Kato12

Hello Kato 12,
I hope your surgery went well and wish you a quick recovery.

Hi Kato12.... I hope everything went well with your surgery. Just wanted you to know you're still in my prayers. Zoe

Hi Kato- prayers lifted up that your surgery went very well today and for a quick, uncomplicated recovery.

Kato...Im thinking of you.Try to go easy on yourself ,dont't think too much.I had 2/3 of my pancreas removed and my spleen. My only advice is to try to gain some weight if your thin. I had a hard time putting on weight after surgery.I'll be thinking of you and keeping you in my prayers.Stay strong for your beautiful furbabies !
Good luck and please let us know how you are doimg. Zoe

Hi Kato12,
I had the Whipple procedure in May 2012. It is one of the largest surgeries performed, any doctor will tell you this. Make sure your surgeon has major experience in this. I found mine at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. My tumor was in the pancreas duct & hadn't spread. I had a long road but it was so worth it considering the alternative. I didn't have chemo or radiation, mine was a neuroendocrine tumor, also known as an inslet cell tumor. It was cancer but it was contain within the duct. Today I feel great!! I have some discomfort if I've eaten the wrong food but it's not enough to even call it pain. Over time I was able to I eat anything I want. I have been blessed. I am on NO meds at all. I make sure to do my follow up scans & take things one scan at a time. I tell you all this to give you hope & to tell you there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Another great support group is PanCan, you can find them on the web. They are great people & will help you with ALOT of information. My heart & thoughts are with you. Please stay in touch.

Hi Kato12. I haven't updated my dad's journey in the last 4 months... but, his experience through whipple/rad/chemo is all detailed. Look at my journey - I gave as much detail as I could. The Whipple is a big surgery - but if it can save your life: give it all you've got! Do what the dr's say - walk, drink, eat, walk, drink, eat ...and don't forget to breathe! (literally: into a breathing machine they will bring you.) Between now and then, WALK and EAT ... do your best to eat well and get some good walking in. I'll be thinking of you!

I think everybody is struck with fear when they hear they've got cancer! Try to stay positive! There are amazing medical paths! Make sure you get with a great doctor! Are you near Vanderbilt! I hear that medical Ctr is wonderful! Invite your friends and family to be alongside you! Pray!
Very best wishes!

Hi Kato12...
My name is Russ and I am a 12yr+ pancreatic, stage III, cancer survivor. Fear is so much a natural feeling that any of us have when we are told that we have cancer. There is fear, and there is anger. These are normal...if you are afraid, then be afraid, it's okay, cry when you're afraid. These are what I would call emotional cleansings...it's okay. When you have anger about having cancer, be mad it's okay. Get it out and move on. We must not deprive ourselves of these feelings, but at the same time we must not dwell on them either. In time we will understand that we must start to focus all of this energy on our recovery process. I cried in the beginning, many times, but these moments were short lived. I would cry, get it out and then move on. I believe strongly in the power of positive thinking. Surround yourself with positive people. I belong to Gilda's Club and during one of our meetings the social worker asked us to go around the room and to name 2 things that describe how you feel about having cancer. You know what the number one thing was...you're right it was "fear.' Do you know what the second thing was...you're right it was "anger." When it got to me I said fear just like everyone else. The first thing was the fear that cancer would return. The second thing I said was fear again. Only this time the fear was...would I be able to fight pancreatic cancer as hard and as successfully as I did the first time??? That is my fear! Some of us can relate to the days when we had 24/7 rounds of chemo, and 5 days a week of radiation at the same time. For me towards the end...I was crawling on the floor in the morning until I could muster up enough energy to stay on my own two feet. There were many times that I wanted to quit, but I would flat out refuse to do so. I said out loud..."I am not a quitter." We must defy with a passion everything that this disease tries to do to us. If not then we are letting cancer control us. There are so many other things that I could go on about, but that's for another day. Be afraid Kato...it's okay; cry it out and move on. We all are here for you...just write to anyone of us, and we'll get you through it.

Take care and God Bless,
Russ

I wish you great results with your tests. I'll be praying for you. Zoe

Good luck in your journey! It's not a straight path & it's scarey but remember we are here to help. We don't have all the answers but we can share our journey together! I'm new to this site but I know the people are great already! Our hearts & thoughts are with you.

Just checking on you to see how you are doing....are you in treatment or planning surgery? You are in my thoughts and prayers...Donna

Welcome to the WhatNext family! The WhatNext family is made up of people like you who are looking for help or looking to help others. To help you along your journey the WhatNext family has put together a Beginner's Guide to Cancer that I highly recommend you check-out here: http://bit.ly/10BQKCi. Also, please do not hesitate to reach out to others or ask for help.

Wishing you the best.

David
Founder, WhatNexter

What kind of surgery are you scheduled for? Stay strong! I know - easier said than done! Try to take one day at a time... The big picture long panoramic view can be too much... Prayers for your peace, good decisions, speedy recovery!

Hello Kato12! You are in my prayers....we can do this! Donna