Basic Things You Must Know About Kidney Cancer
As per the American Cancer Society, Pancreatic Cancer is the 4th leading cause for cancer deaths in the US each year. As per estimates, in 2007, 37000 people were diagnosed with the disease and 34000 died from it. In Europe, around 60,000 people are diagnosed with the disease each year. The mortality rate is approximately the same as the rate of incidence, the median survival rate for pancreatic cancer being 3 to 6 months from diagnosis.
Pancreatic cancer is rarely diagnosed early and is very often misdiagnosed because it has hardly any or no typical symptoms in the early stages. Typical symptoms are abdominal pain and jaundice and these symptoms manifest themselves only in the advanced stage of the disease. Nearly two thirds of patients are diagnosed with the disease at this stage where the disease is metastatic or locally advanced.
Surgery is offered as an option, but not in all cases. When it is offered, it is done so not as a cure or to increase the pancreatic cancer survival rate, but rather to improve the quality of life of the person affected with the disease.
Whether surgery is offered or not first of all depends on the stage of the disease. The surgical procedure is a Pancreaticduodenectomy, also called the Whipple procedure. This is a major surgery and is performed if the tumor is at a resectable stage, which is when the tumor is confined to the pancreas only and is clearly separated from the surrounding blood vessels. This gives patients an extended life span by approximately 17 months. Chemotherapy is offered after surgery, and this can increase the pancreatic cancer survival rate to about 5 years.
Surgery is also offered for palliative purposes when the cancer is advanced and if the tumor has invaded or is compressing the duodenum or the colon. At this stage, surgery only improves the quality of life.
Statistics bear witness to the claim that this is one of the deadliest of all cancers as medical intervention can improve pancreatic cancer survival rates marginally only and that too for about 15-20% of patients only.
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Cancer Survival Rates Articles
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March 19th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
[...] Pancreatic Cancer Survival Rates [...]
May 29th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
My grandpa has pancreatic cancer and has had it for about 4 months now and is just now starting to feel the effects of it.
The doctor said he has a few months to live.
July 30th, 2009 at 4:55 am
I’m sorry to here about your grandpa. Did he receive any treatment? My brother-in-law was diagnosised around the same time. I think he is going to get the WHIPPLE Surgery. I worried if its really going to improve his quality of life as they promised. You’ll be in my prayers especially your grandpa. Hope in the resurrection is a comfort. Read to your grandpa Isaiah 41:13. I know it will bring peace in your hearts. Sincerely Paula
October 3rd, 2009 at 11:30 pm
My father just passed away on July 3rd 2009 of pancreatic cancer. He was diagnosed in April 2008. His diagnosis changed everything. Pancreatic cancer is terrible for everyone involved whether it be the patient or the family. I empathize with you both, and hope your relatives will be one of the rare cases who live beyond the average life expectancy. I wish you well on your journey. Julia
October 31st, 2009 at 3:45 pm
There is hope, my brother was diagnosed over 7 years ago with pancreatic cancer and Mayo Clinic saved his life!!!
November 4th, 2009 at 1:44 am
My father was just diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last week. It has already spread to his lungs, kidneys, liver, bladder and brain. They found it when he went into kidney failure. He is now on dialysis but taking no treatment for the cancer. Can anyone give me any idea on what to expect? And on time?
November 22nd, 2009 at 7:31 am
My grandma has just been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The doctors are still trying to see what stage she’s in I’m not prepared at all to lose her…
November 25th, 2009 at 3:26 am
My father is 85 and had surgery 2 months ago for pancreatic cancer and they removed a portion of his pancreis, speen and now they said it has moved to his lungs and liver. They have set him up with hospice but will not give us any info as to possible time he has left, we know they can’t tell exactly but a guess would help since he lives in another state?
December 4th, 2009 at 11:48 am
my friend has gone to whiple surgery in combination with chemotherapy….he was detected pancreatic tumer malignant in 2006….he is good in health …what is his survival rate….he is taking no medicine
December 11th, 2009 at 9:55 am
my dad was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in sept/oct this year – after getting sick in july (he turned yellow as the tumour was blocking his bile duct). He has been getting chemo since end october and the cancer count in his blood has dropped from 64 to 17. they are most likely to operate in early 2010.
