My husband had an unsuccessful Whipple Operation Oct. 2002, the tumor on the head of his Pancreatic was the size of a small peach, the doctors said that with radiation and chemo they might be able to extexd his life 6 to 9 months, but the cancer was very aggressive and the tumor would not shrink.  My husband is still alive, he lost 60 pounds during chemo, but has gained the weight back, the tumor is the size of a dime.  He has a lot of muscle pain and fatigue, is there anyone else who had an uncessful Whipple Operation for Pancreatic Cancer and is still alive 3 and 1/2 years later? Do you have muscle pain and fatigue?  Does anyone have any suggestions?
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Thoughts on Families who Have Lived Long-term with Pancreatic Cancer\nhttp://www.pancreatica.org/survivor_stories.html
293398
I have non small cell lung cancer - had surgery in Nov 05, just heard about cottage cheese and flaxseed oil and sent away for it.  As soon as it arrives I will be starting the regime.  I do not know anyone at this time with small cell lung cancer.
414282
Stay away from the lap-band at all costs! I had the worst experience of my life with it. *My doctor said it has done permanent damage to my stomach and my surrounding organs!*\nI'm still suffering from abdominal pain and vomiting and I'm still losing weight even though the band has been removed. I keep getting pancreatitis for unknown reasons - and I never had a stomach problem before the surgery and I only had my band in for 7 months. Good news is I'm down to 170 but I wish I wasn't vomiting almost everything I ate and I wish my stomach didn't hurt everyday! \n\nDo the bypass if anything, I wish that I did it. And find a surgeon that knows what they are doing. Ask around your town to find out if other people have had the surgeries and who they have gone to and their experiences with the doctors.  \nAs for if the insurance covers it, I know the BCBS doesn't cover it anymore. The surgeon I had doesn't take Aetna or BCBS as of September 1st anymore. I don't know about Cigna. Most times you have to be 100 pounds overweight and have some problems like diabetes, hypertension and sleep apnea. Call your insurance company and find out.  \n\nDon't worry about what these fools on here say. Do what you need to do. I thought I was doing the right thing. I was 250 pounds and I knew that wasn't going to lose the weight any other way. I work and I pay into my insurance so why can't I use it? I also work at a hospital I know that some of the gastric bypass surgeons do take Cigna so there is a good chance that it is covered as long as you meet the requirements. Medicaid and Medicare also covers both surgeries. \nA good website that explains all the procedures and talks about the insurace is http://www.obesityhelp.com/\n\nGood luck!
426056
I am no doctor, but, my father was diagnosed with initial stage NSC lung cancer in his one lung. Whoops; now I am confused, maybe it was small cell lung cancer. I think that is the more aggressive kind. Now I am not sure, and I started to answer your question. My point is, I know both cancers can spread, one more quickly than the other, but, when diagnosed at a later stage, which I believe your husband's one, the stage it is at gives you the percentage of survival rate (based on five years). So a six month prognosis was a 10 percent survival rate, which was horrible (to me). That is why the Dr. was shocked. No matter if the doctors were wrong, go with the facts. Your husband is still alive, he is living with cancer, not dying of cancer, so prayer, exercise, medicine, is all working. Accept it, and keep doing what you are doing. My son is outperforming all expectations for his rare diagnosis. How? Doctors can't explain it, but they say, "Keep doing what you are doing" Prayer is a very powerful thing, the most powerful and potent thing you can do. It is not his time, and keep loving and living with him. God has a plan for him. You may not know what the plan is, but, God does. Good luck, and I will keep you all in my prayers. A good resource for me was the lungalliance.org They have people who can help with questions. Or, it might be thelungalliance.org. Try both, or do a search engine on lungalliance.
607912
I'm actually more surprised that you're taking the time to ask an informal internet forum rather than checking him into the hospital. Unfortunately, your question contradicts itself in that you say he's basically in good health, yet he has advanced prostate cancer, has had 2 strokes and 2 TIAs, with only 30% kidney function. (I would tend to think that dialysis might be in order.) I wouldn't exactly call that good health, basic or otherwise. If his prostate cancer is advanced, and he doesn't receive treatment, eg., have his prostate gland removed (this may not save his life if the cancer has spread), then he most certainly will die. In which case, he should be made to feel as comfortable as possible. He can be treated with various meds, such as morphine, for the pain if recovery is deemed unattainable, but without treatment he most definitely with feel pain and tremendous discomfort. Unless he's been diagnosed as terminal, get him into surgery ASAP. Besides, at 87, or any age for that matter, why would you want to experience any pain at all, if you could help it???
