What to expect? Stage 3 Diagnosis
Posted , 3 users are following.
This week has dealt my family a huge blow. My amazing mother hadn't been feeling 100% and since she is a nurse she did the right thing and booked an appointment with her doctor. Well, to cut a long story short, on Thursday she was diagnosed with stage 3 pancreatic cancer.
It was such a huge shock to us, mum has always been the most healthy person I've ever met, she has always been vegetarian, if not vegan, she's super active, goes horse riding, and now this.
She was meant to have surgery but further tests showed that it had spread more than first thought. Mum will be going to hospital for Chemotherapy this coming week.
I just don't know enough and would like to know what to expect?
0 likes, 8 replies
leeniepie jazin95
Posted
Do you know what chemo she'll be having?
jazin95 leeniepie
Posted
I honesty can't remember. I will have to ask mum.
jazin95 leeniepie
Posted
leeniepie jazin95
Posted
They probably told you what you need to know but anyway... gemcitabine is given as a drip over about 30-60 minutes. She may get some fluids after. It has similar side effects to other chemo-nausea, anaemia, fatigue, loss of apetite and blood taking longer to clot. She'll have weekly blood tests to check for anaemia and platelet count, and if any of these get low the chemo will be reduced in dose or postponed for a few weeks.
jazin95 leeniepie
Posted
Hey thanks,
How soon can you tell if it's working?
leeniepie jazin95
Posted
That's a hard one. Most chemo takes a couple of cycles but sometimes disease responds after fewer, sometimes takes more. It all depends on the particular grafe/type of disease.
The oncologist will keep an eye on the bloods and will request repeat scans when they feel enough time has passed to be able to see a difference.
courtnay26 jazin95
Posted
Hi
I don't have any experience with this directly
But there are a lot of natural herbs and spices
Like turmeric (antioxidants)
That can help ease the side effects of chemo and/or radiation
Please consider integrative cancer care
courtnay26 jazin95
Posted
The mainstream medicine route
There is also immunotherapy
It often works really well