum x |
