Pancreatic Cancer

Question: What is pancreatic cancer and how do you get it? I now know of 5 people who have had Pancreatic cancer and died within 3 months. I don't understand why it isn't caught earlier so people can live. How do you get it? How do you get diagnosed early so doctors can do something about it. We have so much techology out there to fight cancer. Why are people dying of this. Why does this disease kill people so quickly?

Answer: Good question. Here is some brief info on it and why it's so hard to diagnose and what the major causes are: http://health.yahoo.com/ency/healthwise/ncicdr0000062957 Here is the site for pancreatic cancer: http://www.pancreatica.org/

Question: Can I determine my chances of getting pancreatic cancer since my mother died of this? My mother died of Pancreatic cancer and my only sibling of Glioblastoma multiforme(Brain tumor). My mother was in her 70's, but my brother was only 50 at death. I am 51 and am more concerned about my chances of developing Pancreatic cancer and if I can be tested for the tumor marker for this disease.

Answer: This link gives information about pancreatic cancer, heredity and screening. It says that 1 in 10 cases are due to inheriting an abnormal gene. Those with a close relative – parent or sibling - with pancreatic cancer have an increased risk, but if nobody else in the family (other than your mother, in your case) has had it then it’s unlikely to have been caused by an abnormal gene. http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/help/default.asp?page=15559

Question: Can nexium create a false positive for Pancreatic cancer? A relative was recently told based on blood tests that she may have pancreatic cancer. She has consistently taken nexium and other drugs for acid reflux, migraines, and arthritis. Can these drugs or any for that matter cause a blood test to come back positive for pancreatic cancer?

Answer: Blood tests for presence of cancer are screening tests and are not 100% diagnostic of the presence of cancer. Biopsises and other tests need to be done to ensure a positive diagnosis. That said, blood tests look for specific proteins made by specific kinds of cancer cells. Medications are unlikely to give a false positive on this type of test. That does not mean that the blood test is 100% reliable however. It does mean that more diagnostic tests are needed.

Question: My grandma got diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and i want to get an angel tattoo? My grandma got diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and i want to get an angel and somehow tie in that she is what holds my whole family together and the purple ribbon for awarness but my idea for the family part was putting the world in her hands? any better ideas? please help!

Answer: sounds like a job for miami ink

Question: Is there anyway my friend can get funding for her pancreatic cancer treatment? My friend was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer today and lives in Sandiego, California. She can't afford to pay for the cancer treatment. Is there any way she can get funding for her treatment?

Answer: First of all, the hospital has to give treatment whether you can pay or not, although it would ruin you finacialy, you would get the treatment. Ask around at hospitals, many will have sponsorship programs.

Question: What is the Difference Between Pancreatitis &Pancreatic cancer? My grandpa is 88 years old and the Dr's are not sure if he has Pancreatitis or Pancreatic cancer. I know one is Cancer but I need to know more about them both. Please Dont Copy and Paste from wikipedia. I dont need information from that site. Please dont just say look it up. I just heard about it and am not really in the mood to look things up

Answer: I had pancreatitis once, in 2005, when I was 36. Pancreatitis is basically an infection of the pancreas, which can be helped with antibiotics and a saline IV. Pancreatic cancer can kill a person quickly; my grandmother was diagnosed with it in April 1984 and died in early June of that same year. At first, she was diagnosed as just diabetic and jaundiced. When my mother and uncles learned her condition was terminal, they opted to have her not undergo surgery, and my grandmother died in her own home at age 78. I pray your grandfather has only pancreatitis, which can be cured. Pancreatic cancer takes a person very quickly, as the pancreas is the organ that produces insulin for your body.

Question: How is it possible that Darth Vader dies of pancreatic cancer in Clear and Present Danger? Darth Vader is supposed to be nearly 96% machine, and yet, in Clear and Present Danger he dies of pancreatic cancer. Not only that, but he sold out the empire for the good of the US Government. FYI - the emperor and Luke are nowhere to be found in this film, I think they were killed by the Columbians.

Answer: ah, i love cancer humor.

Question: How long can a person live with pancreatic cancer? My Dad was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last week. It has also spread to his liver. My sister looked online and clames that the life expectence from the time of diognisis is 3 to 6 months. I am just hoping that there is someone out there that may know more about it and if it is true that he may only live for only another 3 to 6 months. Ineed to know what I am facing, my mother is not telling me anything because she can't face it herself and he is in complete dinale about his condition.

Answer: Pancreatic cancer is very serious. I lost a friend to it last spring. The 3-6 month expectancy is fairly accurate when there is liver involvement. I hope there are some treatments for your father that will give him more time and ease his pain.

Question: Are there any natural remedies for pancreatic cancer? My husband's Grandmother was diagnosed with pancreatic and lung cancer a few weeks ago. They said the pancreatic cancer was inoperable. Is there any natural way to treat it or at least ease her pain?

