In March 2018, I celebrated being a 10-year pancreatic cancer survivor. One November day in 2013, I locked myself in my bathroom and started to sob, hoping my husband and daughters would not hear me. Now, I am monitored on a yearly basis through CT scans and MRI’s. Do not be convinced by others that “it will pass.” The doctor’s assurances must be challenged if you know in your heart they do not make sense to you. After the bleeding ulcers were found and treated, I remained severely anemic. In March 2012, I was a healthy 53-year-old, who was living an active life in South Florida. Because it was discovered early, my tumor measured only 3 x 1 mm. On August 3, 2015, I saw my primary care doctor to report the symptoms I was experiencing— severe stomach and back pain; rapid, extreme weight loss (over 100lbs); excessively high sugar counts; distaste for foods (metallic), clay-colored stools, and dark urine. I was petrified. I would encourage any newly diagnosed patient to be your own advocate and know what’s in your best interest. after dinner when our daughters were young, and now my teenager revels in the opportunity to beat me. A day hasn’t passed that I haven’t had that lighter in my pocket. I was 73 years old when I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and had no prior family history of the disease. Bill’s Advice for Navigating a Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosis: My troubles began in December 2019 quite innocuously—a mild pain in my midsection which could easily have been ignored for a few weeks or maybe a month. The answer: There were never enough survivors to start one. I needed comfort from others who had been there. You and the person accompanying you should compare notes after each appointment. I saw my doctor that afternoon and after a CT scan the next day I was blindsided by a diagnosis of Stage II pancreatic cancer. We developed a new level of intimacy. After a successful surgery, I followed up with chemotherapy and radiation in Hagerstown, Maryland. For the first six months following my diagnosis, every day I woke up I was hoping this was just a nightmare. He also excised a portion of my portal vein, which was extremely risky, as this blood vessel carries blood from the gastrointestinal tract to the liver. I reclaimed my independence, and eight months after surgery I returned to work full time as a teacher. I share my story to inspire others and show them that they, too, can have a positive outcome. You have a cystic lesion on your pancreas of 1.7cm and we recommend you follow up in one year.”. (and if you did, you wouldn't feel up to posting on this forum). I thought I had always done the things people do to live in a healthy way: I walked briskly every day for at least a half hour. However, before I could make it to the appointment, I developed jaundice and needed to be seen immediately. I stayed in the hospital for six days during which time I was alternately very tired or very bored, as the pain management at Columbia was excellent. Blood clots 6. Fortunately, it never came to that. When I learned that I had pancreatic cancer, I was devastated. Understand the side effects that you may experience from the medication you will be taking and pay close attention to how to prevent them, if possible. Chronic pancreatitis spurs growth of abnormal cells in the pancreas, which can become cancer. There are some important lessons to be learned from my experience: 1. Depression 4. I look forward to participating in the walk again in 2020 and joining with others impacted by pancreatic cancer. Amazingly, the tumor became dormant and I was not on any treatment for two years. It was stage IV due to the fact that it had spread from my pancreas into the liver. 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