peasquared
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,474
Jul 6, 2014 23:59:59 GMT
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Post by peasquared on Feb 11, 2017 17:18:24 GMT
Prayers and positive thoughts for you and your family. (Also, a big thank you to your son!) You can get through this. (((Hugs)))
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katybee
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,378
Jun 25, 2014 23:25:39 GMT
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Post by katybee on Feb 11, 2017 17:29:20 GMT
donna - first I'm glad you've come back here. I will be sending up P&PT for you. second - I'm sorry you are going through this. I know first hand how terrifying it is because my mom was just diagnosed last week with pancreatic cancer stage IV, also on the head of it. I went with her and my dad to the biopsy and the results appointment. I will be going with them to visit the surgical team and a consultation on Tuesday for the Whipple procedure. We are lucky we live close to the Bay Area and have access to a top-rated pancreatic specialist team. I'm glad you're telling your children, because I'm glad I knew from the get-go. I have prepared myself for the worst, but I'm also hoping and praying for the best. My step MIL, did not tell anyone (including my FIL) until the end and it was awful. ETA - thank you to the peas who indicated successful Whipple procedures. My boss knows of a 19 year and a 5 year Whipple survivors. We are hopeful and so far at peace with it. My mother was treated at UCSF. Is that where your mother is? Her story did not end well--her tumor was inoperable. But I have to say we were so impressed and grateful for her doctors and nurses. They were so supportive and made us feel like we were not alone. It was 15 years ago now, but I see her oncologist is still there. If so, I hope he is your mother's oncologist.
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Post by NanaKate on Feb 11, 2017 17:34:03 GMT
I am sorry you have gotten this diagnosis. I want you to know that I have had two relatives that got this diagnosis in the early stages and the whipple surgery saved their lives!
I will pray for the same outcome for you.
Wish I had answers for your other concerns, but just want to say that I have lived long enough to have learned these things will work themselves out. The main thing is for you to take care of your health the best you can right now and try to remain positive.
(((HUGS)))
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Post by iteach3rdgrade on Feb 11, 2017 17:36:24 GMT
I'm sorry for your diagnosis. You'll be in my thoughts and prayers.
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valincal
Drama Llama
Southern Alberta
Posts: 5,650
Jun 27, 2014 2:21:22 GMT
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Post by valincal on Feb 11, 2017 17:44:09 GMT
Sending hugs and positive thoughts your way. Take care.
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Post by librarylady on Feb 11, 2017 17:47:02 GMT
That is a lot. I want to offer encouragement. My brother had a similar diagnosis on his pancreas "We see a mass." We all worried and prayed. The surgery revealed a cyst that was encapsulated--so, they removed it and he has lived happily ever after--15 years at least now. He is 81 and doing well. I offer prayers for you and your family as you deal with this.
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Post by cindytred on Feb 11, 2017 18:20:16 GMT
An elderly woman I am related to by marriage had the whipple done in 1996 and she is in her 90's now. Just wanted to let you know of a success story.
I am praying for you Donna, that you will recover fully, and that you will have peace and strength in the process.
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maurchclt
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,624
Jul 4, 2014 16:53:27 GMT
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Post by maurchclt on Feb 11, 2017 18:20:32 GMT
Donna, deep breath, big hugs and know that pancreatic cancer IS curable. My dad died of OLD AGE when he was 92. He had pancreatic cancer and had a Whipple , when he was 59!! He was our miracle man. He lived a long wonderful life, travelled, enjoyed his family. I won't pretend that 1st year was an easy journey, but he lived, he survived! Hugs and prayers.
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GiantsFan
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,298
Site Supporter
Jun 27, 2014 14:44:56 GMT
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Post by GiantsFan on Feb 11, 2017 18:24:03 GMT
donna - first I'm glad you've come back here. I will be sending up P&PT for you. second - I'm sorry you are going through this. I know first hand how terrifying it is because my mom was just diagnosed last week with pancreatic cancer stage IV, also on the head of it. I went with her and my dad to the biopsy and the results appointment. I will be going with them to visit the surgical team and a consultation on Tuesday for the Whipple procedure. We are lucky we live close to the Bay Area and have access to a top-rated pancreatic specialist team. I'm glad you're telling your children, because I'm glad I knew from the get-go. I have prepared myself for the worst, but I'm also hoping and praying for the best. My step MIL, did not tell anyone (including my FIL) until the end and it was awful. ETA - thank you to the peas who indicated successful Whipple procedures. My boss knows of a 19 year and a 5 year Whipple survivors. We are hopeful and so far at peace with it. My mother was treated at UCSF. Is that where your mother is? Her story did not end well--her tumor was inoperable. But I have to say we were so impressed and grateful for her doctors and nurses. They were so supportive and made us feel like we were not alone. It was 15 years ago now, but I see her oncologist is still there. If so, I hope he is your mother's oncologist. I'm sorry your moms situation didn't end well. My mom is in the PAMF system and the quickest appointment was through the Burlingame office. The team there specializes in P cancer and has lots of Whipple experience. A nurse friend said we would be on good hands. I wanted Stanford but the wait was too long.
