Seeking others :) Dear friend (of mine) having pancreatic cancer @ 60 years of age.

[iLIV]

"Hello to ALL here whom is affected by cancer" (my thoughts & prayers to you) My name is Steve & am 46 years of age, from Brisbane (on the southside) Queensland Australia. Reasons why I am here & have joined this wonderful support of 'Cancer Connections' group, is my wish & hope to make contact to anyone whom is currently going through pancreatic cancer (whipple surgery) to recovering from this operation to going through chemo therapy (especially whom is being 'trialed through research' of combination drug chemo) either here in Brisbane Queensland (through Royal Brisbane Hospital) or anywhere here in Australia. Past 8 months (to the present day: 29th March 2016) I have been supporting my dearest friend whom was mysteriously ill for months mid last year without knowing why. Being nauseous; weak; headaches; abdominal pains; loss of appetite to later being jaundice. Jaundice being the symptom that prompted more tests to the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. As a loved one; seeing him go through surgery (a few days before Christmas last year of 2015) to post operation; dealing with nutrition to now chemo, is extremely awful to witness. To being terrible for my friend. I have been there (& always will) be there for him. Assisting him with food shopping earlier on (when he was too weak); cleaning his apartment to washing; cooking meals (though I need to cook the right foods) to being by his side through the regular hospital & DRs to specialist appointments. At this stage my friend needs to talk (as you can imagine) to other pancreatic cancer patients to survivors. He talks to other cancer patients at hospital when we go in; though he needs to share & hear others experiences to getting other advice. He has just finished his 1st round of chemo last weak (once a week for 3 weeks; then 2 weeks off). He is on a research trial of chemo for 6 months; involving two (2) combinations of drugs. These are: 1. nab-Paclitaxel (drip into vein)and; 2. Gemcitabine (drip also). Again, if there is anyone here whom is going through pancreatic cancer; please contact me, as my friend wishes to meet & talk with you. Hopefully both will be able to help each other. Difficulty with him at the moment is nutrition; pains & appetite. Today (29th March 2016) he has just told me his hair is falling out. Which he is OK with. Though he's feeling pretty awful from the last chemo dose last Thursday. Tuesdays seem to be the worse day for him with stomach pains & cramps to nausea. If anyone can help him (to meet & talk) again; please contact me. He lives in Bowenhills Brisbane; near the CBD. "Thanks to you ALL". Love, Light & Peace to those affected by cancer to those loved one's by their sides. Sincerely, Steve 🙂

[kj]

Steve What your dear friend is going through is a very hard Just the actual recovery from a Whipple is very strenuous on both body and mind,let alone having chemotherapy at the same time.I remember my own recovery well,it is very hard to raise an appetite for quite some time,my doctor said eat whatever I could keep down,definitely very small helpings you just can't stand the thought or taste of food but you must try to eat,I found scrambled eggs were and still are my go to for food,the side effects of chemo can affect each person differently,I was told to drink lots of water to help flush the effects of the chemo away quicker.And also to gargle with bi carb for the mouth ulcers. The pain is another consideration Patches helped me ,most people I have spoken to after the surgery said pain was there,it does get better but it can take time for your body to settle down,there is a new you after a Whipple the mind and gentle exercise like walking and moving has a lot to do with recovery it is great he has such a good friend I found ongoing support has helped me greatly through the years since,it will get easier for him but he must be patient and just take it one day at a time.Wish you both all the best with his recovery,I am nearly 6 years since surgery and in remission. kj

[iLIV]

Hi "kj" :) "Thank you" so much. Well done on being in remission too for nearly 6 years. Can I ask; did you have whipple surgery re pancreatic cancer? "Thanks" for your valued tips & advice too; much appreciated. Hope to chat some more with you later; OK if not too :) All the very best to you as well. Sincerely, Steve 🙂

[kj]

Hi Steve Yes I had a Whipple for pancreatic cancer it was in the head of the pancreas,after surgery and during chemo I became quite ill I had to stop chemo I was told I was terminal and would not make the end of the chemo cycle if I continued,and yet here I am ,sometimes there are unexplained but good outcomes. Thanks for your wishes a chat will be fine ,if I can be of assistance please let me know. kj

[iLIV]

Hi kj, Thanks for that 🙂 How are you? I had told my friend (whom is going through chemo RE from pancreatic cancer) of your experiences. Much appreciated. To understand more of your journey & to relay this to my friend; questions were asked to me of you 🙂 This will help my friend enormously for comparisons to better understanding. Can I ask? OK too, if you do not wish to dwell further. I totally respect this :) 1. How long did you have your chemo before you decided to discontinue due to making you so ill? My friend has just completed his 1st round of chemo (once a week for 3 weeks via drip); to now 2 weeks off. My friend thinks the 3rd dose was higher (?); making sickness worse with stomach crampings to a lot more nausea than the 1st & 2nd treatments of chemo. 2. What chemo drug were you given? And were you 'part of' a research trial? With my friend being 'on-a-trial-for research'; such information of 'dosages' are not disclosed. Though two days of steroids were given at day of each chemo treatment; to take twice a day for two days after chemo. Once this wears off; the 3rd to 4th day afterwards are the worst days :( 3. How many years now since you in remission? And how is your nutritional diet changed to 'how much' you can eat nowadays? 4. Have you had any assistance from the Government RE of a Disability Support Pension? As my friend is seeking this RE DSP; though only able to get Newstart Allowance; though able not to look for work at this stage. DSP will not be accepted until the Doctors & Specialists say my friend is 'terminally ill'. Such a prognosis will possibly be two to 5 years away. Upon telling my friend of me seeking help from others in the same 'circumstances' (through this awesome website of 'Cancer Connections'; to possibly meet, has met with almost hostility. I understand; though I only 'act' on what is said to me from my friend. As I intently listen & try (my hardest best) to learn & to assist with what is being said to me :) So any information passed on here (regarding the answers to the 'above') will make it better in understanding how your journey relates to my friend's journey. "Thanks again kj" Sincerely, Steve 🙂

[Ianvs]

I have just been given the devastating news on Wednesday that I have a precancerous syst in my pancreas and that I need a wipples op or a cancer will develop , after heading to the doctors with lower back pain in November 2015 . From what I have found out so far it's one of the most dangerous operations anyone can have and recovery is very tough , the surgine haven't ruled out founding cancer in the syst after it is removed or that has spread to the rest of the pancreas . I have survived colon cancer op and chiro 6 years ago but now this sounds much worst than that and that we pretty dam owful . I also have PTSD from the BlackSaturday firestorm as was a first response firefighter in the king lake area. I'm looking to talk to anyone who has had the wipples op and had no cancer found in the post op biopsy , where should be as many people around who have not had cancer after the op as who has had it but I Im finding it hard to locate any . The surgery has said I have a 85% chance there is no cancer . So that should mean that there are more people who have had the surgery and not had cancer right ? Also what can I do to help my family deal with this second cancer ?