- Nov 9, 2000
- 20,127
- 6
- 81
My wife has had terrible health for a decade now. Almost 10 years ago she had a partial hysterectomy due to a tumor on her left ovary and fallopian tube. 2 years later, she had to have a full hysterectomy, the rest of her stuff became malignant.
Fast forward to last January, she had a stroke and has been in horrible shape ever since. She's been making slow strides towards normalcy, but it's been miserable.
And now. Well, for the last month she's been having problems eating. She'd eat and then feel like she had a boulder in her guts, basically robbing her of her appetite. Two days ago, her back started hurting. Today it became so bad I had to take her to the ER. While there, she had a CAT Scan done and the results couldn't have been worse. She has a tumor somewhere above her pancreas. They didn't say how big it is, but she is going to have an MRI and ultrasound done on Tuesday.
Lab tests show that all her functions are uncompromised at this time, thankfully. But the pain is severe. I'm pretty damned worried right now, her family history is plagued with cancer.
So, if you pray, say one for Kristy (wife). If you don't pray, think positive thoughts towards her. Thanks.
5/28/08 - Update: We just got back from a long ultrasonography session. The tech couldn't say anything, but he did point out some questionable spots to us. Hopefully we'll know more sometime later today or early tomorrow.
5/28/08 - Update 2: Our physician gave us the results of today's testing. Her gall bladder is healthy and stone free. But they did see a 5cm density on her pancreas right where the CT Scan said it was. He said it's not cystic as there is no fluid in the dense mass, or around it.
So tomorrow we're having another marathon CT Scan session, this time with a dye contrast done after one without it. I suppose an exploratory surgury is impending. They're not calling it cancer yet, I guess they can't until a biopsy is done. But with Kristy's past health challenges, it's not completely unlikely.
5/30/08 - Update 3: I received the test results from the last round of testing and it's conclusive. There is a 5cm solid mass on the top of the pancreas. Our doctor is arranging for my wife to see a surgeon ASAP, and he is prescribing a stronger pain medicine. What she's been taking has no effect on her pain, so she's suffering endlessly.
My optimism is starting to wane now.
6/2/08 - Update 4: Just got back from the surgical consult. The surgeon showed us a tumor on the tail end of her pancreas that is almost perfectly round and the size of a racquetball. The good news is that it is more than likely not malignant and definitely not the sort of tumor that would be worst case as she'd already be dead. The bad news is that he is unqualified to do the operation and referred us to another physician in Fort Worth who is eminently qualified to do this work.
A possible outcome of the surgery is that she'll lose her spleen due to the location of the tumor. But vaccinations will nullify any negative impact that might impose.
We get to see the next doctor on Thursday at 3:30, I'll update again then. Thanks for the prayers and well wishes everyone!
6/5/08 - Update 5: Well, we saw surgeon #2 today. This one has excellent bedside manner, very open and very qualified too. Turns out she has to have 2 more tests done before surgery can happen. One is a pancreas specific CT scan with contrast, they'll have a 3D picture of her pancreas when that test is done and that's going to be done Monday morning. The other test is an endoscopic ultrasound. They'll take a biopsy while that's being done.
We did learn several negative things today: she's going to lose at least 2/3 of her pancreas which may or may not render her diabetic. We also learned that there is a good chance that she'll lose the spleen. The tumor is growing into the spleenic (sp?) artery which makes it much more difficult as far as the spleen goes.
One other interesting tidbit we were told is that she DID have a kidney stone after all, and that's what's causing most of the pain she's having. It's too small to do anything about and it'll pass on it's own. One is already passing and is midway down the urethra.
So, if we can get both tests done on Monday or Tuesday then the chances are good that she'll have the surgery next week. I hope she can get it done next week, she's more than ready and it would be nice to be on the recovery side of this ordeal.
I'll post more as I find more out.
