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My wife, Renee, (we have lived apart for several years, but have remained friends), has been diagnosed with a pancreatic tumor that has been deemed cancerous. Anybody have any information on this condition? I Googled, and all the info seems gloom and doom.
I am not a doctor, but we have one heck of a prayer board here and Renee is on it.
I can say from working in a medical center for a while that every case is different and the internet will probably scare the heck out of you. The problem with pancreatic cancers is that they don't have symptoms at first, so late diagnosis is common. Late diagnosis and cancer remission rates don't go hand in hand. That doesn't mean that Renee was a late diagnosis.
Not knowing what the diagnosis and prognosis is.... I know that being in a clinical trial may be the way to go to get the most aggressive treatment options.
Wow Ed, that's a tough one......
Indiana University has what may be the most advanced pancreatic duct tube experts around. That is where we ended up taking Terri when she had her Pancreas issues and it was nip and tuck for awhile.
We also have a cat which had kidney cancer and was given weeks to live 7 years ago. She had the growths removed through surgery and then chemo. Once she was past the near-death experience of the chemo, she has been fine, (even if she does have a bad attitude towards everyone but me:D)
There is a couple of words of advice I tell everyone who has any medical issue. And I have two sisters and a brother-in-law in the medical field.
Do not take any one places word as gospel. All medical institutions vie with all other medical institutions for every grant, loan, donor dollar, etc. they can get. That means they will not tell you if some other institution has what may be a better way to deal with the particular issue.
Use every contact you have to find out who the best is, or who is doing the cutting edge stuff if the diagnosis is particularly bad.
As soon as my brother-in-law and sister get back from China, I'll ask about the best he knows. He has contacts everywhere.
The highest rated places in the nation;
Showing 1–4 of 870
#1
University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, TX
Reputation with specialists 78.90 Very strong
Nurse staffing 2.00Highest
Survival 10.00Much better than expected
Hospital type: Cancer
Number of beds: 507
Parent system: University of Texas System
Ranked #1 in Cancer
Ranked #6 in Ear, Nose & Throat
Ranked #6 in Gynecology
#2
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
New York, NY
Reputation with specialists 67.90 Very strong
Nurse staffing 1.90High
Survival 10.00Much better than expected
Hospital type: Cancer
Number of beds: 434
Ranked #2 in Cancer
Ranked #5 in Urology
Ranked #7 in Pediatrics: Cancer
#3
Johns Hopkins Hospital
Baltimore, MD
Reputation with specialists 40.60 Strong
Nurse staffing 2.10Highest
Survival 10.00Much better than expected
Hospital type: General medical and surgical
Number of beds: 918
Parent system: Johns Hopkins Health System
Ranked #1 in Ear, Nose & Throat
Ranked #1 in Neurology & Neurosurgery
Ranked #1 in Psychiatry
#4
Mayo Clinic
Rochester, MN
Reputation with specialists 38.40 Strong
Nurse staffing 3.10Highest
Survival 9.00Much better than expected
Hospital type: General medical and surgical
Number of beds: 1302
Parent system: Mayo Clinic
Ranked #1 in Diabetes & Endocrinology
Ranked #1 in Gastroenterology
Ranked #1 in Gynecology
http://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/rankings/cancer
Call each one of them personally. Use any contact you have to get an "in" with someone there. Don't fool around with the run-around, you will get it.
This is all stuff I learned the first time, when Terri's Mom was given months to live and we were able to get an in at Wayne State on a program they were in the infancy on. Terri's Mom had a full year of quality life, but then we lost her. I will never take "no" for an answer again when it comes to this kind of stuff.
Now, anyone else have some "in" at any of the leading cancer facilities around this country??????
The best to her! Tracy
Thoughts out to you guys !
Thank you so much for responding. We are adjusting to the initial shock of the diagnosis and to hear from my " website family" is comforting to say the least. I can never repay you guys.
So far all we know is that it hasn't spread and there's a good chance that chemo will be an effective treatment. We will be conferring with an oncologist within the next few days.
Anybody familiar with homeopathic therapy, Vitamin B17 or the drug Laetrile?
I have no info, but will put her on my prayer list.
Ed, Renee is now on my morning prayer list. I do not have any direct experience with laetrile/B17 but it seems to fall into the category of things which support a moderated immune system response. Co-enzyme Q10 is another input that has a history of tumor shrinkage. All the best to you and her. - Jeff
Well guys, I must say the prayers are working! After the consultation with her oncologist we have learned that the tumor will be operable after some chemo and it shrinks somewhat. The best news is Renee's attitude is much improved and the cancer has not spread. Thank you and please keep up the prayers!
How are things, Ed?
How are you doing Ed? Any chance she is doing well enough now to see the two of you in Key West?
Renee has completed treatment #4 of a very aggressive chemo 6 treatment regimen. She is not losing her hair and her attitude is still positive. She is still about 108 lbs. because of her limited appetite. She needs less pain killers and she is convinced that it is because the tumor is shrinking. Won't be able to make Key West this year. I feel horrible about Bob and JT.
Good to hear she is doing better. Miss you here