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Pancreatic and liver cancer

1000 replies

WilsonMilson · 17/05/2023 22:49

Diagnosed today. I can’t believe it. I thought I had gallstones. The liver tumour is already 7cm, I can’t even remember what the pancreatic one was, it’s on the head of the pancreas. They did more CT scans to see further spread but I don’t have those results yet.
I just am in a blur.
My pain has been getting really bad the last few days and I’m worried this is it. I will have a meeting probably next week to discuss the plan for treatment -if any.

I’m not ready. I’m 45. I have a son and a lovely husband. I have elderly parents.

I’ve gone into hyper organisation mode. It’s madness really, but tonight I bought birthday cards for my son, husband and mum for the next 4 years. I’ve been transferring money to different accounts to make it more accessible. I’ve emailed my son’s school, I’ve started writing to do lists.

My mum is flying in on Friday and will stay with me. I’m just so devastated and so sorry for my poor son and husband. I cannot believe this.

OP posts:
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BettyDoodah · 18/05/2023 19:25

You're in my prayers

girlsyearapart · 18/05/2023 19:29

Love to you and yours op.
It’s amazing that you wrote letters to your family they will be comforted by that.
Bil died from pancreatic cancer and did not do any of those things he asked me to come back in the morning to do it all with him but it was too late.
My nephew who was 16 plus me my sister and bils nephew were all there all night before he went.
He went peacefully as far as we could tell.
DNephew went on to pass the GCSEs he was in the middle of, A levels and a degree.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr · 18/05/2023 19:38

@WilsonMilson I'm so sorry, and I really hope this turns out to be a temporary dip and that you get some more time with your boys. Whatever happens, I hope you are able to find some peace of mind soon. Just keep telling those boys how much you love them: it's the most important thing 💐

waterlego · 18/05/2023 19:46

Oh how devastating this is to read. I am so sorry you have had the terrible luck to find yourself in this situation. You are so young and this is so unfair. I really hope this is not quite the end as you fear. If it is, then I hope you are surrounded by love and find some moments of peace. 💐

Passelevin · 18/05/2023 19:46

@WilsonMilson I am so very sorry. I don’t have the words.

Paloma66 · 18/05/2023 21:08

I'm so sorry. Thinking of you and your family.

Andywarholswig · 18/05/2023 21:18

I’m so sorry - I am thinking of you and your family

Firstshoes · 18/05/2023 21:28

Sending so much love to you and your lovely family xxx

Remaker · 18/05/2023 21:48

@WilsonMilson I really hope that this isn’t your last post and that you’ll get some relief from the pain very soon. I have been thinking about you so much. If you are able to post again there are so many people here to support you x

Spybot · 18/05/2023 23:00

I'm so very sorry. I wish you and your family peace and much love.

caringcarer · 18/05/2023 23:03

@WilsonMilson, I'm so sorry you are having to deal with this. My Mum had PC and it's awful. Hers was not on the head of the pancreas but down further. Hers was diagnosed late so nothing they could do but pain relief. If yours is on the head I think they can treat it better there. Mum was diagnosed at the end of August and died October 12th. She died 11 years ago now and was 86. I things have moved on since then and if Mum was younger they might have tried to operate. I know nothing about LC but I really hope you can get treatment. Talk to your son and let him know how Ill you really are. Make lots of special memories just in case.

lightlypoached · 18/05/2023 23:06

@WilsonMilson sending you love and vibes. MN will miss you and I hope it helps for you to know that there's an army of women all on your side and wrapping you up in sisterly solidarity and strength x

Claireshh · 18/05/2023 23:34

Thinking of you and your boys WilsonMilson. ❤️ x

LampHat · 18/05/2023 23:58

Sending love and strength to you all xx

TiaraBoo · 19/05/2023 00:09

Sending prayers and love to your boys ❤️💐

toodlesofoodles · 19/05/2023 00:27

I know PC all too well, I send you love if you're reading. All my love xx

coxesorangepippin · 19/05/2023 02:20

Thinking of you Wilson, read both your threads last night on here

Holding hands 💐

LoonyLois · 19/05/2023 02:23

Thinking of you. Hope this isn’t your last message x

Ladysaurus · 19/05/2023 03:23

Liver cancer is very survivable. They can easily get good margins and the healthy tissue regrows.

