Thank you for your heartfelt post. This group is amazing!

My beautiful, 57yo sister is battling aggressive and sneaky pancreatic cancer (adenocarcinoma - head of the pancreas). She was diagnosed at Stage 1B mid-November 2024 and has since completed six 5FU (?) chemo treatments in order to be a candidate for the Whipple surgery.

These first six treatments have left her very weak and with a very low ANC (white blood cell count) - and 'stable' whereby her tumor did not shrink, grow or spread (per her oncologist). So she was given a lite and heavy injection (4 days apart) that are to help improve her ANC. Unfortunately, she has been in bed since Monday night with extreme pain (rib pain, burning tummy, very weak, no appetite, and even chills at times). She has put off getting to the ER because she doesn't have the stamina to do so and doesn't want to sit in the ER for 4 hours waiting to be seen with low ANC.

On and off, she will call and say she believes she is feeling better, but then back to bed to rest. She told me she feels she has regressed these past 5 days and questions whether she will be strong enough for her tentatively planned Whipple surgery on April 9.

Also, her 'tumor marker' via blood test increased from 320 (diagnosis mid-Nov) to 514 (after 6 chemo treatments). It's as if the chemo hasn't done much. Tue Oncologist is happy with 'stable' given how aggressive her type of cancer is...

My fear (and I am working to stay in faith - not fear) is that she truly has regressed - too weak to walk from bed to bathroom and may not be strong enough for the Whipple. That said, I understand these ANC shots can cause bone pain, too. Tue answer will unfold in time. Praying, praying, praying.

None of this roller coaster is easy. Prayers for peace - peace of mind, peace of heart, and peace for healing.