January 4th, 2010 at 4:50 pm
My dad has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He had a episode with kidney failure last summer. We all came to the conclusion that the cancer was there at that time. His prognosis would have been quite different if doctors had found it then. Yes he’s 85 years old, but my grandpa and grandma lived to their 90′s. I will be so lonesome without my dad. He’s my friend as well as my dad. I will love him forever.
Always,
Sandy
January 7th, 2010 at 11:03 pm
My ex-husband diagnosed in October with 4th stage pancreatic cancer. They gave him 6 weeks to live without treatment and possibly one year with treatment. He is undergoing Radiation and Chemo – has 7 treatments left. What can I expect now. we are quite close and I stay with him most of the week.
January 28th, 2010 at 4:43 am
My grandmother died of pancreatic cancer over 40 years ago and it amazes me that so little progress has been made on this terrible disease since then. I will turn 50 next year and my doctor will advise me to have a colonoscopy to screen against colon cancer, even tho it does not run in my family. It is a fairly simple procedure that could save my life. My question is: Why isn’t there a simple test to screen me for pancreatic cancer, since that is the cancer that runs in my family? The reason it is so deadly is that it usually isn’t diagnosed until it is stage 3 or 4 and uncureable. Surely with all the medical advances of the last 50 years and tremendous progress we have made on other diseases, we can come up with a screening test for pancreatic cancer?
February 9th, 2010 at 11:16 pm
My father-in-law just got a call from his dr. yesterday. He has to go to the hospital tomorrow for more tests. We do not know what stage cancer he has, all we know is that its pancreatic cancer. He has already said he does not want treatment or surgery. My husband lost his mother not even 2 years ago from an infection after heart surgery. That’s partly the reason why my father-in-law refuses surgery. How do I help both my father-in-law and husband through this and stay strong for them?
February 14th, 2010 at 11:40 pm
My ex-husband has now finished radiation and chemo. He was so sick, lost his appetite, was exhausted and nausated most of the time. Since completing radiation his appetite came back a little bit and he is now able to get out with his friends some days. Always feels bad in the morning. They took cat scan Friday and will let him know Tuesday as to whether radiation helped his pancreatic cancer tumor. They indicated that more chemo will probably be needed. Wonder if this simply extends life or quality of life? We will wait and see I giuess.
February 22nd, 2010 at 8:59 pm
best of luck to all of you. My dad, 57years just passed away from pancreatic cancer last week. Although, his team of docors at Columbia Hospital in NYC are worth having your loved ones visit. My dad survived for 2.5 years with the disease after being diagnosed. Doctor William Sherman is pushing for a new treatment option right now for patients.
March 11th, 2010 at 1:24 pm
My husband had a successul resection of his pancreatic cancer tumor. It was very small and in the tail. He had the tail and spleen removed followed by 6 months of chemo. He’s doing great. It’s been a year. The only thing that helped his pain and appetite was marijuana. The pain meds made him very nauseated especially combined with the chemo but the marijuana really and truly helped him, gave him energy, improved his appetite and took away the nausea during his chemo. I have no idea what the future holds for him but the surgery has given him time and hopefully saved his life.
March 12th, 2010 at 8:15 pm
To anyone who is facing or had a resection … Just to offer some hope… my husband was diagnosed in early 2005 at the age of 49. He had an adenocarcinoma, about 2.5mm, which had spread to surrounding lymph nodes. He had a pylorus sparing whipples operation by a fantastic surgeon (Brian Davidson at the Royal Free Hospital in London), followed by 6 months of chemotherapy (Gemcitabine – as part of a clinical trial – ESPAC3). In all he spent about a year feeling pretty grim but after the Chemo he gradually picked up strength. I am a Paediatric dietitian working for the NHS in the UK, so I asked his doctor to prescribe Creon (pancreatic enzyme replacement). He continues to need these to help digest his food. He takes them with meals (allow 10,000 units of lipase per 5g fat and take within 20 mins of eating, if they don’t work as well as expected then may need Omeprazole aswell – get the help of a dietitian, your consultant should be able to arrange this) I also give him ongoing supplements of fat soluble vitamins (A,D,K and E) and Omega3 oils. Other than that just a good healthy diet. He regained his lost weight and remains well … playing squash, skiing, diving and indulging his passion for motorcycling, which is why he’s in sunny Spain this week and I’m in rainy England!
