| Pancreatic cancer... 20:59 - Sep 16 with 2220 views | Zx1988 |
Can anyone offer any advice here please?
Long story short, my great aunt was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in April of last year, underwent surgery, and apparently was given the all clear. My sister and I, however, aren't necessarily convinced this is the actual version of events, given the current state of affairs.
We completely appreciate why she may have chosen to keep it to herself, and know that it will have been done from a place of the utmost love and care, but it makes deciphering things bloody difficult!
For a bit more context...
She was diagnosed back in April 2024 and underwent surgery (a 'Whipple Procedure'), which seemed to do the trick. She struggled a bit in recovering her mobility, and still hasn't really got back to eating properly. She's still fed through a tube, which is keeping her in residential care.
A few months back she, having been convalescing in Chislehurst, moved up to Ipswich to continue her care and be closer to family. She's lost a hell of a lot of weight over the months (albeit she's now at a broadly healthy weight, compared to the mobidly obese Great Aunt that I've known throughout my years on the planet), but has got her mobility back and, when the wife and I visited her in July, was more mobile and spritely than she's ever been, and was talking of trying to get out of the home sooner rather than later (with the eating seemingly being the only thing tying her there), selling her flat in London, and moving up to a bungalow in Ipswich. So far so good, and so incredibly positive.
But...
She was admitted to hospital at the tail end of last week suffering with abdominal pains and passing blood. She's currently in the Capel ward at Heath Road, apparently incredibly weak, and refusing visitors. From the limited research I've done, it does sound as if pancreatic cancer is one of those nasty ones that can just decide that your time has come at the flick of a switch.
I'm just struggling to get my head around it all, and work out what it all may be. She's 72, been incredibly overweight for the thick end of 30 years, smoked most of her life, and probably hasn't lived the healthiest lifestyle, so the deck is rather stacked against her.
She's also the kind of person that, if she'd received the news last year that the operation hadn't been entirely successful and had only, perhaps, bought her another twelve months, would have kept that under her hat, tried to have the best final year possible, and not want to worry us all with knowledge of her impending demise.
So... for those of you who know about such things from either personal experience or from your medical knowledge, does this sound very much like an end-game situation? Or could it just be an unfortunate coincidence of symptoms and timing? [Post edited 16 Sep 21:11]
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| Pancreatic cancer... on 21:05 - Sep 16 with 2140 views | Mullet |
A family friend died recently of it aged only 46. They gave her 12-18 months and she lasted 8. Afaik it’s one of the worst types of cancer unfortunately, I’d say you’re probably not far off I’m afraid.
Sorry to not be able to offer anything hopeful. |  |
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| Pancreatic cancer... on 21:06 - Sep 16 with 2130 views | Cheltenham_Blue |
My mum passed from Panc C in 2012. 7 weeks from diagnosis to the end.
Sadly the symptoms you describe seem horrifically similar.
Pancreatic Cancer is one of the worst cancers to get for morbidity, mainly owing to the difficulties in diagnosis, often mistaken for heartburn/GERD. If your Aunt got the Whipple, and then got a further 12 months with Panc C that's something of a success.
It could be that the cancer has spread and she now has a secondary cancer, but if she's the type that doesn't want to trouble people then I don't know how likely it is that she'll tell you?
I hate to say this, but if she's that weak and losing weight, then it tends to be a fairly quick outcome.
Sorry. |  |
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| Pancreatic cancer... on 21:06 - Sep 16 with 2123 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
Medical diagnoses are never 100% certain. It is equally possible she was told the procedure was successful as it appeared to have been but the cancer has still returned or that there is some other underlying problem.
It doesn't sound good from what you say but those treating her will be doing their best to get everything right. |  |
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| Pancreatic cancer... on 21:13 - Sep 16 with 2046 views | catch74 |
My dad sadly died from pancreatic cancer.
I believe it’s one of, if not the least survivable cancers - mainly because it’s often a silent killer, no symptoms/ pain etc. I think when I researched when my dad was diagnosed you had a 5% chance of living for a furthest 5 years. It also spreads quickly - I think to liver and then everywhere.
He wasn’t offered the operation (despite the lump only being 0.7cm when discovered. It’s a massive operation, I think the pancreas is behind everything - so they have to take everything out to operate!
I wonder if she’s had complications from the operation rather than the cancer returning. I think a lot of the older generation don’t want to talk about things and as you may feel she knows more than letting on.
Strangely a friend of my dad had the operation at the same time he was diagnosed (15 years ago) and she’s still going strong!
