My best friend has recently found out he has Pancreatic cancer?

Question

I am going to be there for him through it all, but I am just curious on what is to come with his condition and what should I expect? Thank you all in advance for your time on this question.

Answer 1

Firstly, I'd like to commend you on sticking with your friend because I've seen a lot of patients lose touch with a lot of their friends simply because this is a long and ardous journey that few people want to accompany the patient with. Secondly, I'll tell you the straight facts (no sugar coating) about it even though its not a rosy picture. Cancer of the pancreas strikes approximately 5 out of every 100,000 people every year and is one of the deadliest forms of cancer. It is estimated that this year 32,000 Americans will be diagnosed with cancer of the pancreas. Cancer of the pancreas is not one disease. In fact, as many as twenty different tumors have been lumped under the umbrella term "cancer of the pancreas." Each of these tumors has a different appearance when examined with a microscope, some require different treatments, and each carries its own unique prognosis. An understanding of the different types of pancreatic tumors is required for rational treatment. Unfortunatelty, cancer of the pancreas is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States. The disease is not only common, it is also extremely difficult to treat. Surgical removal ("resection") of the cancer is currently the only chance for a cure for patients with cancer of the pancreas. Fortunately, great strides have been made in the surgical treatment of this disease. The surgical resection of most pancreas cancers is called a "pancreaticoduodenectomy" or "Whipple procedure." Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are the main treatments offered to patients whose entire tumor cannot be removed surgically ("unresectable cancers"). For patients with advanced pancreatic cancer who cannot have their tumors removed surgically, the focus of treatment involves symptom prevention and control. This may involve the use of:

1. Surgery to relieve intestinal blockage or to perform nerve blocks for pain;
2. Radiation therapy to relieve painful disease sites; or
3. Chemotherapy to reduce the rate of tumor growth and to prolong survival

For some patients whose tumors cannot be removed surgically, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are sometimes given together to reduce the size of the tumor. Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays directed at a tumor. This therapy damages the cancer cells and stops them from growing and dividing. It may be used before or after surgery to shrink the tumor alone or with chemotherapy for patients with inoperable tumors. Side effects: fatigue, skin becomes red, tender, itchy, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, digestion problems. Usually subside when treatment ceases. There's also chemotherapy which is a therapy that uses drugs to kill cancer cells. May be used - alone - with radiation therapy -after surgery. The side effects: fatigue, mouth sores, nausea, vomiting. Usually go away during recovery periods between treatments. Another treatment option is Immunotherapy
Side effects: flu-like symptoms (chills, fever, muscle aches, weakness, loss of appetite) Usually goes away after the treatment stops. It is very difficult for pancreatic cancer patients to maintain weight for several reasons. Many patients lose their appetite and the normal taste of food as a result of byproducts released from the cancer. Even the food that is eaten may not always be digested well because the pancreas is not working properly. If the pancreatic duct is obstructed or after surgery, the pancreas may not release sufficient amounts of pancreatic enzymes.Therefore some patients will benefit from taking pancreatic enzymes. Unfortunately, the problems with weight do not end there. The majority of patients with pancreatic cancer will still lose weight even if they are eating and digesting their food sufficiently. Many pancreas cancers (and other cancers) release compounds into the blood that breakdown muscle and fat (causing cachexia). So that over time patients will find they are not only slimmer but their muscles are smaller and they become progressively more fatigued.

Answer 2

It is very important to have a good doctor and follow their directions. Sometimes they may want to try and shrink the tumour before operating on it. If surgery is the only alternative then best it's gone and let meds take over the function. Every case is different and if it's in an early stage there is likely hope for a good outcome.

Don't believe everything you read. I found that information on the net or anywhere for that matter is too general and almost none of what I read about the type of cancer my son had applied to him one bit. Out of the hundreds of things that "could have" happened only one did...and that was the loss of hair...sure we expected some drops in blood levels etc. but we were fortunte that none materialized. We worried ourselves to near death and in the end everything turned out ok.

Just give your support and take one day at a time and that is how you should live your life from hereon in. Whatever the outcome, you know you will have lived more in these days than all the other days combined.

Answer 3

Pancreatic cancer is sadly a bad cancer to get, and stage 4 means it is advanced, and has spread to other areas of the body. This is a terrible condition to affect anyone, let alone someone you know, and it must be awful for your friend. But i would suggest that the best that you can do is to provide support for your friend. Realistically, a terminal diagnosis can only be prolonged, not cured. It may be worth asking his doctor about any possible prolonging methods, but it is almost certain that his doctor is trying to do this anyway. I am really sorry to hear your news. My thoughts are with you and your friend.

Answer 4

Sorry to hear this. But it depends on the stage of the cancer. If its in its early stages (1-2) maybe chemotherapy or a surgery can take it out. But if its in its older stages (3-4), and the pancreas is still in the body, if your friend doesn't get immediate and invasive (operation) treatment to get the cancer out, he will die. Hope things work out well.

Answer 5

I am afraid that the outcome is not usually good. Go to this site and do some research. Sorry. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/pancreatic-cancer/DS00357

Answer 6

be there for your friend. Friends all always there when a friend needs help and support. Sometimes they get grouchy because they are stressing out on life and how life can be treating like this and they might take it out on you and say some bad things out of angry but that is when your friend needs you the most.

Answer 7

1

Answer 8

If he doesn't get surgery, he will die painfully. If he does getsurgery, he will probably be insulin dependent for therest of his life. I have a friend who is too frail for surgery, and she is in constant pain and has lost 45 pounds already.

Answer 9

He will probably have a nasograstic tube to prevent bloating, and narcotics for pain. He should have sufficient pain medication that he does not suffer and is asleep most of the time.

Answer 10

unfortunately the prognosis is bad 5% survive in 5 years, but this depends at the stage. what he needs now is encouragement and palliative therapy

see this website
www.emedicine.com