Additional Info on Pancreas/Stage 1

The pancreas is a glandular organ located in the posterior of the abdomen. It lies between the liver and the spleen. It produces digestive enzymes and the hormone insulin.

STAGE 1 PANCREATIC CANCER

Stage 1 Pancreatic Cancer does not extend beyond the Pancreas; it is not present in the liver, stomach, lung or any of the surrounding lymph nodes.

Stage 1 Pancreatic Cancer (Adenocarcinoma) is best treated with surgery. The most common surgery is called the Whipple Procedure where a portion of the Pancreas , the small intestine (duodenum), and stomach is removed as well as the entire gallbladder.

Surgery is not enough. Adjuvant Therapy WHICH IS THE DELIVERY OF CANCER TREATMENT FOLLOWING SURGERY. THE PURPOSE OF ADJUVANT THERAPY FOR PATIENTS WITH STAGE 1 PANCREATIC CANCER IS TO REDUCE CANCER RECURRENCES.

|New Adjuant Therepy consists of the following:

• 5-FU CHEMOTHERAPY
• 5-FU CHEMOTHERAPY AND RADIATION (CHEMORADIATION )
  
• BIOLOGICAL TREATMENT
  

JoRenge's LIFE BATTLE - Diagnosis

Hi,

There are a number of tests that are used to detect the presence of cancer cells and if the cancer has spread

• MRI - magnetic resonance imaging
  
• - The first Test I took was an MRI of my abdomen. Since I had some pain there the doctor felt that it might be my stomach. This test showed the Cancer in the Pancreas with smaller tumors in the liver and the right lung
• BIOPSY - This was the second test. Here, a Radiologist performs the biopsy while you are lying under the cat-scan. They gave me a local anesthetic to numb the area where they will insert the needle (the left side). The Doctor is looking at a tv monitor to track his was down to the Pancreas. I watched as he reached the area, and saw when he cut off a sample of the Tumors for testing.
  
• CT scan - Also called CAT scan - "Commputerized Tomography" uses x-rays to develop a three-dimensional picture of a part of the body.
• Nuclear Scan - A radioactive substance is swallowed or injected into the patient. A scanner measures radioactive levels in the body and takes pictures. Abnormal areas appear where radioactivity is detected in the organs. (I did not take this test.).
• Ultrasound or *Ultrasonography) - A microphone like device sends sound waves that bounce off tissues. The echoes are converted into a picture (sonogram) shown on a monitor.
• BONE SCAN - Here you are under a tube like machine. It starts at your feet and moves you through taking images of your skeleton and viewing them on the screen. When my scan was over I asked if I could see my skeleton. Boy was I cute. This test showed that the cancer did not spread into my bones or my lymph nodes. Yeah!
• PET SCAN- Positron Emission Tomography - this test uses low-dose, radioactive sugar to determine the activity of cells in a tumor. The dose of sugar feels hot when it enters your system. It was explained to me that the material creates a hot spot wherever there is a tumor(s). Here is where confirmation that I had cancer in my liver, right lung and also in my esophagus. I then had a biopsy of my liver which confirmed it was Pancreatic Cancer of the Liver (which means the cancer in my Pancreas has spread to the Liver, Lung and Esophagus. Thisis called metastatic pancreatic cancer. It is not Liver Cancer, Lung Cancer or Cancer of the Esophagus. When cancer spreads from its original place the new tumor has the same kind of abnormal cells and the same name as the primary tumor.

Tomorrow I will discuss Staging.

Please give me your feedback on this. Is it clear? Does it help you to unnderstand? I would appreciate any comments.

Thank you.

JoRenge's LIFE BATTLE - Possibilities

Hi,

Researches in the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center found that new onset of hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) diabetes in adults age 50 or older may be a signal of underlying pancreatic cancer.

What is necessary is a preventive test for those who are diabetic and have uncontrolled glucose levels and who may be predisposed for Cancer. The need here is to try to detect the Cancer before it has a chance to Metastasize (cancer spreading to distant organs such as the lungs and liver).

Since most insurance companies do not cover preventive testing we are the mercy of time. We need to change this. I'm not sure what the solution is since Insurance Coverage is already high, but something needs to be done. Perhaps an addendum to current policies that "at risk individuals " may pay an additional premium charge so that they will be covered for preventive care testing.

So if you can, Please contact your Congressmen, Senators and Presidential Candidates and tell them of your concerns.


I will try to get more info for you tomorrow. Also I will try to get you a few links.


How I am doing.

I feel very good. My white count is good. My appetitie is good. My outlook is good. My hair is falling out! (I'm going to have my head shaved to day. I always wanted a Yul Brenner Cut especially when I had bad hair days.

I will have a photo on this site in a couple of weeks.

Take care and remember - prayer is our strength. Keep at it.

Thanks for your time.

JoRenge

HOW IT ALL BEGAN

Hi,

My life battle began on June 1, 2007. I needed medical clearance for catarac surgery. I was in my primary doctor's office when my blood sugar took a dive (I have been a diabetic for 10 years) . Until recently my blood sugar was under control. I thought the fluctuations were caused mostly by occationally breaking my diet. I was so determined to get my sugar back in check, I went to Orange Regional Diabectic Care Counseling just the week before. Since I got sick in my Doctor's Office, she was obliged to call 911. As we were waiting I began having trouble breathing and was having pain in the center of my chest. When the EMT s arrived, they began to take my vitals. My blood pressure also fell dangerously low. Off to the hospital we went.

Because of the chest pains I was admitted to the hospital where a number of cardiograms were performed including the echo. I also wore a heart monitor around my neck. All of these initial tests showed that my heart was in good shape. So why the pain? My doctor desided that an MRI might show a problem with my stomach. I was taken down the next day
The results were devestating. While viewing the MRI they spotted a mass of tumors on my pancreas and smaller spots on my liver and my right lung. How can that be?

They immediately scheduled me for a pancreatic biopsy. Positive for Pancreatic Cancer. The spots on my liver were very small and those on my right lung even smaller. My doctor thought that they may be able to get a sample from my liver and he thought I should go for the biopsy. I agreed. He also wanted to schedule me for a PET Scan. This is where Radioactive material is injected into you and then you have a CAT Scan. The Radioactive material will create "HOT SPOTS" if Cancer is present in any other organ. The doctor said this test is about 90% accurate. Combined with the Liver biopsy he would get a better idea how to treat me.

On June 22, 2007 I was diagnosed with stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer. The Cancer had spread to the Liver, Right Lung and the Esophagus. I couldn't believe it! I had NO SYMPTOMS. Nothing!

Picture the Pancreas as a flat pear lying down. The fat, rounded part is called the head, the center is the body and the thin part, the tail. Because symptoms usually don't appear until the cancer is large or has spread (metastasized) to other tissues, early detection is very difficult.

I would like to share with you what I know, what I find out and what my daily experience is with this Cancer. I call it the "Silent Killer" because symptoms usually appear after it has spread. I would like to refer you to sights when I find something interesting; and most of all I'd like to ask you to write your congressmen, senators, presidential candidates on how much we need to have preventive care covered by insurance!

Please send me your thoughts and concerns and tell me about your life.

Talk to you again soon.

JoRenge