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Post by donna on Feb 11, 2017 18:26:24 GMT
librarylady my doctor said my mass is encapsulated! I was so shocked I didn't ask for more details. I hope mine is just a cyst as well! I want to thank all of you so much for your words of encouragement. It has helped me so much sharing my thought here this morning. You all are the best! And for those that asked, I was known at Two Peas as Donna in GA.
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Post by tamiq on Feb 11, 2017 18:28:49 GMT
I am praying for you Donna!
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Post by cadoodlebug on Feb 11, 2017 18:32:39 GMT
Sending prayers, positive thought and big hugs to you.
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Post by 5peanutsnana on Feb 11, 2017 18:32:52 GMT
Prayers for a favorable outcome from your surgery. So sorry you are faced with this diagnosis.
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gsquaredmom
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,080
Jun 26, 2014 17:43:22 GMT
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Post by gsquaredmom on Feb 11, 2017 18:34:17 GMT
librarylady my doctor said my mass is encapsulated! I was so shocked I didn't ask for more details. I hope mine is just a cyst as well! I want to thank all of you so much for your words of encouragement. It has helped me so much sharing my thought here this morning. You all are the best! And for those that asked, I was known at Two Peas as Donna in GA. Encapsulated is a good thing. A friend with ovarian cancer had big masses on both ovaries. Completely encapsulated. Complete hysterectomy, no chemo.
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Post by lovetodigi on Feb 11, 2017 18:35:28 GMT
Donna, I know that you must be worried out of your mind and have so much to think about. The important thing to focus on is that there have been huge advancements in the treatment of cancer. Just look at the comments, on this thread, about survivors that have gone through the same surgery that you are having. There is tremendous hope, so hang on to that. Sending prayers and a hug. Please keep us updated. We will be here for you, day or night, to help get you through this.
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Post by auntkelly on Feb 11, 2017 18:38:55 GMT
I will say prayers.
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Post by runner5 on Feb 11, 2017 18:40:52 GMT
You're in my prayers Donna.
Just a thought with respecct to scrapbooking. Consider starting a Wordpress blog. You can make it private if you like. The software is easier to use than this board and it will give you a place to journal and post pictures of your boys. As you get the stories and pictures in place, you may even feel like actually scrapbooking them.
If I could do that part over again, I'd just do a blog while learning digital. Then the physcial scrapbooking could have come out of that as more of an "art" form if that makes sense. I spent so much time stressing over trying to organize a mountain of pictures and events that I just froze.
My kids are adults and I noticed that all they care about when they look at albums are the pictures and what I wrote. They make fun of the embellishments (but in all fairness, that is not my skill set).
I'm sorry you are having to deal with all of this. I hope you keep us updated.
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Post by scrapmaven on Feb 11, 2017 18:45:47 GMT
I'm so sorry that you're facing cancer, but I do know that they've made such strides w/cancer and it sounds like your cancer is contained in that tumor. Praying that you are cancer free and thriving very soon.
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The Birdhouse Lady
Drama Llama
Moose. It's what's for dinner.
Posts: 7,192
Location: Alaska -The Last Frontier
Jun 30, 2014 17:15:19 GMT
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Post by The Birdhouse Lady on Feb 11, 2017 18:57:00 GMT
You've gotten so much great advice from the peas above. I just want to offer my prayers and support. Sending you loving and healing hugs!
