Mass on Pancreas

[latsirk]

As a follow up to my earlier questions, I have now found out that he has a mass on his pancreas.  Could this be pancreatis or is is  more in likely cancer?  He is a 53 year old male, doesn't drink so that's not an issue.  Please help us better understand what is going on with him right now, we are all so scared.

[Nanny]

The "mass" on or in his pancreas could be a tumor or pancreatic pseudocysts, both of which would cause pancreatitis.  The fact that he does not drink is necessarily NOT a factor with pancreatitis.  It could be caused by gallbladder problems, duct obstructions, hereditary reasons, use of certain drugs, etc.  Many people who don't drink have pancreatitis.  The doctors will probably elect to do a cat-scan to determine what the mass consists of and to know how to treat him.  I hope for his, and your sake, that they find out quickly what his problem is.  Good luck.
Nanny

[latsirk]

Thanks Nanny for replying.  We are all just so scared and worried.  My sister just had a stillborn baby (she was 1 week away from her due date when the babies heart stopped beating) and now this.  Just when life was starting to get semi back to normal, another blow.  I do know now that he does have a tumor on his pancreas.  He talks to surgeons on Friday (today is Tuesday).  We are worried.  Do you know how likely a tumor means cancer?  Like, I know awhile back he had his appendix out... could it be scar tissue from that?  Also, any idea how likely it would be benign or malignant and if one or the other, what that means for him?  Benign would obviously be better than malignant but, if malignant does that automatically mean a "death sentance"?

[Nanny]

I am sorry that all these troubles have come at once.  Your sister's loss is severe enough, and now this concern.  It must be very trying for you all.  It is good that they have found the tumor, positive identification is made, and now the doctors will plan to remove it and biopsy it.  When they do this they will also check the area thoroughly for any other signs of disease.  It may well be that it is benign and he won't have problems with it anymore.  If the tests show any malignancy, he'll have to undergo treatment for that as well.  Many, many people have survived cancer and are continuing to live out their lives.  You just have to think positive about this, and as be strong and as caring for your father as you can.  He will benefit from your strength.  I hope he is at a good medical center and you feel confident with his medical professionals.
With prayers,
Nanny

[Nanny]

I am sorry that all these troubles have come at once.  Your sister's loss is severe enough, and now this concern.  It must be very trying for you all.  It is good that they have found the tumor, positive identification is made, and now the doctors will plan to remove it and biopsy it.  When they do this they will also check the area thoroughly for any other signs of disease.  It may well be that it is benign and he won't have problems with it anymore.  If the tests show any malignancy, he'll have to undergo treatment for that as well.  Many, many people have survived cancer and are continuing to live out their lives.  You just have to think positive about this, and as be strong and as caring for your father as you can.  He will benefit from your strength.  I hope he is at a good medical center and you feel confident with his medical professionals.
With prayers,
Nanny

[pilchard]

I am sorry to here about this, could you give more details on the symptons as I am have stomach pains and back ache which as yet the doctors don't know.

Many thanks and think positive.

[latsirk]

Quany:  I am not about all the symptoms.  I do know that he has stomach problems that travel to his back.  It seems to worsen after eating and at night.  They were originally treating him for what they thought was an ulcer.  When that treatment didn't help they sent him for tests to check out his gallbladder.  In those tests (an MRI) they found a "mass" on his pancreas.  They now know that it is a tumor.  He goes for an appointment Friday with our family doctor as well as a surgeon that specializes in this kind of thing.  Our family doctor seems to think that they will skip any further testing and just schedule a surgery to have it removed because whether benign or malignant, it would have to come out either way.  Hopefully we will all know more Friday and I can put further updates on here then.  More and likely though, it sounds like we won't know any more until after the surgery when they test to see if it was benign or not.  I'll post further updates as I know them.
I hope you find out what is wrong with you and I hope you feel better. Keep me updated on what you find out as well.  Take Care and I hope this helped a little.

[Magster]

My heart goes out to you and your family.  Pancreatic surgery, if they do it, is a long, long operation.  Did they tell him where the tumor is and did they check his liver at all?  They have what they call a Whipple procedure they can do to remove a mass I believe from the tail of the pancreas but this is no guarantee and is pretty dangerous. For you and your family's sake, I hope it is benign and can be treated.  I am sure you have researched pancreatic cancer and the outlook.  It is a cancer than is often overlooked until it is too late. I know, my mother passed away from pancreatic cancer five years ago.  If I had to do it over again, I would never have subjected her to the chemotherapy; that seemed to ruin her quality of life from the first treatment.  I think if I was diagnosed with that, I would give alternative therapy a try.  It couldn't hurt.  I pray to God that he doesn't have to go through that experience.  I am so sorry he is sick.  
You are all in my prayers.

Maggie

[millerdi]

I just read your story and I'm sorry to hear this. I also have been having pain, and just recently had a CT-scan because my doctor feels a mass on my right side, doesn't know what it is. This also radiates to my back, like I have a kidney infection. Gallbladder was removed 12 years ago. Hang in there, God has the power to make everything right for all of us. Please keep us posted as I will you.

[latsirk]

I just thought I would follow up with the most recent news that I have about my dad.  He has a cancerous tumor on his pancreas.  He goes for major surgery on the 25th of March.  We do not know until then whether they can remove the tumor or not.  There is a main artery/vein involved... They will not be able to tell until the surgery if the tumor has taken over that vein/artery or not.  They tell us that if it has, there is nothing they can do, but, if it hasn't then they should be able to remove the tumor.  Either way we know he will he has this surgery on the 25th, which will be an approximate 6 hour surgery, then he will be in intensive care for 2 days.  Then in the hospital for another 2 weeks.  Either way they want to also do chemo and radiation. They have told us that he is in perfect health otherwise, which helps... it all comes down to that one vein/artery.  So for now, we are praying that the tumor has not taken over that vein/artery.  Thanks for all of the prayers and thoughts, this has been real rough on me... I am not able to eat and have a bad case of nerves/nausea/diarrea.  I'll update again after the surgery.

[latsirk]

Good news!!  My dad had the surgery and they got the tumor out!!  We are all so relieved.  We know there is still a rough road ahead but, the worst we feel is over.  They got the tumor out!!  They had to take out the spleen and pretty much most of his pancreas so he'll probably be diabetic but, he was expecting that anyways so, that isn't so bad... it can be controlled.  He will still have to go through chemo and radiation to make sure any residual is "taken care of" but, the worst is now over... with great surgeons and many prayers... they got the tumor out.  He is in some pain but, that too was expected.  We know in a months time or so, the pain will lessen and it will all be worth it.  THEY GOT THE TUMOR OUT!!!!  =)