New Diagnosis:Pancreatic Cancer

LaReta was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer on June 17th 2008. She had a CT Scan in Feb that showed 2 cysts in her Pancreas, but the Interventional Radiologist could not do a needle biopsy because they were behind the stomach. We opted not to do an open biopsy. We decided to wait 3 months and do another CT Scan and see if it grew or not.

On June 17th LaReta had a second Ct Scan. It showed that the smaller cyst had nearly doubled in size and that cancer cells had spread (metastasized) to the liver and lymph nodes. She had a needle biopsy of the liver mets on July 1st and that showed that it was indeed CANCER.

She has seen an oncology MD (cancer specialist) Dr. Andrea Rose on June 25th and July 7th. She is going to start chemo (Gemcitabine, aka Gemzar) on Wednesday the 9th. She will have Gemzar once a week for three weeks then have one week off and then repeat the cycle. The chemo will NOT cure her. It is palliative-to decrease the pain, to help her have more energy, and to extend her life maybe a few months. Without chemo she has a life expectancy of 3-6 months, with chemo maybe as much as 9 months. But that is only an educated guess.

She also qualified for a trial or study drug.This drug's is called AG 013736. It is made by Pfizer. It is in tablet form. It is similar in action to an IV (intravenous-or into the blood stream) drug AVASTIN. Avastin is an anti-angiogenic drug. It prevents the body from making new blood vessels thus denying the tumor the ability to grow.

It is a double blind study which means neither the patient nor the doctor knows if she is getting the drug or the placebo. She has a 50-50 chance of getting the drug. If she had not qualified the study for or refused the study drug she would only have gotten Gemzar.

Today she has another CT Scan but this one is of the chest; the last 2 were abdomen. She will have a Ct Scan of the chest every 8 weeks while she is on the study drug. She has a consult with a Surgeon, Dr. Douglas King, to have an Implanted Port placed in her upper chest. This is an IV device that is placed under the skin with a line into a blood vessel near the heart. This will be used for lab draws, chemo and other IV medications that she may need.

LaReta is tired most of the time. She has intermittent pain in her liver. She falls asleep nearly every time she sits in her recliner. She would welcome cards or letters and occasional phone calls. She will not be doing much gardening. And you know I don't garden much-but I guess I'm going to have to find the time to do some so she can continue to enjoy her flowers.

We are praying that she will be well enough the come to the family reunion on July 26th. Please add your prayers to ours that she will be able to come, that she will have good results with the chemo, have less pain and more energy.

Bonnie