Pancreatic Cancer

Question: What is pancreatic cancer and how do you get it? I now know of 5 people who have had Pancreatic cancer and died within 3 months. I don't understand why it isn't caught earlier so people can live. How do you get it? How do you get diagnosed early so doctors can do something about it. We have so much techology out there to fight cancer. Why are people dying of this. Why does this disease kill people so quickly?

Answer: Good question. Here is some brief info on it and why it's so hard to diagnose and what the major causes are: http://health.yahoo.com/ency/healthwise/ncicdr0000062957 Here is the site for pancreatic cancer: http://www.pancreatica.org/

Question: My grandmother has Pancreatic cancer, what are the chances of her surviving? I just found out today that my grandmother has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and she is 81. Does people with pancreatic cancer live for long? What are the treatments? I would be devastated if she died, I've only meet her twice in my life since she lives in another country and since I'm 15 I can't just go and see her. When I write a letter to her, what should I say?

Answer: im sorry to hear about your grandmother most of the time people with pancreatic cancer don't survive but you need to find out what stage she's in to see if they got it to late but always have hope my grandfather died from pancreatic cancer but they also found it to late

Question: How long can a person with Pancreatic Cancer be expected to live ? How long can a person with pancreatic cancer be expected to live without surgery and only with Chemo therapy ?

Answer: I dont know. I think every case is different! good luck!

Question: Can I determine my chances of getting pancreatic cancer since my mother died of this? My mother died of Pancreatic cancer and my only sibling of Glioblastoma multiforme(Brain tumor). My mother was in her 70's, but my brother was only 50 at death. I am 51 and am more concerned about my chances of developing Pancreatic cancer and if I can be tested for the tumor marker for this disease.

Answer: This link gives information about pancreatic cancer, heredity and screening. It says that 1 in 10 cases are due to inheriting an abnormal gene. Those with a close relative – parent or sibling - with pancreatic cancer have an increased risk, but if nobody else in the family (other than your mother, in your case) has had it then it’s unlikely to have been caused by an abnormal gene. http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/help/default.asp?page=15559

Question: My grandma got diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and i want to get an angel tattoo? My grandma got diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and i want to get an angel and somehow tie in that she is what holds my whole family together and the purple ribbon for awarness but my idea for the family part was putting the world in her hands? any better ideas? please help!

Answer: sounds like a job for miami ink

Question: What is the Difference Between Pancreatitis &Pancreatic cancer? My grandpa is 88 years old and the Dr's are not sure if he has Pancreatitis or Pancreatic cancer. I know one is Cancer but I need to know more about them both. Please Dont Copy and Paste from wikipedia. I dont need information from that site. Please dont just say look it up. I just heard about it and am not really in the mood to look things up

Answer: I had pancreatitis once, in 2005, when I was 36. Pancreatitis is basically an infection of the pancreas, which can be helped with antibiotics and a saline IV. Pancreatic cancer can kill a person quickly; my grandmother was diagnosed with it in April 1984 and died in early June of that same year. At first, she was diagnosed as just diabetic and jaundiced. When my mother and uncles learned her condition was terminal, they opted to have her not undergo surgery, and my grandmother died in her own home at age 78. I pray your grandfather has only pancreatitis, which can be cured. Pancreatic cancer takes a person very quickly, as the pancreas is the organ that produces insulin for your body.

Question: How is it possible that Darth Vader dies of pancreatic cancer in Clear and Present Danger? Darth Vader is supposed to be nearly 96% machine, and yet, in Clear and Present Danger he dies of pancreatic cancer. Not only that, but he sold out the empire for the good of the US Government. FYI - the emperor and Luke are nowhere to be found in this film, I think they were killed by the Columbians.

Answer: ah, i love cancer humor.

Question: How long can a person live with pancreatic cancer? My Dad was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last week. It has also spread to his liver. My sister looked online and clames that the life expectence from the time of diognisis is 3 to 6 months. I am just hoping that there is someone out there that may know more about it and if it is true that he may only live for only another 3 to 6 months. Ineed to know what I am facing, my mother is not telling me anything because she can't face it herself and he is in complete dinale about his condition.

Answer: Pancreatic cancer is very serious. I lost a friend to it last spring. The 3-6 month expectancy is fairly accurate when there is liver involvement. I hope there are some treatments for your father that will give him more time and ease his pain.

Question: Has more than one person in your family had pancreatic cancer? My aunt and my brother both died from pancreatic cancer. I'm curious if other families have suffered multiple attacks of this type of cancer. I'm entering a study at Johns Hopkins Hospital that is trying to figure out if it does run in families and I just wanted some feedback.

