My mother n law was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Can anyone talk about this disease

What would you like to know?

Here are a couple sites that might be helpful

Pancreatic Cancer - Johns Hopkins Medicine: Nutrition And Exercise (http://pathology.jhu.edu/pancreas/TreatmentNutrition.php?area=tr)

Self Help Options (http://www.healthyfoundations.com/pancreatic/selfhelp.html)

What would you like to know?

She was diagnosed with colon cancer in Dec 07 she had surgery underwent chemo for that
After she was done with the chemo series she had a scan and found a tumor on her pancreaus and a spot on her liver they did a biopsy and it came back cancer. She is undergoing chemo Gemzar for the pancreaus they discontinued the chemo for the colon cancer because the pancreatic is more aggressive. The Dr started her on Morphine this week for the pain. My problem is that the dr are giving mixed signal regarding her recovery.

I am not an expert by any stretch but I had a co-worker that didn't even survive 5 months.
From what I have read it is one of the worst (if not the worst) forms of cancer. But I am not a Dr. and I believe it can be in several diff areas of the pancreas which prob affect the outcome. If one of the doctors is more optimistic, maybe that's a good sign.

What kind of mixed signals are you getting?

From what I know of pancreatic cancer, and that's not a whole lot, it is a very rapid growing cancer and the prognosis is usually very poor.

With that said, I don't know your mother's particular case. It is impossible for me to say one way or the other without reviewing her chart.

What kind of mixed signals are you getting?

From what I know of pancreatic cancer, and that's not a whole lot, it is a very rapid growing cancer and the prognosis is usually very poor.

With that said, I don't know your mother's particular case. It is impossible for me to say one way or the other without reviewing her chart.


Well the dr. aren't telling us anything directly they did start her on morphine for the pain but on the other hand they said she is dong fine but I see her getting weaker and weaker the dr also say that the tumor has shrunk some. But we don't know what that means does that mean that the cancer has stopped.

It does not necessarily mean that the cancer has "stopped" it just means that it is no longer growing in size. Shrinking is usually a good sign, but does not mean that she is in remission or is cured. Is she on radiation?

All of the patients I have known with pancreatic cancer were given palliative care. Just taking care of the symptoms and relieving pain.

As J_9 has already said the prognosis for pancreatic cancer is very poor. It is shame her doctors are not being more direct with you.

Only 10-15% survive the initial year after diagnosis and the only a further 3% survive after five years. After 10 years the survival rate is the same as after five.*

With cancer the survival rate depends on when it was spotted, amongst other factors. Pancreatic cancer survival rates are partially so low because it is asymptomatic for so long.

There are always exceptions but in my opinion it is cruel to give you false hope.
I wish you and your family the best.

*Statistics and outlook for pancreatic cancer (http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/help/default.asp?page=7519), and several lectures I have received (UK statistics)