Butter Posted July 8, 2015 Share Posted July 8, 2015 My dad is in the hospital right now. He's been really sick for a while. He's lost 50 pounds in the last three months, has been really jaundiced, itchy, etc. Today they put a stent in the bile duct connecting the liver, pancreas, and gallbladder. The bile started flowing immediately and they expect the jaundice and itching to resolve soon. However, the duct was being compressed due to a mass on his pancreas. He will be having that mass biopsied tomorrow or Friday. Odds are very good it is cancer. My dad had prostate cancer 7 years ago and had his prostate removed. His PSA has had a number again for a few years, very low but still measurable. They believe the pancreatic mass is those rogue prostate cancer cells. The good news is if it is cancer, it is a best case scenario. Usually pancreatic cancer is discovered too late to really treat it. Only 20% are found early enough and it is usually because they are in the location where his mass is and cuts off bile circulation as his mass did. If it's cancer it is likely removable and the compressed bile duct situation probably prolonged his life. But even best case scenario is still terrifying. I'm too young to lose my Daddy (you are always too young to lose your Daddy no matter how old you are). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penguin Posted July 8, 2015 Share Posted July 8, 2015 I am so sorry :( You and your Daddy are in my thoughts. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted July 8, 2015 Share Posted July 8, 2015 :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lllll Posted July 8, 2015 Share Posted July 8, 2015 :grouphug: And praying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MomtoCandJ Posted July 8, 2015 Share Posted July 8, 2015 Prayers, I lost my daddy when I was 22 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 8, 2015 Share Posted July 8, 2015 Awe, I will pray for the very best prognosis for him! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kimberly in IN Posted July 8, 2015 Share Posted July 8, 2015 Praying for you, your father and your family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starr Posted July 9, 2015 Share Posted July 9, 2015 :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doodlebug Posted July 9, 2015 Share Posted July 9, 2015 Adding prayers!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrincessMommy Posted July 9, 2015 Share Posted July 9, 2015 praying Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted July 9, 2015 Share Posted July 9, 2015 Sending positive thoughts your way for a favorable outcome for your father. Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spryte Posted July 9, 2015 Share Posted July 9, 2015 Thinking of you, and your Dad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackjackoaktree Posted July 9, 2015 Share Posted July 9, 2015 I will send some good health vibes your way for him. My own father had something similar happen and it was touch and go there for nearly a year. He had drainage tubes and things and had to be in the hospital half the year and home for the other half just on the couch. However, he eventually went back to work and went on for another ten years, though as a diabetic. His recent loss had nothing to do with the pancreas stuff. So I hope everything goes well for your dad. It is definately not fun to be younger without your parents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cindy in FL. Posted July 9, 2015 Share Posted July 9, 2015 Praying for good news! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junie Posted July 9, 2015 Share Posted July 9, 2015 (you are always too young to lose your Daddy no matter how old you are). This week is the anniversary of my dad's death. I wasn't very close to him (because of a divorce when I was very young), but it was too soon. He had dementia/PTSD difficulties as a result of Vietnam. Praying for your dad. And you. :grouphug: edited to delete details Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneStepAtATime Posted July 9, 2015 Share Posted July 9, 2015 :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butter Posted July 9, 2015 Author Share Posted July 9, 2015 Thank you, everyone. If the hospital gets the disc with his CT images from two weeks ago this morning, they'll do the biopsy some time today. If it doesn't arrive until later, the biopsy will be tomorrow morning. The place he had the CT scans done sent the disc overnight yesterday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butter Posted July 9, 2015 Author Share Posted July 9, 2015 My dad's regular doctor requested a certain oncologist be brought in. He is one of the best in the country for pancreatic cancer and has lots of experience with the surgery Daddy will need if it is indeed cancer. So that pushed his biopsy to tomorrow for sure, but waiting a day is a small thing to have such a great and experienced surgeon. Meanwhile, the jaundice is resolving and so of course the itching is getting better, too. He's feeling so much better physically thanks to that stent. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butter Posted July 10, 2015 Author Share Posted July 10, 2015 Daddy will be in the hospital about another week and a half. He was supposed to have his biopsy today, but some emergency surgeries came in so he was bumped to Monday. There is virtually no chance the mass is not cancer so they are planning to do the Whipple Procedure on Wednesday. As far as pancreatic cancer goes, this is really best case scenario. But it's still cancer. Again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junie Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 Sorry. Hugs and prayers. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pawz4me Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RioSamba Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 Just prayed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom2myboys Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 Praying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 Praying here!!! :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butter Posted July 14, 2015 Author Share Posted July 14, 2015 Major prayers and good thoughts are need Wednesday. Daddy's biopsy was finally done this afternoon. He definitely has pancreatic cancer, but it appears to be completely contained. It still looks like the best case scenario. The current plan is to remove it (Whipple procedure) on Wednesday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lllll Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 :grouphug: Praying for Wednesday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ewe Mama Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 Praying for you, your father, and his healthcare team. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 Sending good thoughts to your father and you, Heather. Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali in OR Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 Praying for successful removal. My mom passed away from pancreatic cancer. She was not a candidate for the Whipple procedure as it had already spread to her liver. I would love to hear of a success against this horrible disease. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butter Posted July 14, 2015 Author Share Posted July 14, 2015 Bit of a change of plans. His tumor is contained, but it is too close to a vein supplying the liver to do the surgery tomorrow. The risk of damage to that vein is too high. So, instead, he will have three months of chemo and radiation to shrink the tumor and then they will do the Whipple procedure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butter Posted July 15, 2015 Author Share Posted July 15, 2015 Daddy had his port put in this morning. He'll start chemo this afternoon. They are going with a very strong chemo cocktail that he'll get every two weeks for about two months (and then they'll do CT scans again and decide what to do next depending on how the tumor is related to the vein). The chemo takes a little over 48 hours total to administer. He'll be doing this first round inpatient and then has opted to return to the hospital for future infusions rather than go to a local place near where they live. He likes and trusts his doctors and nurses at Georgetown so wants to continue all treatment with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ILiveInFlipFlops Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: My very best wishes to him and to all of you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pawz4me Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 It sounds like he has a good health care team with a good plan. :grouphug: :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammyla Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reefgazer Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 I'm sorry your dad is so sick. Sending my best to you and your dad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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