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Diagnosed With Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer Stage 4 What Is Survival Chances
Question: mum was diagnosed 10 weeks ago with metastatic pancreatic cancer stage 4 that has spread to lymph nodes, blood vessels and a dot on the liver. Mum is just on palliative care and has had a metal stent for biliary duct as she was jaundiced. She is much better now and jaundice has gone. Can mum be here in 12 months or longer with no chemotherapy. Mum doesnt want any treatment as she has had this in in the past for ovarian cancer 15 years ago and it made her really poorly. The MDT don't think mum is fit enough to endure the chemo and mum doesn't want to pursue with this as she worries it will make her too poorly.
Please help me as soon as you can i am worried sick and crying all the time.
CT REPORT
Measurements for pancreas
4.7 x 2.8 cm mass centred on the head of pancrease
Small volume peripancreatic , periportal and probably
retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy, example:
- Portacaval lymph node, 2.1 x 1.4 cm (2.452).
- Peripancreatic lymph node, 1.8 x 1.1 cm (2.433).
- Aortocaval lymph node, 1.4 x 0.9 cm (2.467).
Few small liver hypodensities. Although these are too small
to definitely characterised on this study, they are new
since the previous CT from August 2022 suggesting
metastases. Example,
- Segment 8 liver lesion, 1.1 cm (2.310).
- Segment 6 liver lesion, 0.7 cm (2.465).
Mums staging on letter is T4 N1 M1
I dont understand how mum has metastases when report says they too small to be characterised.
Is there anything we can do to try and prolong mums life I really dont want to lose my mum its heartbreaking and she is too young at 73.
Can I still have my mum in 2 years or not? Luckily since diagnosis nothing has changed at the moment. She is still very independent getting herself dressed every day, personal care like showering and still doing jobs around the house. She does get pain but this is sorted with 2 Paracetamol and 1 Tramadol along with a hot water bottle. I am worried sick I really dont want to lose my mum.
Please help me as soon as you can i am worried sick and crying all the time.
CT REPORT
Measurements for pancreas
4.7 x 2.8 cm mass centred on the head of pancrease
Small volume peripancreatic , periportal and probably
retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy, example:
- Portacaval lymph node, 2.1 x 1.4 cm (2.452).
- Peripancreatic lymph node, 1.8 x 1.1 cm (2.433).
- Aortocaval lymph node, 1.4 x 0.9 cm (2.467).
Few small liver hypodensities. Although these are too small
to definitely characterised on this study, they are new
since the previous CT from August 2022 suggesting
metastases. Example,
- Segment 8 liver lesion, 1.1 cm (2.310).
- Segment 6 liver lesion, 0.7 cm (2.465).
Mums staging on letter is T4 N1 M1
I dont understand how mum has metastases when report says they too small to be characterised.
Is there anything we can do to try and prolong mums life I really dont want to lose my mum its heartbreaking and she is too young at 73.
Can I still have my mum in 2 years or not? Luckily since diagnosis nothing has changed at the moment. She is still very independent getting herself dressed every day, personal care like showering and still doing jobs around the house. She does get pain but this is sorted with 2 Paracetamol and 1 Tramadol along with a hot water bottle. I am worried sick I really dont want to lose my mum.
All statistics I read are like 2-5 months survival please tell me my mum can live longer than that as its nearly 3 months now. Can the biliary stent help survive a little longer and make prognosis a bit better i do know it is a poor prognosis but 1-2 years survival would be amazing with no treatment
Also it says 3% will be alive in 5 years is that if treated or can very minimal people live that long please without and only palliative care?
Brief Answer:
Depending upon imaging studies surgeries can be helpfull
Detailed Answer:
Hi dear
It requires multidisciplinary approach ( different docs). For stage 4 chemotherapy is only option but recently in few studies pancreatic surgeries also shown few good results and that too can be decided by only oncologist and surgeon and gastroenterologist team. Even in chemo there are 8 or 9 variations which need genes studies to decide which drugs can be more beneficial so geneticist can also be needed . It is said to participate in clinical trials which might provide miracle .palliative care cannot prolong up to 5 years but still proper exercises ,yoga ,breathing exercises esp sky breathing exercise ( mentioned in one research esp in pancreatic cancer)antioxidants in diet multivitamins and yogic practices music and friendly environment shown in many researches to prolong life than whatever mentioned in literature of medical science.
Hope this helps thanks
Depending upon imaging studies surgeries can be helpfull
Detailed Answer:
Hi dear
It requires multidisciplinary approach ( different docs). For stage 4 chemotherapy is only option but recently in few studies pancreatic surgeries also shown few good results and that too can be decided by only oncologist and surgeon and gastroenterologist team. Even in chemo there are 8 or 9 variations which need genes studies to decide which drugs can be more beneficial so geneticist can also be needed . It is said to participate in clinical trials which might provide miracle .palliative care cannot prolong up to 5 years but still proper exercises ,yoga ,breathing exercises esp sky breathing exercise ( mentioned in one research esp in pancreatic cancer)antioxidants in diet multivitamins and yogic practices music and friendly environment shown in many researches to prolong life than whatever mentioned in literature of medical science.
Hope this helps thanks
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Please can you tell me life expectancy can mum have 1-2 years just on palliative care. No surgery an option according to multidisciplinary team
Brief Answer:
No , if you have mentioned everything correctly in above question
Detailed Answer:
Hi dear
You mentioned stage 4 in your above query , According to medical literature 5 year life expectancy with palliative therapy which includes chemo and radio also is 1 percent ,mostly clinically seen they live 3 to 5 months in advanced stage 4 cancers.But variations are seen this is not hard and fast rule as I already mentioned in detail in previous answer .Please go through that also
Thanks
No , if you have mentioned everything correctly in above question
Detailed Answer:
Hi dear
You mentioned stage 4 in your above query , According to medical literature 5 year life expectancy with palliative therapy which includes chemo and radio also is 1 percent ,mostly clinically seen they live 3 to 5 months in advanced stage 4 cancers.But variations are seen this is not hard and fast rule as I already mentioned in detail in previous answer .Please go through that also
Thanks
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
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