6/18/08 - Update 6: Last Friday a gastroenterologist at Baylor Univ. Hospital did a biopsy and an endoscopic ultrasound of the tumor. We just got the results - it's definitely cancer though thankfully it is a slow growing variant. Oddly enough, we know less now that we thought we knew a few weeks ago. The tumor is 5.5cm by 5cm and it is unknown whether it originated on the stomach or the pancreas. We do know that she for sure will lose part of her stomach, and probably some of the pancreas and maybe the spleen.
It's also unknown whether or not they'll be able to do it all by laproscope, they'll start off that way but if they find lots of malignancy when they go in they may have to open her up. She'll be in the hospital for a week best case, maybe two if things go poorly. Also, the date of the surgery is unknown, but it looks like it may happen on the 30th of June.
My wife just can't ever be healthy. This is the second round of cancer for her, and last year she had a stroke. How she's not a drunk or drug addict after all this I just don't know.
6/20/08 - Update 7: We got a call late yesterday afternoon from the surgeon's office. The surgery is confirmed for 0700 on 6/30/08. I'll post an update that day or the next with the results.
6/30/08 - Update 8: The surgery was a success. The doctor found that the tumor was definitely on the pancreas and not her stomach (his initial conclusion). He was able to completely remove the tumor by doing a partial pancreatectomy and a full splenectomy. She'll be in the hospital for about a week and should be able to resume a normal life within a few weeks. She is in a lot of pain as you might expect, but her prognosis is excellent and may not even need chemo or radiation after this! Thank you one and all for your prayers and well wishes, I believe that they were all instrumental in the successful surgery and will continue to be effective during her recovery.
7/8/08 - Final Update: She came home today. All the staples were removed and the JP drain was pulled. I'm so relieved to have her here. Her doctor has given her a clean bill of health as the biopsy came back exactly as he anticipated. The surrounding tissues were free of mutant cells so it didn't spread to any other organs. The surgical wounds are all healing quickly, too. A few weeks of convalescence and she'll be her old self again.
I'm so happy for her, and well all of us. Life has been miserable since memorial day. Now we can move forward with more pleasant things to do and think about. And hopefully this is it for her and serious illness for a LONG time. It's someone else's turn for a change. Thank you all for your support and prayers. :heart:
Fast forward to last January, she had a stroke and has been in horrible shape ever since. She's been making slow strides towards normalcy, but it's been miserable.
And now. Well, for the last month she's been having problems eating. She'd eat and then feel like she had a boulder in her guts, basically robbing her of her appetite. Two days ago, her back started hurting. Today it became so bad I had to take her to the ER. While there, she had a CAT Scan done and the results couldn't have been worse. She has a tumor somewhere above her pancreas. They didn't say how big it is, but she is going to have an MRI and ultrasound done on Tuesday.
Lab tests show that all her functions are uncompromised at this time, thankfully. But the pain is severe. I'm pretty damned worried right now, her family history is plagued with cancer.
So, if you pray, say one for Kristy (wife). If you don't pray, think positive thoughts towards her. Thanks.
5/28/08 - Update: We just got back from a long ultrasonography session. The tech couldn't say anything, but he did point out some questionable spots to us. Hopefully we'll know more sometime later today or early tomorrow.
5/28/08 - Update 2: Our physician gave us the results of today's testing. Her gall bladder is healthy and stone free. But they did see a 5cm density on her pancreas right where the CT Scan said it was. He said it's not cystic as there is no fluid in the dense mass, or around it.
So tomorrow we're having another marathon CT Scan session, this time with a dye contrast done after one without it. I suppose an exploratory surgury is impending. They're not calling it cancer yet, I guess they can't until a biopsy is done. But with Kristy's past health challenges, it's not completely unlikely.
5/30/08 - Update 3: I received the test results from the last round of testing and it's conclusive. There is a 5cm solid mass on the top of the pancreas. Our doctor is arranging for my wife to see a surgeon ASAP, and he is prescribing a stronger pain medicine. What she's been taking has no effect on her pain, so she's suffering endlessly.
My optimism is starting to wane now.
