Hi
Can anyone give me guidance or advice re this?
Following a blood test, my father was diagnosed with a low level prostate cancer. Due to other symptons (pain going to the toilet and consequently not wanting to eat, stomach pains and cramps) he had a colonoscopy (sp?) And has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
He has had a body scan but not yet got the results.
The specialist he spoke to told him the cancer is in the fatty layer around the lower intestine (I think) so they can't operate but he will soon begin chemotherapy after a further biopsy.
Looking on cruk site, from this info this looks like a T2 or t3 cancer? Which seems to imply it's a case of chemo being used to prevent cancer spreading but not treating it? Also implies a 12 month ave life span after diagnosis?
I'm not sure what is right / likely to happen / what's correct.
I appreciate every case is different and there isn't a lot of info here but if anyone can shed a bit more light in things I'd be grateful... even if it soundslike not a good outcome please let me know if you have any info
Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.
General health
Pancreatic cancer: can anyone help?
JoyceDivision · 27/01/2017 17:49
Hi there, sorry to hear about your Dad. I'm not a medical person so your best bet is to wait for further results. But, like many people its understandable that you want more info, even if its not good news.
If it is pancreatic cancer that has spread to the colon or surrounding tissue then that is more of a worry than when cancer is only found in the primary organ.
Historically, secondary cancer (when it has spread from the primary location) was always considered incurable but new treatments for certain cancers mean this is no longer the case.
Even when a cancer is deemed incurable, people can lead a good life for many years. Statistics don't apply to individuals.
Prognosis is very dependent on how your dad responds to the chemo. This varies from individual to individual and is often impossible to predict.
Living with the unknown is really tough so I would urge you and your family to not think too much about the future but live each day as well as you can and create happy memories for everyone (whatever the outcome for your Dad).
All the best 
So sorry about your father's bad news 
I agree with everybody else, you need more info, ideally from your father's consultant, so if at all possible (and if it is ok with your father of course!) go for appointments with him.
Write questions down.
Write answers down.
Ask who you are to contact if you have further questions after the appointment.
Ask what is going to happen next, and when.
As far as your father's prognosis goes, there is a vast difference whether he has prostatic Ca with spread to wherever, or pancreatic Ca that has spread to wherever.
Also, the best specialist in the world can only tell you statistics/ 5 year survival rates etc. What you really want to know (how long does my dad have? 
) is not something that anybody can answer with any degree of certainty - people surprise doctors all the time, both ways.
V best of luck. It is a worrying and scary time you have ahead of you and I wish you well. Try not to get too far ahead of yourself if you can.
What 1234 says is so true . Cancer is hard and until you know more it's hard to advise . I do agree from experience that in parallel to the medical stuff keep active and make those memories . As it could be years and it could be less so keep making the most . I am sorry if that sounds dramatic OP - but 1/3 of us will get cancer and it's somewhat in gods hand what will happen . From my own experience I say attend the appointments - educate yourself and be pragmatic and open to what may happen .
Joyce, my dad is currently awaiting results for the same thing - he had an endoscopic ultrasound and biopsy this week, a CT scan has shown 'something' on the pancreas - the scan being a follow up from colorectal cancer surgery last year. He also has prostate cancer. We believe that it is likely to be pancreatic cancer, and that the tests etc are to determine the extent. Like you, I've been looking stuff up on it, and I also have a friend who has pancreatic cancer and been given the news that his is terminal. If you want to rant, vent, cry or similar please do PM. Can't offer much more than that, it is indeed hideously unfair. for you and a virtual hug.
This reply has been deleted
Message withdrawn at poster's request.
Oh your dad and family sound lovely OP . My honest feedback is that it's a lot easier when you love them and can be with them during this time . Please don't think I am signing him off -but to have this fear or cancer can make things so much worse . Like you are stay calm . Be at peace with what the prognosis is and spend lots of time with your lovely dad and you can always come here for a wail . How old is he ?
He's only 68! He's no age, as Peter Kay would probably say!
If I was failing at trying to sit ups he go @look, you should do it like this...' then cross his legs, tell me about an inviable chair, pretend to have his legs resting on aninvisibkle chair,do loads of sit ups with legs on invisible chair, then go and make sandwich with his bread covered in slices... yes not a spread but SLICES of butter and loads of white pepper.
Tilhe got told off by thedoctors 
I'm very very sorry to hear this. Wishing you all strength in the tough times to come. Your dad sounds bloody marvellous
Don’t want to miss threads like this?
Weekly
Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!
Log in to update your newsletter preferences.
You've subscribed!
To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.