My friend has been told he has tumour on his pancreas and that it's inoperable, any sites that have live help?

Question

he was discharged from hospital yesterday after being told that if they operate it will kill him. he is very scared and confused, and asked me what the best website would be to get medical advice/second opinion or about alternative therapies. Any help/advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thankyou.

Answer 1

Inoperable does not mean that there is no treatment. He needs a second or third opinion. Best thing he can do now is to do the research and find out what is available for his type of cancer. He should find an oncologist that specializes in his type of cancer, put his complete trust in him and than prepare for the fight.

My son has had two inoperable episodes. The first one he was diagnosed as stage IV with multiple masses throughout the body. After he went through chemotherapy he had significant response and the tumors shrunk more than 50%. He was able to have a first debulking surgery, followed by more chemo, and than a second surgery which removed all visible evidence of disease. To take care of the 'microscopic' implants within the abdomen he underwent a 'chemoperfusion' where the chemicals were heated and than the abdomen was bathed during surgery. He tolerated the procedure very well and was released in 8 days.

Do not let the word, 'inoperable' scare you . . if he is relatively healthy and strong than both chemotherapy and/or radiation can be used to try and reduce the size of the tumors and eliminate them.

Tell your friend to not give up. He needs more information. He needs to read as much as he can. A good place to start is at the National Cancer Institute:
http://www.cancer.gov/

American Cancer Society
http://www.cancer.org/

And, Cancer Care for support groups:
http://www.cancercare.org/

Answer 2

Firstly, and not wanting to sound too brutal, but if the medical team have said it is inoperable, it is inoperable. Many tumours of the pancreas are so fatal because it is very difficult to operate. There are many vessels around, such as the superior mesenteric artery and vein, splenic artery, splenic vein etc...which no amount of chemotherapy will be able to shrink down enough to operate on.

Chemotherapy, at least here in the UK, is Gemcitabine. It's shown to have a response in around 30% of patients, in so far as it slows the progress of the disease, it doesn't shrink the tumour. It is one of the more "gentle" chemotherapeutic agents though, so is often tried by patients.

Sadly, in these cases, repeat ERCP's to change the stent and prevent jaundice, and pain relief are really all that is available. Contact the MacMillan nurses (UK) and they are really very good at helping people come to terms with this situation.

Answer 3

Tell him to call Cancer Treatment Centre of America. there is chemo available that may help reduce the size of the tumour. I have a friend with the same problem, 6 months ago, the hospital told her there was nothing they could do for her but give her morphine. Her niece called the cancer place, and suddenly, her doctor offered her chemo and radiation therapy. The sad part is that we are in Canada, and not until the government found out they would have to be paying more for treatment in the states did they even consider treating her.

Answer 4

Look into the Maitake mushroom's "D-Fraction" version. This is the refined version of the mushroom that is currently in FDA phase II clinical trials for breast cancer I believe. The D-Fraction has been shown to reduce tumor size and increase immune system respose for many cancers (but not all). Most of this has been in animals and only now are well regulated trials being conducted.

The brand I recommend is by Maitake Products, Inc. out of NJ (www.maitake.com). They seem to be the most legit out of all of them. Their 'Griffin Pro' is the professional strength and most refined and potent version of the d-fraction they sell. Basically the beta-glucans in d-fraction are the only ones that can be effectively taken orally compared to other mushroom beta-glucans (which must be intravenious to be effective). Do a google or yahoo search on beta-glucans and you will see much research on it.

Good luck!

Answer 5

My father passed away 3 years ago from pancreatic cancer. Once diagnosed he lived for 18 months. If he needs treatments try getting into Fox Chase down in Philadelphia, PA, it is a very good cancer hospital. Visit pancan.com it has all different types of information about new treatments.

Answer 6

Assuming you have been nevertheless healthful adequate to do issues, to think of intelligently, and weren't in discomfort, then your reaction often is to with out postpone take care of the preliminary marvel, then to initiate getting your affairs so as, and to encompass your self with the affection of your loved ones and close acquaintances. I even have had a maximum cancers analysis wherein I even have an prolonged time to stay (the analysis is uncertain) and that's how I even have replied. I incredibly have an incredibly close chum who has had just about precisely the situation which you describe--2 inoperable tremendously aggressive suggestions tumors, and a existence expectancy of as much as two years--yet perhaps as low as some months. he's doing nicely for now, aside from severe weak point on his ideal part, on chemo, after latest technique radiation. He has a super property, and he has been very effective in liquidating his supplies so as that his spouse and little ones are nicely presented for--that has been his first actual precedence. His 2d precedence has been that he and his relatives have thoroughly researched what's the final medical medical look after his condition, and that they have got achieved a staggering job of that. He needs to maintain his existence for as long as achieveable, as long as he's incredibly smart and not in severe discomfort. finally he has surrounded himself along with his closest acquaintances, and his relatives. This analysis has brought about him to open as much as others, and comprehend his love and choose on for others, in a fashion that has under no circumstances been achieveable for him. the quantity and love and appreciation that he expresses for others is astonishing, and being so in opt for and loving, the affection flows to him from all and sundry with out any of the widely used inhibitions approximately looking too emotional or being too susceptible. None of those photograph concerns count anymore. they're trivial. What incredibly concerns is to love and be enjoyed. contained in the terrific diagnosis, it incredibly is the essense of what's important in existence. each so often it takes a life-time, no count how short, to verify that super actuality.

Answer 7

Anderson cancer clinic in texas! I t has a very expensive radiation machine that can pin point in on the cancer without damaging organs and tissue around the cancer.

Answer 8

I have a friend that died last year of pancreatic cancer. Try going to the website below to see if there are new drugs, etc.

Answer 9

Try these sites:

http://www.cancerbackup.org.uk/Cancertype/Pancreas

http://www.cancersupportivecare.com/pancreas.html

All the best. I know what you're going through.

Answer 10

Try www.mayoclinic.com

They might have some info/answers that can help or lead you to a site that can.