My mom was just diagnosed today with pancreatic cancer. She is 82 years old.?

Question

What do we expect? My sister found her yellow skin, doubled over in pain and vomiting yesterday morning and they have been testing since. they told us tonight the results. they are doing another test now as I type to see how far she is. She is not a complainer and does not like dr's so she has probaly been in pain for quite a while. Any help with what to expect would be appreciated. thanks

Answer 1

I'm very sorry to hear this, my sympathies go out to you and your family.

My father-in-law recently passed away from this type of cancer. It runs in my husband's family as his father, grandfather and uncle were also diagnosed.

My husband's father was given 6 months to live by his doctors but he survived for 2 whole years. He refused any radiation or chemotherapy, as he believed that it would have probably done more harm than good. He did not want to go out that way, he wanted to be as strong as possible for as long as possible.

He was only 56 when he was diagnosed and 58 when he passed, so since your mother is older she may have different issues to deal with. But my father-in-law was very active until only a few weeks before his passing. The only hints that he was ill was the ever-increasing lump in his abdomen (his tumor), it's accompanying pain, and extreme weight-loss. His pain got slowly worse as time progressed and at the very end he did take pain medications for it as it was quite bad. The medications made him very confused and at the very end he didn't recognize anyone anymore and couldn't use the bathroom by himself.

He had a very interesting outlook on his sickness. When he was diagnosed initially, he decided to spend his last days doing what he loved most - surfing. He moved to Costa Rica for 8 months and when he didn't die, he decided to come home! The only remedy he took the entire time - aside from the pain meds at the end - was his own urine! Yes, it sounds crazy, but there is apparently some sort of urine-drinking therapy program he learned about and decided to try. It sounded awful, but we couldn't argue with it, as it seemed to be doing something! And he lived a year and a half longer than expected!

My husband's uncle who was also diagnosed 6 months after his father opted for chemo and radiation. They think they caught his early because the tumor grew on a vital duct and gave him very bad jaundice very early on, so he noticed his symptoms right away. He is recovering now and only experienced pain after his treatments started. Most of his pain came from his surgeries and from his treatment making him so tired! He is in his 40s.

Grandfather was in his mid 80s and passed soon after being diagnosed. Pancreatic cancer is very aggressive and took him quickly. The only solace we took was in that he had lived a full, long, good life. He wasn't in much pain because he was heavily medicated which also made him very confused. He also lost a lot of weight.

As far as what you should expect ... it's different for everyone. She is older which vastly decreases her chance of survival. No matter what, it will cause her pain because of the tumor pressing on vital organs, and if she is on pain medication she will probably be very "out of it".

The one thing I want to say is that, if she is going to pass ... if you have anything you need to say to your mother, please tell her! It's morbid but it's such a truth. My husband couldn't find the words to express what he needed to say to his father, even after 2 years of preparation, and it hurt him so deeply. Don't wait until it's too late. Say anything you need to now while she is still aware and capable of communicating coherently.

God bless you and yours, I wish you the best.

Answer 2

Although your mom is not a complainer but this is a painful cancer, probably your mom needs narcotics to reduce her pain so you may consult her doctor regarding this matter if it hasn't been done yet. Vomiting & yellow skin might be due to obstruction in duedenom( first part of small intestine) and/or common bile duct that shows the cancer is in an advance stage, however most of the pancreatic cancers ae ususally discovered in advanced stages. She may need a palliative surgery to resolve the possible obstruction too.This is not a curable disease, at least up to now and prognosis is not good.Don't expect a miracle but don't loose your hope and keep your faith.

Answer 3

Unfortunately, pancreatic cancer is one that is not usually found until late in the disease because it takes a long time for symptoms to occur. By the time 90% of patients are diagnosed the tumor has already spread.
The one-year survival rate is 20%, and the five-year is 4%. If the tumor can be resected the average survival is about 2 yrs.

Expect the worse, pray for the best, and just love on her! I can't imagine how hard this must be for you.

Answer 4

I think you should get her affairs in order and not in a month or a week. Do it now. Express to her today how much you love her and what she means to you. While she is still able to answer appropriately, find out what her wishes are. Get her living will in order and give it to her physician. The medications they may use to control her pain may make her confused and loopey. Its not a bad way to be when you look at the possiblities.
Also, hospice care is an excellent choice for someone who is 82 years old and in pain. Pancreatic cancer is very painful and the cure rate is poor.
I would not wish what you are going thru on anyone. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
In Jesus name.

Answer 5

My Mom died from pancreatic cancer at the age of 81. Do you have hospice? That would be a step you should take. It really helps. Call you local cancer center or ask her doctor. When Mom got really bad, there are three kids, we were all afforded the luxury of being able to be with her. One of us stayed up with her all night so she wouldn't die alone. It's very hard to go through this because, as everyone has said, once the diagnosis is made there is very little time left. Take comfort in the fact that you had all these years with her.

Answer 6

Ask your Mother what she wants in terms of health care. Make these wishes known to her physician by way of consultation. Get a living will and someone needs to become her healthcare representative to speak for her if or when she is not able to make her wishes known. Any Social Service Person at any hospital or Long Term Care Facility can assist you and have access to these forms. When signing living wills beware that provision of fluids and nourishment could mean tube feeding and this can be advoided by allowing the decision to be made by the healthcare representative whether to just allow IV fluids only ect. Your physician can explain all the what ifs and don't hesitate to ask. There is no such thing as a dumb question. Hope this helps you and yours make a difficult situation and little stressful. Take care

Answer 7

People with pancreatic cancer do not have a lot of time left. She will get weaker, she won't eat very much, she'll be in pain, and may get confuse. Get all her affairs in order, call in the family so you can spend what little time you have together. Keep her comfortable, free from pain with medications if you need to. Take pictures and movies of her with the family. Talk about the good times, and tell her how much you love her. Good luck and I'll keep you and your family in my prayers

Answer 8

Your mom is 82......prepare now! Pancreatic kills quickly. Being that she is not a complainer means she is probably advanced. Take this time to enjoy what time you have left with her. I really am not trying to be a downer, I really understand.

Being human, don't concentrate on final details..........laugh and remember great memories. Ask those questions you always wanted an answer to. Tell her what you always wanted to say. What is going to happen is alot of depressing ,agonizing days of decisions, and plannings, and phone calls, and being tired.

Do yourself and her a favor......live out these days with humor and laughter, and love!

Answer 9

so sorry to hear ths news. i lost my mom to this cancer almobt 3yrs. ago.she was 63.i must tell you this is a very painfuf cancer..my mother was put on oxycotin,morphine dilaudid and some others i can't remember and she was still in misery. have family with her at all times soshe will get pain meds around the clock.it's not going to be easy,but try to make her days as comfortable as possible. in the last week my mom went into coma.i kept on talking to her and letting her know how much she was loved.i also told her it was ok to go.she went soon after.God Bless you and my prayers are with you

Answer 10

my fiance's mother passed about 2 yrs ago due to this...she never complained either....she said that it wouldn't do any good. remember that she IS going to a much better place and she will be looking down on you all. hold her hand, let her know that you will always be there...it is hard for her as well and she knows that the time is near to say good bye. tell her that it is not good bye but only a see ya later type of thing....
my prayers are with you and yours
God bless