Anyway Good luck to you all
March 13th, 2010 at 10:08 pm
My mom (39 yrs old) was just recently diagnosed with stage 1B pancreatic cancer within the last month. I do not know exactly when, because she is still in denial and just recently told me(23)my brother(18)and my baby sister(11). She has not actually told my baby sister what is going on. She only told her that she was sick. Everything I have found so far on the cancer, no matter what stage, does not look good. If anyone has any uplifting information you can offer my siblings and myself please do so. My email is nik21ki@yahoo.com
March 27th, 2010 at 9:35 pm
I must share here that,Certain factors affect prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options mainly depends on,
The stage of the cancer (whether it affects part of the prostate, involves the whole prostate, or has spread to other places in the body)and the patient’s age and health.
March 31st, 2010 at 4:38 am
My Dad died in 2003 of pancreatic cancer, it was a long road. The doctors gave him three months, he ended up living a year and a half, still to this day i consider myself ‘daddy’s little helper’ He had went to the emergency room twice both times they said he was constipated he got admitted and they did tests, i was only eleven or ten at the time so the doctor told me to leave the room when the results were in, whenever my parents told me it was not even real to me, i was so young and to see my dads health dwindle so much was very sad to me, my dads infamous stomach became hard from infection and his legs became weak, we all stuck together from his good days to his not so good days. the day he died was not real to me and to this day my daddy is still with me everyday. i read peoples survivor stories and remember my dads road with cancer and gives me the chills, people can overcome and they do.
April 14th, 2010 at 2:23 am
Hey to Nikki and everyone!
I have a client whom I have grown to know and love. She at 84 is diagnosed with pancreatice cancer. I turned to this blog for words of encouragement. I don’t wan’t my friend to suffer. These testimonials give me hope.
There is hope, my brother was diagnosed over 7 years ago
with pancreatic cancer and Mayo Clinic saved his life!!!
My friend has gone to whiple surgery in combination with chemotherapy….he was detected pancreatic tumer malignant in 2006….he is good in health …what is his survival rate….he is taking no medicine
my dad was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in sept/oct this year – after getting sick in july (he turned yellow as the tumour was blocking his bile duct). He has been getting chemo since end october and the cancer count in his blood has dropped from 64 to 17. they are most likely to operate in early 2010My husband had a successul resection of his pancreatic cancer tumor. It was very small and in the tail. He had the tail and spleen removed followed by 6 months of chemo. He’s doing great. It’s been a year. The only thing that helped his pain and appetite was marijuana. The pain meds made him very nauseated especially combined with the chemo but the marijuana really and truly helped him, gave him energy, improved his appetite and took away the nausea during his chemo. I have no idea what the future holds for him but the surgery has given him time To anyone who is facing or had a resection … Just to offer some hope… my husband was diagnosed in early 2005 at the age of 49. He had an adenocarcinoma, about 2.5mm, which had spread to surrounding lymph nodes. He had a pylorus sparing whipples operation by a fantastic surgeon (Brian Davidson at the Royal Free Hospital in London), followed by 6 months of chemotherapy (Gemcitabine – as part of a clinical trial – ESPAC3). In all he spent about a year feeling pretty grim but after the Chemo he gradually picked up strength. I am a Paediatric dietitian working for the NHS in the UK, so I asked his doctor to prescribe Creon (pancreatic enzyme replacement). He continues to need these to help digest his food. He takes them with meals (allow 10,000 units of lipase per 5g fat and take within 20 mins of eating, if they don’t work as well as expected then may need Omeprazole aswell – get the help of a dietitian, your consultant should be able to arrange this) I also give him ongoing supplements of fat soluble vitamins (A,D,K and E) and Omega3 oils. Other than that just a good healthy diet. He regained his lost weight and remains well … playing squash, skiing, diving and indulging his passion for motorcycling, which is why he’s in sunny Spain this week and I’m in rainy England!
Anyway Good luck to you alland hopefully saved his life.
