Great News, Great News, Bad News

[Kathy]

Hi,
Great news! My son's wedding went off without a hitch on October 29th. It was a beautiful day weather-wise. The ceremony was wonderful and we even got pictures on the beach at the Jersey shore where the reception was held. Never in my wildest dreams did I Think I would ever be there!

Great News 2- I celebrated my NED anniversary on Monday 8 years! It would not be possible without the care Of Dr. Nancy Kemeny and her team as well as my husband George. George has not missed one appointment and he travels an average of 75,000 miles a year. He is hell of a caregiver.

Bad News- The day after my son's wedding, George appeared jaundiced. He had not been feeling well but he could not put his finger on it. We went to the doctor on Monday (Halloween) and they did blood work. His liver enzymes were crazy after being totally normal on September 1 at his physical. CT scan on Friday showed a blocked gall bladder duct. A procedure was done on Tuesday to clear the duct and the doctor saw something on his pancreas which he biopsied. On Friday morning we got a phone call from the doctor-Pancreatic Cancer.

Both the gastric doc and our primary said he had to go into NYC. I immediately called Dr. Kemeny's office with the news and game plan. As her patients know, she does not get on the phone often. Within 2 minutes she called me and asked if I made an appointment with the doctor from Sloan recommended by the gastro guy. "If you did, cancel it. He is excellent but you have to go to Dr. Peter Allen. If you cannot get an appointment with him Tuesday, call me back."

We saw Dr. Allen at Sloan yesterday. He was very reassuring. He feels it is an early stage cancer which may or may not need chemo. They are going to do the Whipple surgery either the Monday or Thursday after Thanksgiving. It is a tough procedure but we can handle tough. My husband, nor anyone deserves this but if I can be half as strong as he was for me, it will be good. We have a good support system but still a lot to deal with. His mother had heart valve surgery and is in rehab and going home soon. She is very stubborn and refuses outside help but now she has to. If she doesn't, I can't control a 89 year old without dementia but absolutely no insight. Our family is her only lifeline and she doesn't treat us very well. Our priority is my husband. I know I have to take care of myself eating and drinking properly or I end up in the hospital with a blockage due to a UTI. It happened last when my Mom was in the hospital just before she went into hospice. But I will be strong like my Mom...as she put it, strong like bull.

Thank you to everyone here for support through the years. Please say a few prayers for us as I keep everyone on this board, caregivers and patients alike, in mine.

Hugs to All,

Kathy

[Marylandmaniac]

Kathy,
Wow, so sorry to hear about your husband George. Sounds like you have some amazing doctors though! I will definitely pray for your family and George. My son's name is George so I won't be forgetting it. SO glad to hear you are 8 years NED!!! That is so encouraging.

[Lee]

Wow is right,

Congratulations on 8 year in NEDville. May you always reside there. So very sorry to hear about your husband. Sounds like he is in good hands. Good luck with his upcoming surgery. Keep us posted.

LLee

[jhocno197]

I am sorry.

Praying.

[stu]

You sound a strong team. Together you can endure this. I am so pleased it was caught at an operable stage.
I will be thinking of you both.
Stu

[Utwo]

It's a good news, that they were able to notice pancreatic cancer so early.
Your husband has a chance to recover because of this.

[DarknessEmbraced]

I'm sorry to hear about your husband's pancreatic cancer.*hugs* I hope his surgery goes well and the cancer was caught early.*hugs*

[chrissyrice]

Kathy,
So happy you are NED for so long and able to be here to give us an update... so hopeful for other on the journey to know that there is HOPE!

Wow, you husband is so lucky to have gotten a great doctor and so quickly get his surgery scheduled.

God Bless Dr. Kemeny for her help!

She is an amazing person and please let us know how your husband is doing.

Chrissy

[KElizabeth]

You have my prayers.

[Yolanda]

So sorry to hear the bad news! There's just too much cancer going around, just too much! I pray your husband will have a brief journey and come out healthy and strong.

[Ajane]

You got it! Prayers all around, but especially lifting George up!

[HopeForJesse]

Congratulations and extra prayers too. We went to a local annual survivors football game last month where all of the cancer survivors got to walk onto the field pregame wearing color coded scarves to matches their cancer type. I was happy to walk along side a 9'year pancreatic survivor