On Thursday, June 9, Mom had a endoscopic surgery called laparoscopy. The purpose was to look to see if the tumor at the head of the pancreas has spread to other portions of the abdomen. And we got good news! Dr. Gibson found no new tumors, and that means that Mom can start a combination of radiation and chemo soon.
Dr. Gibson reiterated that Mom’s cancer, is a mucin andocarcanoma. He warned us that there’s a high probability that the tumor has shed some microscopic cancer cells to other parts of the body. But the good news is that none have grown to the point that they were visible from today’s procedure. Our hope is that chemotherapy will destroy any metastic cells before they grow.
On Friday, Mom had surgery to have a permanent stent placed in the bile duct (which was being blocked by the tumor). Dr. Gibson compared the metal stent to a chineese finger trap (see a photo). They’re keeping the external drain in until Monday (to make sure that the internal stent is working correctly), and then they’ll take it out on Monday the 13th. This will mean she’ll have to give up her external bile bag, which I’m sure she’s become attached to over the last week (just kidding!).
She’s also supposed to be meeting with Lisa, the data manager for the ECOG study that we’re looking at right now for her chemo/radiation treatment. That appointment is scheduled for Tuesday the 14th. We should be able to get questions answered about her participation in that study during this meeting.
Dr. Zinda, an oncological radiologist will be meeting with Mom sometime next week to schedule a surgery to install the ports through which they will deliver the chemotherapy drugs. These are called venous access device (VAD) and are surgically implanted devices that provides long-term access to a major vein. Not a pleasant thing to look toward, but it will allow her to start her chemo treatments soon. It’ll also mean she won’t get poked with needes every time she goes in for treatment, which in general will be a very good thing. Here’s more information and another good definition.
The following Friday, June 17, we’re meeting with her oncologist, Dr. Diggs, to talk about treatment options. I’m hoping that her treatment will begin the following week.
For those of you would would like more information on pancreatic cancer, I’ve found the National Cancer Institute to be a good source: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/pancreatic
I’ve found that breastcancer.org is a good website in terms of providing lots of good, readable content on cancer treatment (esp. what to expect from chemotherapy).
Here’s a list of clinical trials that Mom may be eligible for:
http://www.cancer.gov/search/ResultsClinicalTrials.aspx?protocolsearchid=1657219
Here’s info on the treatment that her oncologist, Dr. Diggs, recommended.
http://www.cancer.gov/search/ViewClinicalTrials.aspx?cdrid=258056&version=patient&protocolsearchid=1657219
Also, here’s a brief bio on Dr. Charles Diggs. and one for her surgeon who has been leading up her diagnosis and treatment, Dr. Scott Gibson.