April 14th, 2010 at 5:39 am
My grandmother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer 3 years ago, she had the whipple surgery at the University of Chicago, and the doctor got it all. She was doing well, then the hmo clinic that they went to told her they found Cancer cells and they wanted her to take chemo. so she did, although the u ov v told her if she did chemo she would only be seeing white coats the rest of her life. She was perfectly fine after the surgery. she probably would have lived longer if she would have taken the u of v advice. The chemo caused her to get leukemia, which she eventually died from… I am posting this, because i wanted to warn everyone to really look into the options after the whipple surgery and even get a second opinion if necessary about chemo. I would probably still have my grandmother around if she would have got a second opinion! Good luck to you all, this is very hard to go through, and I pray for all of you!
April 20th, 2010 at 4:15 am
I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in august 2009 . i had no symptoms i just blamed my cooking, i also have 3 herniated disks in my back.so the back pain was there too. i had surgery august 4 ,the doctors removed 50% of my pancreas and all of my spleen. about 3 weeks after i left the hospital my wife left me, and my son .their are good drs. in billings montana . i am doing good now .just had my 42 birthday in march plan to have many more.
April 23rd, 2010 at 1:21 am
I am so sorry to read her about the pain everyone is experiencing going through cancer themselves or watching loved ones. I too wonder why more can not be done to prevent this horrible disease.
I found out tonight that my mother has pancreatic cancer, after we were told earlier this week that it for sure wasn’t cancer. What a roller coaster ride. I am only 26 and can say I am not prepared to lose her and it makes me cry to think of the road she may have ahead of her. Still I hope for the best and I send her all of my love everyday (we live far apart).
I wish everyone here and their loved one’s all the best.
April 25th, 2010 at 9:08 pm
My mother was 46 when she was diagnosed. She was diagnosed on September 17, 2008. She underwent 6 weeks of chemo and radiation, and then they attempted to do the Whipple procedure on December 17,2008. Once they had her opened up though they found out her tumor was wrapped around two main arteries, so they could not do her surgery. Her surgeon told us she had 3-6 months to live. She tried two other rounds of chemo with no success before she stopped treatment in June. She died on November 17 at the age of 47. All of her doctors at Mass General Hospital in Boston did amazingly with her. Especially her palliative care doctor. She was able to die at home with all of us with her, and she was pain free at the end. The only pain meds that worked for her at the end was a pain pump of morphine with lidocaine IV as well.The combination of the two drugs let her live longer though, because before they tried the lidocaine, she was in so much pain that she thought she was actively dying.
Good luck to you all, and don’t listen to the doctors when they tell you a time frame. We did not tell my mom what her surgeon had said, and I know that made her live longer. She fought until the very end, wich was 9 months longer than they said she had.
April 27th, 2010 at 7:20 pm
my great grandma died july 4th 2009 because of it she was 94 years old but they just didnt catch the cancer fast enough
April 28th, 2010 at 3:42 am
my dad is going to be 65 in august born 1949,, me his daughter is 41 yrs yound black female my dad since the bday of 60 yrs. old . Has nothing but hospital in and out so 2007 lung cancer servived that i have a little boy born in 2001, so he got to know his grandpa ,, in 2001 one was my dad prostate cancer he survive that , then the list gets long. now march 2010, depressing pancrese has appear in the last stage so me depressed in 2009, xmas thanks giving he would say i gonna die, so i said YOUR GONNA DIE .,, I SAID go to the doctor ,he said no not yet me gonna die,, so now dec, 09 til march 2010 , now he got that pancres cancer but they say its from smoking but he drinks alot now he dont .. so they say out there in the medical industry that its from somking and liver and pancres has to work together so they need to do somemore studys cause my dad was a wine drinker. and at bar a few times so .. when the worst happens … i will love my dad 4 ever ..!!!!! me sad though me got sister but me sad depressed wow… !! watch your dad loose weight ..etc. this is california (707) area code . i wanted to find a new job cause i been at my job for 6 yrs not payn good with single parents so now a nother epsode stay here for a few .. been at this job with all of his sickneesss.. after jesus take my dad from me ,,,,, me leave this job no good pay me now have to stay on my feet with my son , that wont forget his military grandpa,,,, okay . god will help me threw this .. this is hard,, i have a sister she 42 yrls.. me depressed cant believe this is going down .. i do go to church to …
May 3rd, 2010 at 10:05 pm
I am encouraged by the experiences shared in this site. My dearest mother, 70 years old was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last week – April 30th 2010 after what we thought was a simple case of depression. We are devastated! For about 6 months, she complained of fatigue, loss of appetite and generally felt unhappy no matter what. When she went through a thorough medical check-up in January, everything seemed fine until 3 months later when she started complaining of pain on the right side ribs and developed jaundice. At first doctors told us her liver was enlarged and damaged only for a CT scan to trace the tumor on the tail of the pancreas. Unfortunately it had metastasized to the liver and abdomen. They told us there is very little we could do and advised us to get her out of hospital for homecare. She can hardly swallow anything and getting weak by the day. I feel terrible and pray for GOD’s intervention. It is so, so SAD to watch helplessly as your mum wastes away. I have now read alot about the medivian survival rate that gets me really scared. GOD save my mum. Margaret Karembu, Kenya.