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Please do not dismiss this complaint. I do not want to scare you but I don't know how else to make you take this seriously. Take him back to the doctor and insist on a complete physical.\n\nThere is an extremely rare childhood cancer of the abdomen called desmoplastic small round cell tumor. It predominately strikes boys and young adults and occurs as multiple masses within the abdominal cavity. Feel his tummy all over for lumps or anything hard. If you find something, get him to his doctor today. Family doctors can miss this type of cancer because it is so rare. They can also misdiagnose the cancer because there may be few or no symptoms. \n\nAs I've said, this is a rare cancer but you need to find out exactly what is going on with him. It needs to be checked out, just to be sure.\n\nDSRCT patients\nhttp://www.dsrct.com/patients.htm\n\nI didn't listen to my son when he was complaining about similar symptoms. When he was finally diagnosed  he was already a stage IV.
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I am sorry that your dad is diagnosed with this terrible disease.  It is so sudden and it is unfair.\n\nI always say this yet no one ever listens or takes my advise seriously. \nHope even a glimmer of it drives us.  Even in the grimmest hours, we still hope that there is a chance.  The alternatives are not great yet we still hope.  Your dad sounds pretty sick and yet he is willing to undergo chemotherapy.  The chemotherapy even if it works will only make him sicker and feel more awful.  He could enroll in a clinical trial and consensually be a guinea pig.  So for the next 3-12 months, he will be going to doctors and seeking second opinions.  He may be sick and end up in the hospital a few times.  He may even seek alternative "miracle" herbs.  Why do people want to go thru that?  Why don't people seriously consider Hospice as a legitimate option?  Why do oncologist push there clinical protocols - are they benefitting society or do they just want to publish a paper that shows that their regiment will increase survival by 3 months?  Sometimes it is okay to give up hope.  \n\nI can honestly say that if I have stage 4 stomach cancer that my goals would be 1)put my affairs together 2)keep me comfortable 3)let me spend the time I have the way I want to spend it and not in a hospital, not getting chemotherpy, not in a doctor's office 3)let me die with dignity at home and not in a hospital with tubes.
558150
i had a tumor removed from the inside of the wrist bone and it sounds similar to what your having done. They hollowed out the bone and used freeze dried bone chips to fill it in. The good news is the bone grew back together just like new and 12 or so years later I don't even notice it. At first it will be weak and tender but I found a few things that helped. My hands and wrist were stiff because my wrist and hand were casted for 6 weeks so I washed dishes by hand to work the muscles back up. And the scar has healed quite nicely. I don't get any phantom pains when it rains or anything like that. I think you will be just fine. I just hope you don't go stir crazy waiting for your hip to heal. Good Luck but I think you will be fine.
281458
Depends entirely on the type of tumor. Some are painless for quite a long time. Some are painful early on. You need to be much more specific before you can get any real answer.
404186
If the operation prolongs life, even by a year or two, then yes. I'd also seek a 3rd and even 4th opinion. Are you the person with the cancer? Whoever it is, I'm deeply sorry. I know what it's like to have that horrible disease in the family. You'll come to the right decision and remember, sometimes miracles do happen. The very best of luck to you and yours
423848
I am a RN who has  taught Nursing for over 20 years.  I have also had a Laparoscopy and D&C performed when I was in my 30's.  Of course everyone responds to surgeries differently but it seems to me that I had one week vacation following that surgery.  I also went back to work 10 days after abdominal surgery for a small bowel resection because I was needed back at work but didn't lift anything of considerable weight.  I would think that if your husband is able to take one week off from work to help out at home with the kids that that should be sufficient.  Just don't try to lift the kids and explain to them that you have a tummy ache which they should understand.  I'm sure they will be glad to assist you.  As for pain this is also very individual.  I was given pain medication by my physician and found that this covered my pain pretty well.  Since the incisions for a laparoscopy are so small they didn't hurt at all.  The gas was somewhat uncomfortable but warm baths seemed to help until it was resorbed by my body.  The pain medication helped the crampy feeling from the D&C and I was on my feet much of each day.  How fortunate you are to have a husband to help you out.  I'm pretty sure that you will be feeling your usual self again in 7-10 days.  Good luck to you and God bless.