If you’ve any further questions please shout, very sorry for the position you’re in and hopefully she’s sorted out and back fighting fit soon. |  |
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| Pancreatic cancer... on 21:14 - Sep 16 with 2039 views | GlasgowBlue |
My wife’s best friend was suffering from severe abdominal pain in July and was very quickly diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Shes been given less than a year to live and is rapidly going downhill. We’re not sure if she’ll make Christmas.
It’s a form of cancer that is very hard to detect until it’s too late from what I’ve been told. Sorry to hear about your great aunt. |  |
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| Pancreatic cancer... on 21:14 - Sep 16 with 2029 views | BlueBadger |
Sending a PM |  |
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| Pancreatic cancer... on 21:18 - Sep 16 with 1992 views | Zx1988 |
Thanks for all the input folks - even if it's bum news, it's good (if that can ever be the right word here!) to know that we're not necessarily barking up the wrong tree.
Really appreciate it. | |
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| Pancreatic cancer... on 21:37 - Sep 16 with 1842 views | Swansea_Blue |
A very low survival rate beyond one year I’m afraid, but I’m sure you know that. My gran passed away from it and went downhill very quickly in a matter of a weeks, but she was 20 years older and had other things going on. Obviously medical advice is needed but I appreciate that may be difficult if she’s a proud woman wanting to protect you and yours by not seeing people. There’s every chance the op was deemed successful; it’s known for not being an easy one to treat and likely to return, but others like Badger will know more about it.
Take care. Hopefully you’ve got people around you to support each other, but we’re also here if you need to unload or just swear at someone. |  |
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| Pancreatic cancer... on 22:32 - Sep 16 with 1625 views | dickie |
My Mum had pancreatic cancer aged 33 in the mid 90s. Her tumour was a specific slow growing one called a neuroendocrine tumour. She ended up having massive surgery having half her pancreas, her gall bladder and a chunk of dudodenum removed resulting in her needing to take enzyme capsules every time she ate for the rest of her life.
She died aged 45 from sepsis, as a result of poor blood supply to her large intestine (a direct result of the massive surgery she'd had 12 years before). At the time of her death in 2007 we were told that she was the record of someone surviving pancreatic cancer - by and large it tends to be weeks not years. I guess she was "lucky" with the type of tumour she had (incidentally the same kind that Wilko Johnson had) | | | |
| Pancreatic cancer... on 02:11 - Sep 17 with 1242 views | IPS_wich |
First of all - I'm sorry mate, cancer sucks and I'm sure all of us are reaching out over our keyboards to put our arms around your shoulders.
As others have said Pancreatic Cancer is one of the three big nasties (alongside Liver and Lung) - with really poor mortality rates and seemingly little to no progress in treatment or management. Whilst there has been incredible progress in treating many cancers (including many rare cancers) these three are the stubborn b$$tards.
As for your Great Aunt, it's really difficult to know how any one person responds to news like this - and how they engage with their loved ones is really their decision.
A slightly different scenario, but when my Gran went rapidly downhill with dementia in her late 80s, my Mum made me and my brother promise to not go and visit her in the nursing home (Gran didn't want us to visit her - she knew what was coming). She passed away four years later and it was a classic case of her not recognising anyone or anything in those last few months, losing loads of weight and becoming a shell of the person she had been. After the funeral I got really angry with my Mum for insisting that we keep away - I felt it robbed me of the chance to say my goodbyes. But that was 18 years ago, and all of my memories of my Gran are wonderful memories of this gracious, well dressed, kind person who spoilt me and my brother rotten - so in hindsight it was probably the right call by my her and Mum. | | | |
| Pancreatic cancer... on 02:39 - Sep 17 with 1180 views | Perublue |
My best thoughts to anyone posting or reading this thread that have been scarred by this particularly cruel and seemingly random cancer on who gets it.
As many have said when it’s discovered it’s pretty much always too late and very quick in doing it’s thing this adding to the cruelty when we have made so many advances with other forms of the disease.
I had read recently their had been some encouraging news in the treatment which I’ll try and find a link to later but like my dad who was taken by it I think it’s still a way down the line in being able to help people with it now.
One of things I do remember in regards to the surgeon who tried to help my dad was when he said there is no specific group, age or lifestyle that gets hit..and this just after I had left dad in his bed knowing he knew they had only managed to relieve him of the side effects he was suffering but the realisation it was a lost cause… I will never forget the look we have each other.
That was during the 2010 World Cup he managed to stay with us until just before 2012 Olympics but he wasn’t the person we knew from the operation until the end… and in the end it was his heart that gave up not the cancer that got him… a very fit and gregarious sweet guy is his mid 60’s with so much to give and enjoy and also realised he was the glue keeping the immediate and extended family together too … all seems a long time ago but so recent.
