The Pancreatic Cancer Support Center

The Journey:
Just Found Out
Dealing With It
Recover & Thrive
Worst Case

Facing the Initial Impact of Pancreatic Cancer

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Pancreatic Cancer

Every person is unique, but when you face a challenge like pancreatic cancer, you are never alone. Countless men, women, and children have faced exactly the same diagnosis and have survived and thrived. The following guide is designed to help you navigate your journey with the best information and resources that helped other survivors when they faced the same challenge. 

TSC has scoured the Web to assemble links to the very best pancreatic cancer resources: articles, blogs, forums, and tools that can help you make better decisions and take action to overcome the range of physical, emotional, and other challenges you're facing now.

As you’ll see, we always welcome your ideas and suggestions to make this pancreatic cancer guide even more helpful to survivors like you.   

JUST FOUND OUT

Survivors Say: Best Resources for Pancreatic Cancer

The Big Picture

The pancreas is a gland behind your stomach and in front of your spine. It produces juices that help break down food and hormones that help control blood sugar levels. Pancreatic cancer is hard to catch early because it doesn't cause symptoms right away.

Your Pancreatic Cancer

As with any type of cancer, or another serious condition, you want to be sure you have the right diagnosis -- so a second or third opinion may be in order -- and that your cancer has been appropriately staged so you can begin to discuss with your health-care providers and those close to you what the right treatment will be in your case:

Your World

Receiving the news that you have pancreatic cancer has likely left you feeling many difficult emotions -- anger, sadness, depression, frustration, denial, and more. That's normal. You are at the start of a difficult journey to survivorship from pancreatic cancer, so this is a good time to begin to gather together resources that will help you emotionally, mentally, and spiritually - not just physically - as you consider your treatment options and move into treatment itself. These resources can help now:

Pancreatic Cancer Myths

Dealing With Pancreatic Cancer

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Information and Recommended Links for Survivors

Types of Treatment


Surgery

The Whipple procedure is one of the most common surgical treatments for pancreatic cancer. It involves taking out parts of the pancreas, gallbladder, stomach, and small intestine. The digestive tract is restructured as part of the surgery. Other surgeries include a total removal of the pancreas and a distal pancreatectomy, which involves removing the majority of the pancreas and the spleen:

Radiation Therapy and Chemotherapy

Both radiation therapy and chemotherapy kill the cancer cells, though they work in different ways. Radiation involves targeting x-rays toward the area with cancerous cells, while chemotherapy is the use of drugs to destroy cancer cells:

Possible Treatment Side Effects

Pancreatic Cancer Action Network: Side Effects of Treatment

Holistic Treatments

Creating a Support Circle

  • Set up your TSC survivor profile.
  • Join support groups of other survivors or start your own.
  • Interact and provide updates on your TSC profile or in the TSC forums.

Insurance & Money Matters

Insurance Matters

Treatment for pancreatic cancer is often costly. Find out how some survivors worked to get payment for their treatments:

EverydayHealth.com: Pancreatic Cancer and Health Insurance

Money Matters

Health-care Providers Who Can Help

An endocrinologist is likely to be the first specialist you see. Because many patients are first seen for problems other than pancreatic cancer, endocrinologists and other specialists will be involved. Once you are diagnosed, you will need to see an oncologist, a doctor who specializes in treating cancer patients. A medical oncologist manages your chemotherapy plan.

Resources to Find Doctors

How to Find An Oncologist

How to Find a Cancer Hospital


ACS: Find Treatment Centers

Emotional Rollercoaster

Dealing with pancreatic cancer will bring up a host of emotions -- anger, resentment, denial, frustration, sadness, fear and depression, among others. Making it through this illness is easier if you surround yourself with those who support you. These resources can help now:

Hearing from those who've survived pancreatic cancer can be uplifting and inspiring: 

Pancreatic Cancer Action Network: Inspirational Stories and Tips from Survivors 

Books Survivors Recommend

What Survivors Wish They’d Known

Communicating with Your Health-care Providers

  • Let your health-care provider know of any concerns, fears and worries you have. Pancreatic cancer can be scary, but you need to share your anxiety -- your doctors may know of ways to allay some of your concerns.
  • Depend on a group of family members and friends who can be with you during doctor’s visits and trips to the hospital. Choose people who are positive and supportive.

Dealing with Pancreatic Cancer: Information and Recommended Links for Co-Survivors

How You Can Help

  • Offer to sit with your loved one at the hospital. Many people with pancreatic cancer spend a lot of time in the hospital, and having someone to talk to or just watch television with is a welcome respite.
  • Invite your survivor out as you normally would, if you think they're up to going out. Treating someone with cancer differently can add to their feelings of alienation and depression.
  • Let your friend or family member know you are available to talk, vent, or cry with him/her. Sometimes just knowing someone will be there to listen and not judge or try to offer advice is a big help.

What to Say

  • "This road may be tough for you, but I am here to help in whatever way I can."
  • "If you want to talk about your treatment at any time, let me know. I will listen if you need to talk."
  • "I can help with everyday stuff. Just let me know what you need some help with."

What Not to Say

  • "It's a mystery why this happened to you."  
  • "The survival rate for pancreatic cancer isn’t high. Have you considered what you’re going to do?"
  • "Cheer up; I'm sure you'll be cured."

Things You Can Do for a Survivor Every Day

Treatment for pancreatic cancer is typically intense and recovery times can be long. Often, the best thing you can do for someone is to help with everyday tasks -- picking up mail, doing laundry, cleaning the house, running errands, helping with child care or yard work -- all of these can be a big help.

How to Build a Support Network

  • Set up your TSC co-survivor profile.
  • Create a support group for your friend or family member.
  • Interact and provide updates on how your loved one is doing.

How to Help a Survivor Deal with Day-to-Day Challenges

Recover & Thrive

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Recovering from pancreatic cancer can be a long process. Do your best to approach each day as a chance to heal a little more.

Remission / Recovery / Recurrence

New therapies for treating pancreatic cancer are constantly being evaluated - you may want to talk to your doctor about joining a clinical trial:

NCI: Pancreatic Cancer - New types of treatment are being tested in clinical trials 

Even when you've finished treatment, follow-up care is an essential part of your recovery:

CancerCompass: Pancreatic Cancer Information - Followup & Recovery

If your pancreatic cancer returns - what's called a recurrence - these sources can tell you how you're likely to be treated:

Reading about others who have survived gives you hope that it’s possible; these stories are from long-time survivors who are thriving and cancer-free after battling pancreatic cancer:

Confronting Pancreatic Cancer: Survivor Stories

Worst Case

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In a worst-case scenario the treatment you're receiving for pancreatic cancer won't be successful and you'll be facing the possibility of dying. This is a terrifying possibility for you and those you love -- these resources can help you prepare, plan, and cope during this very difficult time:

You may need to look into hospice and palliative care:

If you've lost someone to pancreatic cancer, your grief may feel beyond what you are able to handle -- these resources can help to ease your pain and find ways through this devastating loss:

Comments & Stories
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Famous Pancreatic Cancer Survivors

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