Howdy Y'all,
My mom was diagnosed with duodenal adenocarcinoma in late February after a month of urgent care visits for what they thought was just stenosis. Also unfortunately they found that it had spread to 7 out 13 lymph nodes and was invading the pancreas. The "good" news was that it is intestinal phenotype (both late stage duodenal adenocarcinoma and and duodenal adenocarcinoma in the 1st and 2nd portion of the duodenum tend to be more pancreobiliary/gastric phenotype which are more aggressive). Also she was indeed able to have a whipple surgery done with clear margins. Shes doing well so far, with her 4th round folfox coming up. However we finally got the ctDNA back from when the sample was taken before chemotherapy started and unfortunately it is positive for ctDNA which is causing all kinds of worries and concerns on our end. The Doctor (getting treated at the brand new INOVA Schar in northern Virginia which fortunately has access to most technologies) doesn't recommend follow up imaging at this time as her halfway check in is coming up in a month (her last CT scan was march 5th and it was clear and he is beating the drum that this is slow growing so that micrometastesis still wouldn't be visible). Also no change in course of action as folfox adjuvant will continue and he will retest ctDNA after 5th cycle to guage response.
1) I was wondering if anyone here had positive ctDNA post op that cleared with chemo?
2) I was wondering if anyone had any information to help me make sense of it all and any advice to help with my mom like foods that helped or tips and tricks? Ive read so many studies but I think Im done with that; my mom is not a statistic and reading studies might give me a sense of control but it doesn't change anything now. Day by day. Although I will not stop bookmarking clinical trials that sound interesting.