Finding Hope

Pancreatic Cancer.

Don't Google it.  I made that mistake.  I did find a great website though, Pancreatic Care Action Network, where I read survivor's stories and found some great resources.

In the wake of my Mom's diagnosis we were desperate for information, for answers, for hope.  The week of her diagnosis was a whirlwind of doctor's appointments.  We knew we wanted at least two opinions from Oncologists and Surgeons before deciding a course of treatment.  We not only wanted to ensure Mom would get the best care but that she was comfortable with those who would be providing her care.

March 20th, 2013 > Oncology Consult, Dr. Sherman - Methodist Hospital
We talked chemo regimens, surgery possibilities.  She answered questions we had and provided support.  We were all still shaken and trying to wrap our head's around everything.  Dr. Sherman was wonderful and spent almost 2 hours with us, helping us to understand what we currently knew of Mom's diagnosis.

March 21st, 2013 (morning) > Repeat CT Scan with pancreas protocol
Although Mom had an initial CT scan the week prior, now that we knew the diagnosis was pancreatic cancer the doctors wanted a repeat CT with special emphasis on the pancreas and liver.

March 21st, 2013 (afternoon) > Surgical Consult, Dr. Vickers - University of MN
Kim and I accompanied mom to the first conversation we would have about the surgery it would take to remove the tumor in her pancreas.  Dr. Vickers was down-to-earth and kind, but most importantly, he was confident.  Confident that the chemo would help get mom to surgery, confident that the surgery would be successful, confident that we would be meeting with him for years to come for follow-up.  Leaving that appointment I think we all finally felt like we could breathe again.  We found hope.

March 22nd, 2013 (morning) > PET Scan
A PET scan was warranted to see if cancer could be detected anywhere else besides the already known mass in Mom's pancreas.

March 22nd, 2013 (afternoon) > Surgical Consult, Dr. Heaton - Methodist Hospital
More talk about chemo and getting Mom to surgery.  We reviewed her latest CT and PET scans; nothing of note.  The cancer seemed, from the scans, to be isolated to the pancreas, putting Mom at a Stage 2.  In fact, the radiologist noted that if he hadn't known a mass was discovered in the pancreas he would not have commented on it; It seemed Mom's cancer was quite evasive when it came to monitoring techniques.  Good: likely contained to the pancreas and small enough to not jump out on the scans.  Bad: Would make monitoring how chemo was affecting the cancer very difficult.

We decided we would take the weekend to digest everything we had learned and all the doctors we had met.  Kim would work to set up an appointment with the oncologist at the University of MN, just so we had our second opinion.  We considered the week a success and started to look towards getting Mom through chemo and through surgery.  We would continue to take things one day at a time.