Father diagnosed with stage 1 cancer in July (pain, pancreas, chemo)
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Yesterday, I lost my father after what I think of as a relatively short battle with cancer. Aged 70 and in good health (golfing, fishing, boating), he went in for his regular 6 month physical at the end of June. They did a scan of his heart and it came back with good results, except it had caught the top of the pancreas and the doctors noticed some spots. They called him back and at the very beginning of July did a biopsy and diagnosed him with stage 1 cancer. Even now I'm confused as to whether at the time it was liver or pancreas. There were no symptoms. He and my mom had plans to come up from FL just after July 4, but they postponed their trip due to the start of chemo treatments. The doctors assured them they would be able to resume travel by the fall. At that time my understanding was that although not curable, it would most likely be treatable for years. The plan was for 6 weeks of chemo, followed by another scan to see how well the cancer was being controlled.
At almost the 6 week point (mid-late August), my dad's pancreas stopped working at the end of the week. Throughout the weekend he was getting more sick and my parents thought it was in reaction to the chemo. By that Monday's oncologist appointment his sugar levels were over 800 and he was in shock. He spent a week in the hospital. He did recover a bit from that bout, but had to start taking insulin. They lessened the chemo and extended it another 6 weeks. That's when things really started to go downhill. His body was not reacting well to the chemo. In mid-September they knew that it was not going as well as planned and we made plans to go down at Thanksgiving since the doctors thought that would be a good time to get the family together.
At the end of September he was eating fairly well (although a lot of things tasted bad) and he was looking forward to seeing us in Nov. When October started he could walk. By Columbus Day weekend, he had to sit in a wheelchair to get to the oncologist appointments. That was when he received the results of his 2nd scan and was told there was nothing else they could do. The cancer had been so aggressive.
I made it down to visit last week (Oct. 10-12). That was the week my mom got things going with Hospice. He needed help sitting up in bed, but once to the side of the bed, he could stand up and use the walker to walk to the bathroom or living room to visit. Around Oct. 16, he could no longer do that and was bedridden.
The toughest part for me is how quickly it changed. The roller coaster of the initial scan, the relief of hearing that it wasn't as bad as it could have been, and then the downward spiral this month. Of course, a bunch of "what ifs" pop into my mind and I know that hindsight is 20/20. The past two weeks have been the roughest.
Yesterday, I lost my father after what I think of as a relatively short battle with cancer. Aged 70 and in good health (golfing, fishing, boating), he went in for his regular 6 month physical at the end of June. They did a scan of his heart and it came back with good results, except it had caught the top of the pancreas and the doctors noticed some spots. They called him back and at the very beginning of July did a biopsy and diagnosed him with stage 1 cancer. Even now I'm confused as to whether at the time it was liver or pancreas. There were no symptoms. He and my mom had plans to come up from FL just after July 4, but they postponed their trip due to the start of chemo treatments. The doctors assured them they would be able to resume travel by the fall. At that time my understanding was that although not curable, it would most likely be treatable for years. The plan was for 6 weeks of chemo, followed by another scan to see how well the cancer was being controlled.
At almost the 6 week point (mid-late August), my dad's pancreas stopped working at the end of the week. Throughout the weekend he was getting more sick and my parents thought it was in reaction to the chemo. By that Monday's oncologist appointment his sugar levels were over 800 and he was in shock. He spent a week in the hospital. He did recover a bit from that bout, but had to start taking insulin. They lessened the chemo and extended it another 6 weeks. That's when things really started to go downhill. His body was not reacting well to the chemo. In mid-September they knew that it was not going as well as planned and we made plans to go down at Thanksgiving since the doctors thought that would be a good time to get the family together.
At the end of September he was eating fairly well (although a lot of things tasted bad) and he was looking forward to seeing us in Nov. When October started he could walk. By Columbus Day weekend, he had to sit in a wheelchair to get to the oncologist appointments. That was when he received the results of his 2nd scan and was told there was nothing else they could do. The cancer had been so aggressive.