6/2/08 - Update 4: Just got back from the surgical consult. The surgeon showed us a tumor on the tail end of her pancreas that is almost perfectly round and the size of a racquetball. The good news is that it is more than likely not malignant and definitely not the sort of tumor that would be worst case as she'd already be dead. The bad news is that he is unqualified to do the operation and referred us to another physician in Fort Worth who is eminently qualified to do this work.
A possible outcome of the surgery is that she'll lose her spleen due to the location of the tumor. But vaccinations will nullify any negative impact that might impose.
We get to see the next doctor on Thursday at 3:30, I'll update again then. Thanks for the prayers and well wishes everyone!
6/5/08 - Update 5: Well, we saw surgeon #2 today. This one has excellent bedside manner, very open and very qualified too. Turns out she has to have 2 more tests done before surgery can happen. One is a pancreas specific CT scan with contrast, they'll have a 3D picture of her pancreas when that test is done and that's going to be done Monday morning. The other test is an endoscopic ultrasound. They'll take a biopsy while that's being done.
We did learn several negative things today: she's going to lose at least 2/3 of her pancreas which may or may not render her diabetic. We also learned that there is a good chance that she'll lose the spleen. The tumor is growing into the spleenic (sp?) artery which makes it much more difficult as far as the spleen goes.
One other interesting tidbit we were told is that she DID have a kidney stone after all, and that's what's causing most of the pain she's having. It's too small to do anything about and it'll pass on it's own. One is already passing and is midway down the urethra.
So, if we can get both tests done on Monday or Tuesday then the chances are good that she'll have the surgery next week. I hope she can get it done next week, she's more than ready and it would be nice to be on the recovery side of this ordeal.
I'll post more as I find more out.
6/18/08 - Update 6: Last Friday a gastroenterologist at Baylor Univ. Hospital did a biopsy and an endoscopic ultrasound of the tumor. We just got the results - it's definitely cancer though thankfully it is a slow growing variant. Oddly enough, we know less now that we thought we knew a few weeks ago. The tumor is 5.5cm by 5cm and it is unknown whether it originated on the stomach or the pancreas. We do know that she for sure will lose part of her stomach, and probably some of the pancreas and maybe the spleen.
It's also unknown whether or not they'll be able to do it all by laproscope, they'll start off that way but if they find lots of malignancy when they go in they may have to open her up. She'll be in the hospital for a week best case, maybe two if things go poorly. Also, the date of the surgery is unknown, but it looks like it may happen on the 30th of June.
My wife just can't ever be healthy. This is the second round of cancer for her, and last year she had a stroke. How she's not a drunk or drug addict after all this I just don't know.
6/20/08 - Update 7: We got a call late yesterday afternoon from the surgeon's office. The surgery is confirmed for 0700 on 6/30/08. I'll post an update that day or the next with the results.
6/30/08 - Update 8: The surgery was a success. The doctor found that the tumor was definitely on the pancreas and not her stomach (his initial conclusion). He was able to completely remove the tumor by doing a partial pancreatectomy and a full splenectomy. She'll be in the hospital for about a week and should be able to resume a normal life within a few weeks. She is in a lot of pain as you might expect, but her prognosis is excellent and may not even need chemo or radiation after this! Thank you one and all for your prayers and well wishes, I believe that they were all instrumental in the successful surgery and will continue to be effective during her recovery.
7/8/08 - Final Update: She came home today. All the staples were removed and the JP drain was pulled. I'm so relieved to have her here. Her doctor has given her a clean bill of health as the biopsy came back exactly as he anticipated. The surrounding tissues were free of mutant cells so it didn't spread to any other organs. The surgical wounds are all healing quickly, too. A few weeks of convalescence and she'll be her old self again.
I'm so happy for her, and well all of us. Life has been miserable since memorial day. Now we can move forward with more pleasant things to do and think about. And hopefully this is it for her and serious illness for a LONG time. It's someone else's turn for a change. Thank you all for your support and prayers. :heart: