Tag Archive for: Real Stories

Dimitra

My Story is about my Dad, Panos Dimitrakopoulos

 

This event took place from 06/02/2020 to 04/07/2021

 

The Discovery

We discovered that our Dad was suffering from Pancreatic Cancer randomly, right after the first Covid quarantine. He had lost weight significantly but we thought it was due to a diet he had been on for some time. He had a feeling that something might be wrong as he was feeling gradually weak.

This is My Story

Right after the quarantine, he visited his cardiologist for the regular check-up and prescription. The cardiologist suggested that our dad should undergo some medical tests because our dad’s eyes had become yellowish.
On June 2, 2020 our cancer journey started. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and by that time he had been considerably weak.
The tumor was big and on the head of pancreas, which made things dramatically bad. It could not be operated on and the health of our dad was so poor that he could undergo any treatment. We were told that he had up to 2 months.
God, though, had a different scheme. We found an experienced Oncologist and my dad had a stent implanted so that he could be relieved from the problems that jaundice had already created. Our dad regained his strength, the fatigue went away considerably and he was given some treatment; 6 rounds of chemo and 25 radiotherapies. The tumor shrank. His standard of living was good and hope rose again.

The Impact of Time

In February, 2021 the fatigue returned. At this point I have to talk about the bitter truth about the Medical System and Care in the region I live. It is nearly non- existent. Patients with cancer need to travel long distances to be hospitalised or given the proper treatment. Our doctor fought really hard to be able to import a treatment from USA. He never made it.
Our dad, who had been a devout Christian all his life, had set all his hopes to God. During all this time he got prepared, he was peaceful, calm and prayed. He did not want to live a day longer. His only wish was that we were peaceful, as well, and that he followed God’s will.
He passed away peacefully and serenely on April 7,2021, ten months after being diagnosed. My mum, my sister and I were present in the room and that is the most precious moment of my whole life.

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Bernadette

My Story is about Bernadette Lowe, my brother Mark Bishop, cousin Peter, friends Annie,Virginia and others

 

This event took place from 03/01/2016 to 11/23/2022

 

The Discovery

It was too late for my brother. In 2016 he went in for surgery but it was too advanced and he died 16 weeks later. They hadn’t given him a definitive diagnosis up to that point. He was 48.
I was diagnosed eventually after having a sense something wasn’t right in my body. This was 2019, it recurred this year in my lung.
Ultrasound, CT scan, eventually found lesion with MRCP after much pushing and a surgeon who listened. Diagnosed with Endoscopic Ultrasound biopsy of the tumour. Unfortunately not a cyst.
My cancer this year was found on routine surveillance ct scan however in hindsight was overlooked for 12 months.

 

This is My Story

I’m 57 and in Jan 2022 moved to the Adelaide Hills for a fresh start. I have a loving husband and 2 amazing children who are actually young adults.
I am 1 of 6 siblings. My brother Mark died of pancreas cancer in 2016, he was 48, adored father of 4, 16 weeks from diagnosis to when he died.
It shattered our world.

My 1st cousin Peter also died of pancreatic cancer while he was young also. In 2019 his ex girlfriend died of same disease.

I had this sense of dread after she died that didn’t go away so I told my doctor something was wrong in my body. Ultrasound and CT showed slightly dilated pancreatic duct. MRCP found a “lesion” ? Cyst ? Tumour but only tiny. Endoscopic Ultrasound and biopsy confirmed it to be cancer. Our world was shocked that this could happen to our family again. Chemo, Whipples and more chemo and I was given the all clear. I thought it was too good to be true that I could be so lucky and I felt guilt. Surveillance CTs every 3 months, 6 months until in June 2022 a tumour was found in my lung. Biopsy confirmed it to be metastatic pancreatic cancer.

Our world had already been shattered and shocked, this time we had no words. I’m still well with no symptoms but the chemo is knocking my bone marrow around because of the amount I’ve had in the past.
I’m on a clinical trial which has shown some success so it would be devastating if I can’t continue because the drugs have accumulated and become toxic. I’ve attributed my healing and positive outlook to the love and support of family and friends. And meditation, appreciation, mindfulness, prayers, healings, visualisation, kiniseology, yoga, walking, NLP etc etc.
My parents have already lost 2 sons and one sister had breast cancer, it’s cruel for them at 87 & 89 to have to go through such heartbreak when they are already do unwell themselves.