I made it down to visit last week (Oct. 10-12). That was the week my mom got things going with Hospice. He needed help sitting up in bed, but once to the side of the bed, he could stand up and use the walker to walk to the bathroom or living room to visit. Around Oct. 16, he could no longer do that and was bedridden.
The toughest part for me is how quickly it changed. The roller coaster of the initial scan, the relief of hearing that it wasn't as bad as it could have been, and then the downward spiral this month. Of course, a bunch of "what ifs" pop into my mind and I know that hindsight is 20/20. The past two weeks have been the roughest.
Like I am sure everyone else is doing, let me send my sympathy to you for your loss; there is never the right word to help someone with such a loss, but remember he isn't suffering and he will live in your memory for years..
I am not expert, but between this forum and loosing friends to pancreatic cancer, I know how fast it can take over. WE have had one friend who lived about a year and another who lived close to a year. Others have left us in as little as 2 weeks. I do not know what stage the cancer was when discovered but I do know it is one of the few cancers with little hope for survival. Hopefully, before much longer the treatment will improve and the prognosis will be better.
So sorry for your loss. It is indeed a fast cancer usually b/c it is so advanced when discovered. Thankfully he was in a good place mentally by the sound of it. So glad you were ale to go visit.
So sorry for your loss. It is indeed a fast cancer usually b/c it is so advanced when discovered. Thankfully he was in a good place mentally by the sound of it. So glad you were ale to go visit.
Thanks. They caught it early, but he did not do well with the chemo. It definitely moved quickly after that. One good thing is that, at least to my knowledge, up to the last few days there was no pain.
Yesterday, I lost my father after what I think of as a relatively short battle with cancer. Aged 70 and in good health (golfing, fishing, boating), he went in for his regular 6 month physical at the end of June. They did a scan of his heart and it came back with good results, except it had caught the top of the pancreas and the doctors noticed some spots. They called him back and at the very beginning of July did a biopsy and diagnosed him with stage 1 cancer. Even now I'm confused as to whether at the time it was liver or pancreas. There were no symptoms. He and my mom had plans to come up from FL just after July 4, but they postponed their trip due to the start of chemo treatments. The doctors assured them they would be able to resume travel by the fall. At that time my understanding was that although not curable, it would most likely be treatable for years. The plan was for 6 weeks of chemo, followed by another scan to see how well the cancer was being controlled.
At almost the 6 week point (mid-late August), my dad's pancreas stopped working at the end of the week. Throughout the weekend he was getting more sick and my parents thought it was in reaction to the chemo. By that Monday's oncologist appointment his sugar levels were over 800 and he was in shock. He spent a week in the hospital. He did recover a bit from that bout, but had to start taking insulin. They lessened the chemo and extended it another 6 weeks. That's when things really started to go downhill. His body was not reacting well to the chemo. In mid-September they knew that it was not going as well as planned and we made plans to go down at Thanksgiving since the doctors thought that would be a good time to get the family together.
At the end of September he was eating fairly well (although a lot of things tasted bad) and he was looking forward to seeing us in Nov. When October started he could walk. By Columbus Day weekend, he had to sit in a wheelchair to get to the oncologist appointments. That was when he received the results of his 2nd scan and was told there was nothing else they could do. The cancer had been so aggressive.
I made it down to visit last week (Oct. 10-12). That was the week my mom got things going with Hospice. He needed help sitting up in bed, but once to the side of the bed, he could stand up and use the walker to walk to the bathroom or living room to visit. Around Oct. 16, he could no longer do that and was bedridden.
The toughest part for me is how quickly it changed. The roller coaster of the initial scan, the relief of hearing that it wasn't as bad as it could have been, and then the downward spiral this month. Of course, a bunch of "what ifs" pop into my mind and I know that hindsight is 20/20. The past two weeks have been the roughest.
tgbwc---My sympathy to you and your family! WOW!
I had an older sister, who not long after being diagnosed, died of breast cancer. Talk about a shocker! It's tough/rough all the way around.
Yesterday, I lost my father after what I think of as a relatively short battle with cancer. Aged 70 and in good health (golfing, fishing, boating), he went in for his regular 6 month physical at the end of June. They did a scan of his heart and it came back with good results, except it had caught the top of the pancreas and the doctors noticed some spots. They called him back and at the very beginning of July did a biopsy and diagnosed him with stage 1 cancer. Even now I'm confused as to whether at the time it was liver or pancreas. There were no symptoms. He and my mom had plans to come up from FL just after July 4, but they postponed their trip due to the start of chemo treatments. The doctors assured them they would be able to resume travel by the fall. At that time my understanding was that although not curable, it would most likely be treatable for years. The plan was for 6 weeks of chemo, followed by another scan to see how well the cancer was being controlled.
I made it down to visit last week (Oct. 10-12). That was the week my mom got things going with Hospice. He needed help sitting up in bed, but once to the side of the bed, he could stand up and use the walker to walk to the bathroom or living room to visit. Around Oct. 16, he could no longer do that and was bedridden.
The toughest part for me is how quickly it changed. The roller coaster of the initial scan, the relief of hearing that it wasn't as bad as it could have been, and then the downward spiral this month. Of course, a bunch of "what ifs" pop into my mind and I know that hindsight is 20/20. The past two weeks have been the roughest.
I'm so sorry for your loss. The cancer roller coaster is tough; once diagnosed; you never really know what will happen due to side effects. My dad was terminal leukemia; my hub stage 4 tonsil with good chances- both filled out 5 wishes when diagnosed in case things turned.
Before I forget- ask for an autopsy since you have no clue what really happened. You only have 1 chance to do it.
It sounds like your dad was not diabetic; at his age; it's hard to say because my dad was healthy all of his life until he turned 60ish. Diagnosed with enlarged prostate & type 2 diabetic. It is very hard to control while doing chemo; especially at that age. My dad was 68 when diagnosed with leukemia. Your dad was probably boarder line; or controlling it with food (without knowing) & the chemo blew it up. My dad never used insulin until chemo. He controlled his with food for years.
Where was he treated? My guess is they were clueless.
I'm so sorry for your loss. The cancer roller coaster is tough; once diagnosed; you never really know what will happen due to side effects. My dad was terminal leukemia; my hub stage 4 tonsil with good chances- both filled out 5 wishes when diagnosed in case things turned.
Before I forget- ask for an autopsy since you have no clue what really happened. You only have 1 chance to do it.
It sounds like your dad was not diabetic; at his age; it's hard to say because my dad was healthy all of his life until he turned 60ish. Diagnosed with enlarged prostate & type 2 diabetic. It is very hard to control while doing chemo; especially at that age. My dad was 68 when diagnosed with leukemia. Your dad was probably boarder line; or controlling it with food (without knowing) & the chemo blew it up. My dad never used insulin until chemo. He controlled his with food for years.
Where was he treated? My guess is they were clueless.
Thanks.
He was not diabetic until the end of August. He started chemo in July. Towards the end of August his pancreas stopped working. He was fine on a Friday night and woke up Saturday morning feeling weak. His eyesight was going. My parents thought it was results of the chemo and that all of a sudden it was hitting him hard. That's the point when he started insulin.
I don't know exactly where he was treated. It was in FL and I'm in VA. I could find out.
Thanks. They caught it early, but he did not do well with the chemo. It definitely moved quickly after that. One good thing is that, at least to my knowledge, up to the last few days there was no pain.
I am so sorry for your loss. Pancreatic cancer is one of the worse to have. It doesn't sound like he was in a lot of pain, which is good. It is scary how fast things can go downhill, especially being as he was first diagnosed as stage 1.
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