Answer: I'm SO sorry. Honestly... Of all the types of cancer there are, pancreatic cancer is one you do NOT want to get. There might be natural treatments but I seriously doubt they will do much good. Your family needs to contact Hospice. Ask the doctor how, he can put you in touch with them. They might know more about natural treatments. Also, there Cancer Centers you can contact. Good luck to you all.

Question: How do I get free/lowcost hotel rooms when raising money for Pancreatic Cancer? My boyfriend is going to be doing a solo bikeride from L.A. to Chicago to raise money and awareness for Pancreatic Cancer. How can we get hotels to donate a room for a night along the way? He will mostly be camping, but I would love to surprise him with a room here or there as the trip is going to be very difficult.

Answer: Try contacting a chain's corporate headquarters, and explain what he is doing. We're talking midrange here -- maybe a Hampton or Holiday Inn Express. If you hit the right person, there might be some freebies available.

Question: With Pancreatic Cancer using Gemzar as the chemo. What chemo drug is used with radiation? I know that Gemzar will not be used, what is the drug of choice with chemo and radiation for pancreatic cancer

Answer: 5FU (fluorouracil), either IV or oral (as Xeloda or capecitabine) can be used concurrently with radiation. Gemcitabine (Gemzar) has been used as well in various doses, though toxicities can be considerably more difficult to predict, as that drug is a more potent radiosensitizing agent. It is generally done on a clinical trial. Good luck, best wishes, God bless

Question: Community Service Ideas to Raise Money for Pancreatic Cancer Research? My class is doing a community service project in the next couple months. We haven't decided on a project yet. I would like to do something where we could raise money for Pancreatic Cancer Research. What are some things we could do? And what are some other causes we could raise money for? I know that I might not get my wish to raise money for Pancreatic Cancer Research so I want other options.

Answer: Diabetes AIDS programme Breast cancer colon cancer Feeding programme 1.Wash car/car wash 2.cake sale (get people to donate cakes, cookies, drinks, etc or you can bake them yourselves. Cut up the cake and sell them by slices) sell hot dogs (get a bakery to donate the bread and a company to donate the hot dogs. Hamburgers will help also. 3.have a sponsored walk for money 4.collect bottles and cans for cash 5. have a garage sale (go throughout the neighbourhood and ask for items not using)

Question: How long does he have to live with pancreatic cancer? my friends dad was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer maybe about 5 months ago. he used to be a big guy and when i saw him today he was stick skinny and it a wheel chair. his skin was darker and so were his eyes. i didnt even recognize him. im very scared for their family. Does anyone know if he can survive? or how long he might have left?

Answer: Pancreatic cancer is one of the worst kinds of cancer because it is hard to diagnose, hard to treat, and moves quick. My grandfather's brother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and passed away just a few months later. Don't ever give a hope, you can always pray for him and the family.

Question: how do you get over loneliness i lost my wife last week from pancreatic cancer i am so lonely? I lost my wife of 13 years from Pancreatic Cancer. She had the cancer for 13 months and i have been with her 24 hours a day for the last six months giving her all the injections,feeding her,cooking,cleaning everything but now I feel so lonely.

Answer: First of all, my sympathy on you loss. You will be feeling lonely and what I called, empty, for awhile. You had been caretaker of your wife for over a year and now that is over. You were grieving for her even before her death, I know as I did when I was in your situation. You have to allow yourself, give yourself permission, to feel, even to be angry if you feel like it. The passing of time is great, it lessens the memories and allows us to see sunshine days again. You may want to consider a grief group, where you can share your feelings. Ask at your church or ask your doctor for a referral. Even if not right now, maybe in a few weeks. I hope that you find peace.

Question: My mum has pancreatic cancer what are the possible outcomes? i have just been told by my mum that the doctors suspect she has pancreatic cancer and i looked it up and it said only a lucky 3-4% will survive 6-12 months just want to know what are the possible outcomes?

Answer: Steph, I wish there were a way to make it "good news". I've lost two people I love to pancreatic cancer, and I decided to become more familiar with it after the first. In the U.S., pancreatic cancer is 9th or 10th most commonly diagnosed cancer (depending on gender), but the fourth leading cause of cancer death in men and women. The median survival period from the time of diagnosis until demise is arguably the worst of any of the cancers. The median survival for untreated advanced cancer of the pancreas is about 3 ½ months; with good treatment this increases to about six months. The website http://www.pancreatica.org/ has a wealth of information including treatment and clinical trials. God bless your mother and you.

Question: What are possibilities of Pancreatic cancer? Lately when I go to the bathroom to go do number 2, I've been seeing a lot of blood. Enough blood to turn the water all red. Is that a possibility of pancreatic cancer, because my grandpa has passed away from it when I was young. Also I'm only 14 and a vegetarian. If that's not it what else could it be? Oh and the other day I found this pea shaped lump on my lower shin just above my foot.

Answer: You may be eating too much roughage. Could also be hemorrhoids. Get yourself checked. Even if it is the big C, the earlier its caught the better your chances.