nodtamamama

Hi nodtamamama,

Welcome to WhatNext...a great place to be with many people who will support you and your brother during his cancer journey. I myself am a 13 year, stage IV, pancreatic cancer survivor. I know how strange it is to be in this position, but your brother is so fortunate to have you and the rest of the family with him in every step of his journey. It reminds me of those early days in my diagnosis when I had my sister, my brother, and so many of my cousins, not to mention my wife, our daughter, and son who were at my side after surgery. I was in so much pain, and I had all I could do to open my eyes and look to the side of my bed, and there were my daughter and my son holding back tears. I just wanted so much to hold them and tell them how much I loved them and everything was going to be okay. About 5-6 years later my daughter and I were talking about those early days and she remembers walking down the hall with her brother to see me, and she asked my son if he was ready to see this, because I had do many tubes sticking in me. She said that you are our father, and nothing could hurt you. Now just over 13 years, my son and I were talking about that day. He brought tears to my eyes once more. He told me that the next day, after seeing me lying there, while he was showering he saw these bruises on his thighs. He told me they were from him pinching his thighs through his pockets so hard so as not to cry. When he and his sister got back downstairs in the waiting area, he had to go outside and just let himself cry. My wife told my brother that Mike, (our son), was outside crying, and my brother said it's probably a good thing. Over the years so many people have asked me how I managed to survive so many years with pancreatic cancer? I told them that there were many reasons, one of which were the support of my family, and friends; the endless cards, letters, and emails that I received not only from people I knew, and from so many people I didn't know, but they had heard. I saved everyone of those cards, letters, and emails, and I take them out and read them once again on the anniversary of my survivorship...November 3, 2000. One of the other things I owe success to is the great medical staff I had working with me from the University of Pennsylvania Hospital. Then I would also be foolish not to acknowledge some Devine intervention on my behalf. Just remember to never give up hope. There are so many of us here on WhatNext to talk to, you do not have to do this alone...we have been there.
My best to you and your brother...let him know we are here for him....
Russ

The most important thing for you and your family is to think positive each and everyday. If you throw in the towel because of everything you read or just as a matter of reading statistics your brother will become one. My Bob was diagnosed 6 months ago with stage IV cancer as well. He has bee a rock and through it all still tries to maintain positive thinking by lots of prayer, speaking to survivors and having supportive friends and family. Do not get me wrong, chemo beats the crap out of him. Originally he lost 35 pounds. But he has gained it back. The caregiver whomever that is needs to not display the worst. Keep things as normal as you can. For example after treatment when feeling better have friends over,, go to a movie out to dinner etc. like my Bob says cancer will not beat me, I will beat it.

Hello and welcome, we are glad you found us. Please feel free to join in the conversations. Here is a link to our cancer dx page for your type of cancer. Take a look at it to get you started on some information. You will notice at the bottom of that page 4 of our active users who have had that journey already, you may wish to contact them for their experience and wisdom. Also, I encourage you to go to the questions page now by clicking on the questions tab at the top of the page and post what is the most pressing issue you have right now. This will introduce you to the community and get you started on the help you need right now.

https://www.whatnext.com/conditions/cancer/pancreatic-cancer

There are also subtypes listed on this page to narrow down the type of cancer to match your dx.

Also, if you can take a few minutes and fill in some details of your journey so far, it will help others as they try to answer questions for you, it also helps others as they search through the data base to find someone like themselves. Confirming your email will allow you to receive updates and notices from the site when someone answers your questions or writes on your wall.

Thanks for being with us and let me know if I can help you find any information on the site. After you have an opportunity to look the site over and see what great things there are here, we encourage you to invite your friends, family or anyone you know that may be helped by the connections on WhatNext to join the site also. Just click this link to invite them to join. http://www.whatnext.com/recruit-a-friend

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GregP 3X Survivor
Team WhatNext Community Mgr

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