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Post by Delta Dawn on Feb 11, 2017 19:35:21 GMT
I haven't been here in a while because I could not deal with the stress of all the political stuff so soon after my heart issues. My oldest son deployed in June and will be home at the beginning of April. I have been having stomach issues since right after he left. I thought the issues were stress related due to his deployment. I had an upper GI in November right before Thanksgiving. The doctor said I had gastritis and GERD. I have been taking proton pump inhibitors since then but nothing was making the stomach pain better. I went back to my PCP last Friday because I was hurting really badly and my stool color had changed. He ordered a CT scan with contrast which I had on Monday, Feb 6. The results came back that same day. I have a 4 cm tumor in the head of my pancreas. So I go in thinking I need my gallbladder removed to find out I have pancreatic cancer. From the scans, it appears to not have spread yet. We have been trying to get an oncology appointment since Monday and finally have one for this Wednesday. Only my dh knows because my PCP (who had kidney cancer himself a few months ago) suggested that we keep it to ourselves until we have met with the oncologist. My dh doesn't really want to talk about all the thoughts going on in my head until we have a clear plan from the oncologist. From what my PCP said Monday, I will probably be having surgery very soon. I have done my research and the surgery for pancreatic cancer in this location is called a Whipple. It sounds absolutely awful. I must admit that part of me has considered not allowing myself to be put through all of that when in the long run the cancer will come back. I know I am probably rambling, but I need to get these thoughts out with someone! I am scared and sad and trying to walk around like everything is okay. I am going to have to tell my sons today because my deployed son is going to be sent to some training away from his unit on the 14th and i don't want him to be alone when he finds out. Then I have to figure out how to tell my brothers and Mom. My Mom had a small stroke this last weekend. My brother, who lives next door to her, has said we are not to tell her anything stressful. He tells me this on Tuesday when I am sitting here with a major stressful thing to tell. How do I deal with my job? A sub can't teach Honors Chemistry and AP Chemistry. Even if I use technology to remote in, I don't think I am going to be in any condition to do that if I have this surgery. Will I have to go on disability? That is going to mean less money coming in with really high medical bills. I don't want to bankrupt my family.
Then my brain jumps to all of the things I haven't done. I haven't scrapbooked my boys baby pictures. I have started, but only have about the first couple of months with the 1st one done and a couple of weeks with the 2nd one. Just walking in my craft room last night depressed me. I keep looking at different things in my life and wonder if they even matter anymore. Please pray for me, my dh, my sons and the rest of my family. This is going to be a difficult journey. I want to travel it in a way that will show my faith and be a comfort to my family. Thanks First you have to fight for your life. You will get through and we will be shoving you in the right direction. If there's one thing the Peas know how to do it's support someone. You should have medical insurance through your employer and you go on long term disability. You will get through this. You have to believe this. It is scary news and I am not minimizing it. It's effing scary news. You have to fight. The tumour is still small and you don't have mets as of yet so you have that working for you. We will be with you, in front of you shoveling snow, holding your hand, and praying so hard our eyes hurt.
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Mystie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,299
Jun 25, 2014 19:53:37 GMT
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Post by Mystie on Feb 11, 2017 19:39:13 GMT
I'm so sorry this is happening. You have gotten a lot of good advice and I hope you'll come back as you can--the peas are a great source of encouragement!
Watching my mom and dad go through the cancer journey for the past two years, I know it all looks like an enormous mountain that is impossible to climb. It's so overwhelming when you look at it all at once. I hope you can break it down into one step at a time. And take all the help that is offered! I pray that you will have the very best treatment and very good results.
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Post by monicad on Feb 11, 2017 19:44:32 GMT
Please take care of yourself and try not to worry about the other things; you and your health are the most important right now, and I'm sure your family will agree. Sending big hugs and lots of positive thoughts your way.
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Post by KikiPea on Feb 11, 2017 19:45:50 GMT
I am so sorry that you are having to deal with such a stressful situation. Many prayers and big hugs coming your way!
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Jun 2, 2024 8:14:23 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 11, 2017 19:47:25 GMT
Sending prayers!
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uksue
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,505
Location: London
Jun 25, 2014 22:33:20 GMT
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Post by uksue on Feb 11, 2017 19:48:19 GMT
I am so sorry -you certainly have my prayers.
I have had colon and cervical cancer and I also remember feeling totally overwhed at the time of diagnosis - by what I faced,and what I felt I hadn't achieved so far in my life.
All I can advise is try to take things day by day and take all the support you are offered . If not offered- demand it !
You will stay in my thoughts and prayers , may God surround you and your family with his love and wisdom xxx
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Post by mellyw on Feb 11, 2017 20:26:29 GMT
Many positive thoughts headed your way, Donna. Please don't be a stranger, the political threads are marked now, and we are a great sounding board.
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Post by nicoleq on Feb 11, 2017 20:38:24 GMT
Donna, I'm so sorry for what you are going through. You will be in my thoughts and prayers!!!
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Post by jeremysgirl on Feb 11, 2017 20:40:20 GMT
I'm so sorry to read this. Of course I will pray for you. Hugs. I do agree that it is time to tell your son's.
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Post by refugeepea on Feb 11, 2017 20:55:41 GMT
((hugs)) Donna
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Post by Really Red on Feb 11, 2017 21:03:52 GMT
Pumpkin! Of course your mind is everywhere! I cannot even imagine. This is a time when you have to put yourself first, but we, as women, are programmed to always think of others. So let us think for you a little. Let your admin know and she will take care of things at work.
Tell your brother, but leave your mama out of it.
Take everything one step at a time. One step at a time. Write everything down if you have to, but rely on others. Save all your strength for yourself.
Lots and lots of prayers!
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