I never lost my hair in 2019 but it was disastrous this year resulting in a wig named Raquel. Then the eyebrows and eye lashes! In this time a dear friend was also diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer but unfortunately it was very complex and she passed away after 8 weeks. I have another dear friend battling this disease at the same time, and another and I’ve known several others who have also died of this insidious disease.
There’s just too much of it around. I’ve had genetic testing to no avail. And I guess my frustration is that why is there no research on why this is happening, researching environment, diet, etc etc
You’ve all heard the story of Erin Brokovich well imagine if something could be identified and managed the other end instead of waiting for it to happen and then all we have is chemotherapy which had its limitations.

 

The Impact of Time

Every day is a gift and I don’t know how many lessons i need in life to be reminded of this because we just get on that cycle of life, of being, doing, business even with cancer treatments.
So daily meditation and gratitude’s and appreciation help ground me. Trust your instinct and make sure you keep telling the Dr something isn’t right until they listen or seek another opinion. It’s so often overlooked and not the first thing they look for when it should be. Back pain and just a nightly tummy every now and then are common symptoms of pancreas cancer and overlooked again and again,

 

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Susan

My Story is about My beautiful Sister Cindy Rowland

 

This event took place from 09/04/2015 to 11/11/2015

 

The Discovery

My sister was working out of State. Her side had been giving her some discomfort. But, she wanted to wait to see a doctor back home in October. Her shoulder was hurting from an injury from a fall. She went to ER thinking that they could give her cortisone or something. They did blood work. Then more test. Diagnosed with Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer and Liver Cancer.
She flew home. Had 2 chemo treatments but never left the hospital after second round.
I stayed by her bedside 5 weeks. She was such a good and healthy woman always. She was my mentor. I was her shadow. She took her last breath at 5:15a.m.11-11-2015. A wonderful life senseless ended. She had so many friends, family and co-workers who loved and adored her.
The world is a little less bright without her constant smile. Pancreatic Cancer sucks!

 

This is My Story

I would have traded my life for hers. I even begged God to take me not her. She was just 53 years old. She had a family that needed her. Since, her death 3 grandchildren have been born. Never to feel their Mimi holding them or singing to them in her beautiful voice.
I stayed in my house for 2 years pretty much after her death. Family members moved away. Holidays stopped. She was the glue that held our family together ❤️

 

The Impact of Time

We got robbed. She lived less than 2 months after diagnosis. I was so angry. Am.
My outlook on time after she died? She deserved so much more.

 

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Glenda

My Story is about Walter Kerby my Husband of 50yrs

 

This event took place from 09/15/2016 to 11/05/2019

 

The Discovery

Walter’s color was bad I made him go to the VA ER in Portland Oregon they found a tumor at the head of his pancreas but it wasn’t cancerous yet after 3 biopsies it became cancer in the beginning one doctor said they could do a Whipple but the other doctor said no they wouldn’t do it even though my husband wanted the surgery they wouldn’t do it they said there was a possibility that he could die on the table they said I know or die in 2 years he still wanted the surgery but instead they gave him a death sentence. The chemo made him really sick he would break out in a rash run a fever the whole side of his stomach turn red and hard, every 2nd doses. he never got the third dose he’d always end up in the hospital. this went on for 18 months.

 

This is My Story

Walter was a Vietnam vet exposed to Agent Orange. I have no more story.

 

The Impact of Time

We went on as many trips as his strength would allow he was so sick then he slept most of the time. We visited our Children Grandkids, Great Grandkids,Brothers, Sisters and Cousins then we went to long Beach Wa. In September that was our last trip out. the last of October 2 of his Sisters and our 3 Sons came he past 11/05/2019

 

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María del Rosario, Anaité & Mayarí

Our story is about Miguel Hernà¡ndez, Marà­a del Rosario’s husband, Anaité and myself dad

 

This event took place from 11/29/2020 to 12/22/2020

 

The Discovery

In December 2020 Miguel Hernà¡ndez las diagnosed with urinary infeccià³n but symptoms (mid-back pain, indigestion) were still strong after medication. So he went with a gastroenterologist. He order several exams including: (CA19-9) exam and a tomography and that’s how it was diagnosed.