May 12th, 2010 at 3:03 am
I’m 15 years old, I’m a female. And today I was diagnosed with stage 3 pancreatic cancer. They said without medicine that I have a month or less to live with medicine they said they would try their best to keep me alive. I don’t know what to do, but something tells me I’m going to die anyways. If someone could please give me an opinion on what to do I would greatly appreciate it. Just leave a comment on here.
May 18th, 2010 at 8:29 am
My mother aged 57 yrs, recently diganosed with pancreatic cancer,the cancer has been spread though the blood vessels as well, but kidneys and liver are still save, what are the chances of my mother’s survival, If someone will suggest something….
May 26th, 2010 at 4:16 pm
My dad was dignosed with stage 2 cancer yesterday. He is 83 years old. We have to make a decision on surgery. Anyone recommend surgery for him? We just want to give him at least a few years of quality life. My mother passed away only 4 weeks ago.
June 13th, 2010 at 11:40 am
Stage two by CT-scan? if so call John Hopkins Med Ctr in Baltimore,MD. Dr. John Cameron, is a world renound pancreatic Cancer surgeon. Screening: 410 955-3511 ( Dr. Goggins.
another option is Dr. Nicholas Gonzalez Or Linda Issacs, MD’s in NYC…212)213-3337. They use natural approach. there survval rates exceed chemo evidences in Stage IV cases.
My wife has stage IV, into liver,lungs…no symptoms but mild discomfort.I have checked everything. MDAnderson, is also a possible..check their on line web site..
July 13th, 2010 at 4:41 pm
my mom passed away from pancreatic cancer jus on january 18th. the signs were almost imposibble to see because she was always in pain anyway cuz her back was broken when she was diagnosed she was told she had maybe five months to live but she never gave up with out a fight she was diagnosed in the end of 2008 and survived with a good bit of energy till the last few months
July 13th, 2010 at 9:29 pm
i hate cancer!!!!!
July 24th, 2010 at 12:29 am
Though we have already anticipated it that she might have cancer,when she started complaining on her back towards her right abdomen together with weight loss and appetite,it’s still difficult to accept that someone in your family is dying. It runs in the family though but still you can’t help but ask, why her? My mom was diagnosed a week ago of PROBABLY PANCREATIC CANCER.This is because they can’t determine where it originated because it already spreads to her lungs and liver. She was advised to have a Chemotherapy with an oral medicine at the same time just for her to have a good life. I don’t really exactly know what they mean. She is taking morphin 3 times a day to ease the pain. I’m afraid but at the same time would like to know her survival rate. i would like to get some different opinions regarding this because the doctor said that probably she will survive for 6 months. I would like not believe that. But is it really the case?
July 27th, 2010 at 12:19 am
MY partner was diagnosed December 2009,with adenocarcinoma
and had attempted Whipple at local hospital.We were told it was inoperable and to seek chemotherapy.
Being trusting people we took thier advice and started treatment of Gemzar 1/wk for 5 wks followed by 5fu infusion 24/7 and concurrent radiotherapy,then 3wks more of Gemzar.She was given 9 mo.s.
After re -evaluation at UCSF she was just given the Whipple
and is recovering well.All the cancer was removed with no evidence of metastisis.
Surgery included vascular reconstruction of the portal vien which had been suurounded by the cancer at the time of the first attempt.
In my opinion, the surgical team led by DR. Kim Kirkwood
are truly miracle workers.
The lesson here is to seek the best care at a “high volume” medical center right away.
PS…I think she`ll make it well past 9mo.s