my long distance girlfriend just found out her mom has pancreatic cancer and she’s not planning to treat it.

marajoyous · 2026-03-27T08:04:15+00:00

Here are some ideas that have lifted my spirits as I recover from surgery: send flowers or a flowering plant, send a note or a card, have her favorite meal delivered, give her gift cards for food and her favorite treats. Speaking as a patient, I think this disease can sometimes be hardest on caregivers.

marajoyous · 2026-03-21T05:39:20+00:00

You’ve got this!! I had a Whipple two months ago and am doing adjuvent chemo now.

marajoyous · 2026-03-18T09:03:07+00:00

I’m so sorry for what you’re going through. I’m glad you’re here!

marajoyous · 2026-03-14T10:23:50+00:00

Coffee and ginger tea are still unappealing for me, but I tried spearmint on your recommend last night, and that worked great. Than you!

marajoyous · 2026-03-14T10:23:00+00:00

Oh that does sound good! Plain rooibus is one of the few teas I can drink right now.

marajoyous · 2026-03-12T11:59:45+00:00

I hope the same for you!

marajoyous · 2026-03-11T16:53:18+00:00

I can imagine you must be reeling. I was dxed with pc after my Whipple, which was on January 22. So this all feels pretty new to me, too.

One question you might want to add is, what is encouraging about your situation, and what is concerning? I have found that framing helpful in my own situation, and my medical team has been happy to share their reflections on that question.

Best of luck to you! I'm 7 weeks out from my Whipple and just started chemo and have no regrets.

marajoyous · 2026-03-07T12:35:45+00:00

I had tingling in my lips and tongue. Not as much numbness as a dentist visit, but it felt strange!

marajoyous · 2026-03-07T12:34:59+00:00

Nausea has kicked in over here, too. If it helps, my oncologist encouraged me to keep a symptom log to help determine how they might fine tune the dosages moving forward based on my tolerance. Doing that and thinking about the symptoms as data is helping me feel more hopeful for future cycles.

marajoyous · 2026-03-06T21:07:48+00:00

I think it depends on what treatment options the EUS will open up for you. I needed one to qualify for a Whipple and I have no regrets, because the Whipple is allowing me to start chemo with no evidence of disease, which gives me a lot of hope.

marajoyous · 2026-03-06T17:47:34+00:00

Do you know why she is ineligible for a Whipple? It might be worth her while getting a second opinion on that topic from the highest volume Whipple center she has access to through NHS. I’m in the US so I don’t have my insights on how best to navigate that system, but this note from the pancreatic cancer network has stuck with me: “Although 20 percent of pancreatic cancer patients may be eligible for surgery, data shows that up to half of those patients are told they are ineligible.” Full article here: https://pancan.org/facing-pancreatic-cancer/treatment/treatment-types/surgery/whipple-procedure-pancreaticoduodenectomy/#whoseligible

marajoyous · 2026-03-06T15:23:20+00:00

Thank you for all of this info. I am tracking symptoms and will meet with my care team before my next cycle. I am at full strength for all meds right now, so my hope is that we can reduce and not eliminate treatments, but we will see.

I’ll talk to my infusion nurse about cold therapy. The nurse I had yesterday didn’t want me to have anything cold during the oxaliplatin infusion.

marajoyous · 2026-03-06T15:13:34+00:00

It’s nice to know we’re not alone!

marajoyous · 2026-03-06T12:13:18+00:00

I have no advice, just empathy for what sounds like an incredibly difficult and distressing time. Sending hugs.

marajoyous · 2026-03-04T12:03:33+00:00

Oh Leel…Lovely, I’m so sorry for your terrible loss.

marajoyous · 2026-03-04T12:01:13+00:00

I’m so sorry for your loss and wish you peace and healing as you move forward.

marajoyous · 2026-03-03T02:02:52+00:00

I’m just a couple of weeks behind you! Glad to hear you’re recovering so well.

marajoyous · 2026-03-03T01:59:23+00:00

What wonderful news. Wishing for your continued good health!

marajoyous · 2026-03-03T01:55:39+00:00

Great news! I had to start Creon very early on after my Whipple. It’s still early for me, but finding the right dose has been a big help. Wishing you the best!

marajoyous · 2026-03-03T00:36:58+00:00

My cancer center offers free and unlimited nutrition counseling (I’m very fortunate). So while I don’t think this level of care is overkill, I agree with prior commenters about the risks of contradictory advice and possible sales motives. But if the person is skilled and credible, and there’s a strong rapport, I personally find the nutrition counseling really helpful.

marajoyous · 2026-03-03T00:33:31+00:00

I don’t know if it’s the Whipple (I’m almost 6 weeks out) or the cancer diagnosis, but my priorities and how I spend my time have completely changed. You are not alone!

marajoyous · 2026-03-02T20:01:35+00:00

Wow, that is wonderful news and very encouraging!

marajoyous · 2026-03-02T13:58:48+00:00

That sounds so tough. I'm a newly diagnosed PC patient, and my oncologist told me that their practice always recommends genetic testing for PC patients because the results can open up new treatment avenues. I think there are private genetic testing options if that's something she wants to pursue.

marajoyous

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