 

This is My Story

Our dad took good care of his health. He was diagnosed with diabetes in 1999 but due to how well he took care of himself he was told he didn’t need the insulin after a while. After that he controlled the high sugar with medicine, not insulin. In 2020 his sugar was high again, he was still on the same diet and medicine, he was not doing the same exercise he did before due to the pandemic. So he started doing exercise at home but the sugar wouldn’t go down. Late November he was told by the doctor to get some new exams and although a few things were not on the normal levels the doctor said it was all ok. Late November the mid-back pain started and indigestion the doctor said it was a urinary infection, but the symptoms were still strong and getting worse. So he went to a new doctor, a gastroenterologist, who ordered several exams including: (CA19-9) exam and a tomography and that’s when the doctor told my mom the news, this was December 17th. Our dad’s cancer was encapsulated on the pancreas tail and it had spread to the stomach. The doctor said not even an ultrasound would had detect it. Another doctor, a family friend told us it was too late and that we had little time, he said he might not make it to the next year, unfortunately he was right. I don’t think we understood how little time we had left, our dad died December 22nd. Not even a week after being diagnosed. He was a wonderful, wonderful man, we had the privilege to be with him all the time. We feel so much comfort that he didn’t suffer for a long time, but of course we wish we had so much more time with him. And that is why we want to share this story. You have to be informed to be able to act on time with this desease and we want to share with others so that other families can have more time with their beloved ones.

 

The Impact of Time

Time is everything. We had so little time with our dad. The diagnosis was made on December 17th and our dad died December 22. Not even a week from the diagnosis. We often wonder what would have happened if the symptoms started earlier and how much earlier they should have been, for us to be still together.

 

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PACINI

My Story is about my cancer discovered in April 2021 my name is Franà§oise Pacini, I’m French, I live in south of France

 

This event took place from 04/13/2021 to

 

The Discovery

My cancer was discovered after a simple consultation with my doctor, I wasted no time after 3 days I was able to do a scanner which detected the tumor. Unfortunately I was not operable, I did several chemotherapy protocols, and radiosurgery with the cyber knife in France. for almost 19 months I have been fighting my roommate! I lost my hair, and I lost a lot of weight 25 kgs, but now I stabilized and my hair grew back.

The tumor is stable and I have learned to live with it.

I do a lot of walking, and my morale is good. I’m crossing my fingers my next scan is Nov 24th so I’m waiting for the next diagnosis to know where I am.

I believe in progress and in god, maybe on a misunderstanding I could survive this disease !!!

Life is beautiful and I enjoy every moment

 

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Maria

My Story is about my mother

 

This event took place from 12/05/2014 to 12/23/2015

 

The Discovery

My mother was having severe stomach pains. She had a schedule appointment to have a colonoscopy because she was having discomfort so the doctor scheduled her for one. A few days prior to appointment she experienced pain she couldn’t bear so we took her to hospital. Tests were run and that’s when the awful unprepared diagnosis was given. But who could ever be prepared. The location on the pancreas was inoperable unless it shrunk.

 

This is My Story

This unimaginable journey has made me strive to raise awareness for this horrid disease. I have been a purple stride members the last few years to raise money for a better future and turnout for those dealing with pancreatic cancer.. I hope to make my mother as proud as I am of her

 

The Impact of Time

Crazy enough even after losing my mother a year after diagnosis I still consider myself lucky because we knew for over a year and was able to spend those precious moments together. I know many aren’t as fortunate because they found out so late. Obviously the outcome wasn’t good because my mother loss her battle but the gift of time is precious. And I cherish my moments with her. Her outlook on life was incredible. She was one of the strongest people I ever met. She rarely ever complained even when I knew she was suffering. She stayed strong until her body couldn’t handle it anymore. She treasured the moments with all her loved ones.

