DH pancreatic lesion with symptoms

[Ebabllisstggoffor]

So we’re half way to our U.K. holiday break. This morning an appointment came through for my DH to see a consultant surgeon. This is an urgent appointment on the back of a recent MRI. It’s on Tuesday morning. He says he’s going to call them on Monday to rearrange it. My gut reaction is to head home and keep the appointment but he’s having none of it. He wants his holiday. I’m currently wide awake worrying about all this. What if he rings on Monday and can’t get a quick appointment? Should I try and persuade him that we should head home. What would be reasonable. I’m so very worried about him.

This seems like a really sensible compromise

If it's a pancreatic lesion and the hospital are moving this quickly to get him seen, I really think he should attend - if he phones on Monday they might be able to tell him if a telephone appointment is an option, but if it isn't then he really needs to attend. Days can be the difference between operable and inoperable for some diagnoses.

It's very likely that he has googled and read the dire statistics about this cancer. Surgery is the best determinant of survival chances. Without it (usually because the growth has attached itself to blood supplies), the outcome is poor, but with surgery, it's much higher.

Also, nothing says it is definitely cancer. There are other disorders that affect the pancreas. The rapidity at which things have moved doesn't systematically means the worse.

This is a hard thread to read. I hope you are ok OP. Your OH is not the only one going through a difficult time. Sending positive vibes to both of you.

@Ebabllisstggoffor

I am thinking of you. Seriously shocked by some of the comments on here.

I myself was put on a two week urgent referral cancer pathway. I was absolutely petrified.

I won’t say what it was due to outing (it wasn’t pancreatic) but it was something I’d noticed for a long time and ignored. I only casually mentioned it to my Gp when there for another matter. She was visibly taken aback and what followed was beyond scary. First I was told I’d got an appointment for ten days time and the next thing it was brought forward to three days time. I actually thought I was dying.

Within three minutes of my appointment, three days later, I was told it was 100% perfectly ok, totally non-cancerous. It was one of the most terrifying things ever!!! The shock of it being ok was immense and I kept questioning “Are you sure?”

I can’t remember the statistics, but a huge percentage of urgent referrals are NOT CANCER. So whilst it could be it is more likely not to be. Yes they will race him through at top speed, but that is more to do with the location of the lesion than it being cancer. Anything pancreatic is always rushed through extra fast.

Try to stay positive until you know more xx

Try to persuade him to attend the appointment. You won't be able to relax and enjoy it now for worrying

If its an urgent appointment with a consultant it's worth attending. He might not be able to get another one soon...

My partner missed his appointment to be told he had PC. He went a week later. He had the surgery, but still died almost three years later. It had got into one lymph node. I hope it’s not pancreatic cancer.

Whatever your symptom was, I am pretty sure it was not a lesion on the pancreas. Here's hoping the MRI showed it more clearly, and it is actually a cyst, but your situation is not at all the same as the OP's husband's.

Sorry OP. You must be worried sick. Is it far to go the hospital on Tuesday? Maybe you could go back on hol afterwards?

WHERE DOES IT SAY IN MY MESSAGE THAT MY SYMPTOMS WERE ASSOCIATED WITH PANCREATIC CANCER???????

In fact it clearly says IT WAS NOT RELATED TO IT.

I was simply stating the fact that the majority of urgent referrals turn out ok and not to be cancer.

What on earth is wrong with trying to give the OP some hope and positive thoughts, after reading the responses about death, funerals and choice of music at funerals.

Why does everyone on here always have to make the poster feel as shit as possible?

Being shouted at in all caps does not make a poster feel good either.

I didn't say your symptom was related to pancreatic cancer. I made the point that whatever it was that put you on that pathway was unlike the OP's husband's situation. Not sure why you are so incensed by that fact.

Thinking of you this morning OP and hoping for a positive resolution for your DH’s appointment. And a positive outcome.

He needs to go. The outlook for pancreatic cancer is dire. The sooner you start treatment the better the outcome.

Hopefully it's not cancer, all the best to you and your husband op.

Phone them and ask to do as a telephone appointment. They will say yes . I am a consultant surgeon. They will also book a F2F when he gets back

He phoned, it was all a bit vague. They had to email someone to ask about a telephone appointment. We’re currently driving home so he can attend tomorrow. I’m a bit cross with him, as he should have listened to me in the first place. Stubborn and pig headed have been mentioned but not in a nasty way. He knows full well he should have listened to me.

I’ll update tomorrow. Thanks for all the support.

It’s not harsh, it’s direct and a different POV.

Hope it’s a benign cyst, OP

I'm so glad he's seeing sense. Good luck for tomorrow, OP.

Op thinking of you tomorrow but don’t feel obliged to update. This is personal and I’m sure people aren’t expecting you to.

Thinking of you both

How did the appointment go, @Ebabllisstggoffor ? I hope it was as positive as possible.

How did it go? Hope you got some positive news.

Hope it all went ok

Not good news. They said the features of the tumour suggest it’s almost certainly cancer. He’s to have an endoscopy to take a sample but they gave us written information about the Whipple surgery. We’re in bits.

@Ebabllisstggoffor

Gosh I am so sorry to read this OP. I cannot imagine what you are both going through but sending much strength to you both x

I’m so sorry