Sorry for going on … I rarely write or talk about him.. I’ll not even edit this I’ll just shoot it now. |  |
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| Pancreatic cancer... on 12:36 - Sep 17 with 365 views | SE1blue |
I am really sorry you are going through this and hope you and your sister are supporting each other.
Everything already posted is very accurate. We lost my wife’s mum to pancreatic cancer 13 years ago and this thread has brought back so many memories - the tough ones and the good ones.
If I can offer any advice, it’s to try and make the most the time you have now with your great aunt. Say the things you need to say, and do the things that make them most comfortable. My wife’s mum could barely eat anything at the end but a doctor recommended letting her drink a glass of champagne now and then - apparently it helps and even if it doesn’t, it’s a small pleasure in tough times.
Your family might also want to think about trying to get Power of Attorney. It makes things a little easier, but I appreciate that can be difficult.
Most of all, make sure you’re looking after yourself and don’t be afraid to also reach out for help in what is a very difficult time. |  |
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| Pancreatic cancer... on 12:46 - Sep 17 with 323 views | Churchman |
I’m afraid I cannot offer advice on pancreatic cancer, unlike other posters on here who have direct experience of it.
I do know what it’s like to see more than one person die of other forms cancer and Mrs C got through it last year and despite a recent biopsy scare is fine. Like any serious illness, it’s a hard old road. The only advice I can give is to filter out the noise, listen to what the wonderful people treating her say and above all what she wants to say and do.
For me, dealing with this stuff it’s day at a time. What needs to be done, do and make sure you look after yourself and others. |  | | |
| Pancreatic cancer... on 12:47 - Sep 17 with 319 views | usm |
My M-I-L died form Pancreatic cancer several years ago. She went through the same procedure that you great aunt did, lost loads of weight but actually lived another six years, never regaining any weight but being generally active and healthy.
It came back suddenly and she deteriorated quite quickly the second time around.
It sounds like your great aunt has hit the second time around stage unfortunately.
Its a nasty cancer and my M-I--L was very lucky to get those extra six years in hindsight.
She had been a pub landlady for over 30 years, smoked and drank heavily for most of her landlady years so to be honest did well to last as long as she did. |  |
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| Pancreatic cancer... on 13:17 - Sep 17 with 236 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
| Pancreatic cancer... on 02:11 - Sep 17 by IPS_wich |
First of all - I'm sorry mate, cancer sucks and I'm sure all of us are reaching out over our keyboards to put our arms around your shoulders.
As others have said Pancreatic Cancer is one of the three big nasties (alongside Liver and Lung) - with really poor mortality rates and seemingly little to no progress in treatment or management. Whilst there has been incredible progress in treating many cancers (including many rare cancers) these three are the stubborn b$$tards.
As for your Great Aunt, it's really difficult to know how any one person responds to news like this - and how they engage with their loved ones is really their decision.
A slightly different scenario, but when my Gran went rapidly downhill with dementia in her late 80s, my Mum made me and my brother promise to not go and visit her in the nursing home (Gran didn't want us to visit her - she knew what was coming). She passed away four years later and it was a classic case of her not recognising anyone or anything in those last few months, losing loads of weight and becoming a shell of the person she had been. After the funeral I got really angry with my Mum for insisting that we keep away - I felt it robbed me of the chance to say my goodbyes. But that was 18 years ago, and all of my memories of my Gran are wonderful memories of this gracious, well dressed, kind person who spoilt me and my brother rotten - so in hindsight it was probably the right call by my her and Mum. |
Absolutely agree with your sentiments there.
I would say that we are all different. Your Mum absolutely made the decision for the right motives but I would say we are all different and some want to remain involved whilst others might prefer to avoid tainting the good memories. We are all different but I am glad your enduring memories of your Gran are good ones. | |
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| Pancreatic cancer... on 14:00 - Sep 17 with 117 views | hype313 |
My best mate died of PC when he was 38, symptoms were back pain for a year or two, was repeatably told it was nerve damage, eventually he had a MRI and CAT scan and unfortunately it was found to be PC, which by then had spread to his Liver and Lungs.
As others have stated it's one of the worst Cancers to get because by the time they diagnose it's too late to operate or offer any treatment.
I believe Chris Rea had it and survived, but if you hear how his life has been since the operation, it's not been a bed of roses at all.
Sorry for the bad news, hopefully as each day passes we will be able to identify it far quicker in the long term. |  |
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