 

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Ring

My Story is about my Dad, Geric

 

The Discovery

My dad’s pancreatic cancer story began around October 2021 when he started having constant stomach aches that would make him go to the toilet every time he eats. He also started being jaundiced and the color of his urine started turning darker until it was tea-like in color. He started losing weight fast. His GI requested an MRI and a tumor was found in his pancreatic head. Biopsy around Dec 2022 returned no dysplasia in duodenum and mucin-secreting epithelial neoplasm in his pancreatic head mass. He underwent MRCP with stenting by January 2022 but experienced lots of complications (pancreatitis, cholangitis) that had him sent to the hospital on & off. He underwent PTBD procedure by early Feb and Whipple by mid-Feb 2022.

 

This is My Story

Last February, my dad was diagnosed with Stage 1b pancreatic cancer. This was made official after he went through Whipple surgery that lasted 10 hours. Months before, my dad had sudden weight loss, jaundice, and bouts of pancreatitis which meant lots of laboratory procedures, doctor consults, & hospitalizations.

As if all those were not enough, while we were preparing my dad for chemo last March, his PET scan showed abnormal growth in both thyroid glands. A biopsy confirmed it is also cancer of the thyroid, so my dad is a double primary cancer patient. He underwent total thyroidectomy last May.

At his weakest, my dad could not even lift himself up to adjust his position in bed. From his lowest weight of 53kg in Feb, my dad is now 70kg. His thin clothes don’t fit him anymore. His cheeks are sometimes rosy. He can eat and tolerate pretty much everything (in controlled portions). He is back to his old routine of exercising every morning. He laughs more. He is happy. He is thriving.

When I look back at how this year started and where we are now, I am in absolute awe with how the Lord has provided and sustained us. Because of complications, my Dad underwent Whipple a month earlier than planned. We weren’t financially ready (we are from the Philippines and we don’t have a good health insurance system here), but the Lord continued to provide, the money kept coming from all over. Two days before my dad’s Whipple, on Valentine’s Day, we had more than what we need for the surgery. By the time we were discharged, we even had money left and that’s the same funds that’s been sustaining us through the post-surgery needs of my dad, his thyroidectomy, and more.

Though the battle against cancer continues, I am comforted knowing I have a dad who is a fighter, and he inspires me to keep fighting too. I also keep my faith in miracles big and small that will continue happening in our lives.

 

The Impact of Time

“Cancer” is such a scary word for anyone, but when it’s “pancreatic cancer” it’s even scarier, knowing how poor its prognosis is. In the case of my dad, what really helped was him raising his hands & waving his arms to let us know something is wrong with him — that his stomach is always upset, that his bowel movement has gotten too many for a normal person, and that his urine color is getting darker and darker. The fact that my dad listened to his body is probably what saved him the most because we caught the cancer early enough while it’s still Stage 1b. Because my dad listened to his body, we have been given the gift of time to fight this disease with everything that we have and can do for my dad to be cured.

 

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Melissa

My Story is about My Mother Barbara Kopf

 

This event took place from 01/30/2011 to 02/06/2011

 

The Discovery

It was discovered after my mother had to go for a PET scan. She was feeling sick weeks leading up to the discovery of Pancreatic Cancer. The doctors kept telling her it was flu like symptoms and when she wasn’t getting any better she went for a second opinion where they did lab work and other test and that is how it was discovered that she had pancreatic cancer but by the time is was discovered it was already Stage 4 she lasted about a week and unfortunately passed 12 days later after hearing the words cancer

 

The Impact of Time

The gift of time is precious as you never know what the next day is going to bring, I wish we had more time to research and learn more about pancreatic cancer while my mom was still here we may have seen the symptoms a lot sooner then we did.

 

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Silvia

My Story is about Annamaria, my mum

 

This event took place from 10/01/2017 to 05/06/2018

 

The Discovery

My mum vomited a night without any reason and she had pain in the back. She was a very precise person, no smoke, no drinks, always in movement so she didn’t understand why she felt so paintful that night.

 

This is My Story

We must increase prevention on this cancer. The majority of time it is too late and this is unacceptable. And also a surgery is not that common because the pancreas cannot be removed 100%

 

The Impact of Time

In 8 months my mum passed away. When she discovered she had a pancreatic cancer was too late. We were shocked, confused, scared and angry. The cancer didn’t give any kind of symptoms before that night. She never showed symptoms. I really want to be back in time to hug my beloved mum again. She was also not that old to have this kind of cancer (56 years old).

 

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