Answer: Ignore the first two answers. Pancreas cancer is not rare at all, being the fifth most common cause of cancer-related death in the US. It is a terrible disease, with underfunded research. This is largely because nearly all of the prior research has produced little positive results, so the money goes elsewhere it seems. It is not rare for it to run in families, and certain genetic risk factors have been identified . Kudos to you for helping us study this. JH is a fine institution. God bless, best wishes

Question: What is the origin of Pancreatic Cancer? I need the genesis of pancreatic cancer. The who what when where why how. Can anyone help me out? Also, does anyone know what current research and technology is being done on this topic?

Answer: http://pathology.jhu.edu/pancreas/news1997.php?area=1997 Check out this link from John's Hopkins. It is from10 yrs ago but you still might find it helpful Here is one more current. http://www.molecular-cancer.com/content/2/1/13 Here is something from 2007 http://www.springerlink.com/content/a02733k3715p4g03/

Question: pancreatic cancer? I am 13 years old, my grandmother (67 years old) just has a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, the doctor said it already on the late stage. I 've been to Australia for 2 years and got one more weak to go to return to my country . Will I be able to see her alive. Can you give me some advice.

Answer: Once she has received this diagnosis she probably has 3-6 months. It really depends on her health now and how fast she is losing weight (big indicator of pancreatic cancer) get more answers from your family/doctor make a decision from there

Question: Are there any natural remedies for pancreatic cancer? My husband's Grandmother was diagnosed with pancreatic and lung cancer a few weeks ago. They said the pancreatic cancer was inoperable. Is there any natural way to treat it or at least ease her pain?

Answer: I'm SO sorry. Honestly... Of all the types of cancer there are, pancreatic cancer is one you do NOT want to get. There might be natural treatments but I seriously doubt they will do much good. Your family needs to contact Hospice. Ask the doctor how, he can put you in touch with them. They might know more about natural treatments. Also, there Cancer Centers you can contact. Good luck to you all.

Question: How do I get free/lowcost hotel rooms when raising money for Pancreatic Cancer? My boyfriend is going to be doing a solo bikeride from L.A. to Chicago to raise money and awareness for Pancreatic Cancer. How can we get hotels to donate a room for a night along the way? He will mostly be camping, but I would love to surprise him with a room here or there as the trip is going to be very difficult.

Answer: Try contacting a chain's corporate headquarters, and explain what he is doing. We're talking midrange here -- maybe a Hampton or Holiday Inn Express. If you hit the right person, there might be some freebies available.

Question: How long does he have to live with pancreatic cancer? my friends dad was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer maybe about 5 months ago. he used to be a big guy and when i saw him today he was stick skinny and it a wheel chair. his skin was darker and so were his eyes. i didnt even recognize him. im very scared for their family. Does anyone know if he can survive? or how long he might have left?

Answer: Pancreatic cancer is one of the worst kinds of cancer because it is hard to diagnose, hard to treat, and moves quick. My grandfather's brother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and passed away just a few months later. Don't ever give a hope, you can always pray for him and the family.

Question: With Pancreatic Cancer using Gemzar as the chemo. What chemo drug is used with radiation? I know that Gemzar will not be used, what is the drug of choice with chemo and radiation for pancreatic cancer

Answer: 5FU (fluorouracil), either IV or oral (as Xeloda or capecitabine) can be used concurrently with radiation. Gemcitabine (Gemzar) has been used as well in various doses, though toxicities can be considerably more difficult to predict, as that drug is a more potent radiosensitizing agent. It is generally done on a clinical trial. Good luck, best wishes, God bless

Question: Community Service Ideas to Raise Money for Pancreatic Cancer Research? My class is doing a community service project in the next couple months. We haven't decided on a project yet. I would like to do something where we could raise money for Pancreatic Cancer Research. What are some things we could do? And what are some other causes we could raise money for? I know that I might not get my wish to raise money for Pancreatic Cancer Research so I want other options.

Answer: Diabetes AIDS programme Breast cancer colon cancer Feeding programme 1.Wash car/car wash 2.cake sale (get people to donate cakes, cookies, drinks, etc or you can bake them yourselves. Cut up the cake and sell them by slices) sell hot dogs (get a bakery to donate the bread and a company to donate the hot dogs. Hamburgers will help also. 3.have a sponsored walk for money 4.collect bottles and cans for cash 5. have a garage sale (go throughout the neighbourhood and ask for items not using)