567112
I applaud you!!!\n\nBeing a 2 year breast cancer survivor, with a sister and aunt who have also had it and other cancers (colon & prostate) in the family.  I really appreciate all that you and the other scientists do to find cures for the "C" word.
662931
I am not for sure what kinda answer you are looking for. Good or bad.  I did not like chemo and all the side affects.  It will be four years soon since my masectomy.  I still have a small bald spot. No eyebrows.  My eyes drip continually. I have carpal tunnel. Hot flashes galore. Osteoporosis.  All from chemo. I did not enjoy not being able to taste anything.  Or the fact my fingernails hurt so bad I could not touch anything without pain. I did not like getting pnemonia every year.  Or catching every little virus that rolled my way.  No one tells you all the crap that is going to happen afterwards.  The doctor said if they did no one would get treatment.  He told me it could be 3-5 years before my immune system is up.  Well I am much better now and I do not get sick as much. I do still everyday live with the watering eyes,ect. ect.  It caused relationship problems with my family. They just really could not deal with how I looked.  My husband however is the best husband on the earth now.  I am glad to be alive.  I do believe cancer woke me up to the realization of who is truly there for you. I stand up for myself more. Don't put up with all the daily drama.  I am not so happy go lucky as I used to be.  Hope this helps.  Heres wishing you  a cancer free life.
336128
Hi there. I had testicular cancer when I was a similiar age to your husband. ( I am now forty). from what you said about it shrinking, then the new problems, it sounds totally unlike cancer. ( from everything i experienced and read)tumours tend to be hard and wouldnt shrink with anti cyst treatment, nor do they grow quite as spectacularly in the time what you described. If its one of the other two, and you obviously live in an area of the world developed enough to have internet access,(and modern medicine) he will be fine. I can fully empathise that any problem in that area freaks men out and those close to us.Trust your doctors, never be afraid of checking stuff out or getting additional opinions, and if its ok with you, I will pray for you both. Best wishes. simon.
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Sorry, once at stage 3, cancer is taking over and nothing can really be done but to keep your mom as comfortable as possible, and as pain free as possible.  This will probably mean that she'll be on opiates, which will help the pain, but she will sleep more.  This is not an easy thing to go thru. Did your mom take care of you, keep you comfy and tried to make your "owies" go away as you were growing up?  Well, her "owie" is a huge one that unfortunately is not going to go away.  You need to face reality, as much as it hurts.  You need to make her comfy, and let her know how much you love her by telling her, caressing her hand, giving her butterfly kisses. All you can do is alleviate the pain as much as possible. If you can, talk to your mom and ask her what she wants.  I know, I've been there with my mom, and you never want to give up hope. I wanted my mom to get better, but couldn't keep wishing for that, once I saw the pain she was in, and nothing could be done to make the cancer go away.
219440
yes it can about 3 years ago. i had a mass on top of my hearth. it grows within 1 years when the time for surgery when they took the mass out it was 10 pound 6oz 7inch.it never can back. with god and prayer. im still cancer free thank god. what im trying to say. pray and ask god to help go to your church have them to pray over you.god bliss
582809
I am about to have a tumor the size of a cantalope removed from my body this Friday.  I also have a mass on a kidney.  I would be leaving behind three great little kids.  I care if you live.  You don't know what you have until there is a threat that it will be taken from you.  When I was younger I admitted myself to a psych hospital for three weeks because I didn't see any more reason to live.  Back then I really couldn't see any future for me.  If I had only known all the good things that were down the road.  Life is a gift and the best is yet to come.   Even if things are tough now, believe me, better days are ahead.  I care very much.  I don't want to die, and it hurts me to think of someone not understanding what they are throwing away.  Please seek help if you are serious.  Your are worthy of a wonderful life.  You deserve good things.  I don't know you, how old you are, what your situation is or if you are just bored and typing this question to see what people say but no matter what your reason for writing, I can assure you as someone facing some scarey stuff, I care very much that you CARE that you live.