Pancreatic cancer has gone from one of the .least curable to one of the most in the past 20 years. You may have all or part of it removed. But it's not, by any means, the death sentence it once was.

What I am saying is don't give up. Yes you're in for a fight, but this is a fight you can win.

DreamTheMoors · 19/05/2023 04:16

I have no words, @WilsonMilson.

My heart is with you. ❤️

Cloudhopping · 19/05/2023 08:12

I've been thinking about you all night** Op since reading your messages. Sending all my love and thoughts to you and your family.x

WilsonMilson · 19/05/2023 08:20

Well, I’m still here, so I guess it wasn’t my last message. I read all your messages just now and I’m in tears at how kind people I don’t even know can be.

I am finding that writing things down is helping me go through this process and I want to continue that while I am well enough and compos mentis enough. Maybe I want to leave a lasting trace of me somewhere, I don’t know. I have written letters to my family and I’ve been speaking by message to friends, I can’t really face speaking on the phone as it’s hard not to break down.

As long as I feel well enough, I would like to continue to update you on this thread.
Yesterday was horrific as we had to tell our son. He has AS level exams at the moment and so we had held back. I spoke to his school first and they said I needed to tell him, and that he would get special consideration in his exams, if he can even continue with them.
We told him what is happening and he was just devastated. He is not one for cuddling his mum these days as he is 17, but suddenly I had my baby back and he cuddled me so tight for hours, crying, telling me he loves me and that he’s scared. That just broke me. He barely left my side all day, although I encouraged him to visit his girlfriend and her family for a couple of hours. I pre warned his girlfriends mum what the news was. I think it’s good that he continues to do normal things and not be surrounded in darkness and desperation all day.

My husband is being a rock, but he’s destroyed. We have the best marriage, we are so happy together, he is my best friend and we have so many plans. Im so worried about him and my son. I hope they can get through this together.
My mum’s plane arrives today at 11.30am.

I am going to fight. I have been very low and I can feel my strength isn’t sapping, when I look back I really have been tired lately and low in energy, hoovering knackering me more than usual that sort of things. Put it down to perimenopause. The stomach stuff just put down to the gastritis I’d been diagnosed with or abdominal muscle pain, actually thought my high waisted jeans must be too tight. Have had mid back pain for ages but again just thought I was getting creaky. If only it had been found sooner. I’ve never smoked, I don’t drink much, no family history, I’m 8 stone and eat a good diet. Why me?

On the positive side, I’ve been well and living life as normal up until a couple of weeks ago, so it’s not like I’ve had a terribly long drawn out suffering.

The multidisciplinary team meets today to discuss the plan - I’m not at that meeting, I will hear afterwards, don’t know if today or Monday. The wait is torture - why is it so long??? I just want to get started on any treatment they might give me, but I’m being realistic.
I’m trying to eat, my appetite is gone but I’m able to have things like bananas, soups, hot milk. I’m trying to keep my strength up that way so I can take some treatment if offered. I’m not being sick, so that’s a bonus.

I want to go and see the beach today. I want to be by the water. I think that’s the aim for the day. So I’m going to take my painkillers and see if I can manage it. I’ve had to start taking diazepam too for the anxiety and agitation. I’m just not able to settle or concentrate and it is helping, I’ve never taken anything like that before, I’m the sort of person who’d struggle through a headache rather than take a paracetamol. I’m on codeine and paracetamol for pain right now, it’s not really cutting it so I’m going to see if they can give me something stronger, but not too strong that it makes me loopy. I want to be as present as I can be.

I’m grateful I have some time to prepare, write letters, make videos, write cards. I’m doing all of those things. Im also praying, I’m trying to seek strength from God. Im not massively religious but it’s helping me and my husband to try to put things in God’s hands and have faith. My husband can’t accept that there is no hope. I’m not so good at that and keep talking about death but I’m trying to be strong and not lose hope. I am going to fight to stay here as long as I possibly can. I am filled with regret that this wasn’t found sooner when I’d have had a much better chance. I never thought this would happen to me.

Guys, appreciate every day, your health and your family. There is nothing more important in life. Work doesn’t really matter, small annoyances don’t matter, making tons of money doesn’t matter. Hug your kids tight and tell them you love them every day, tell your husband or partner you love them.

I’ve decided I would like to keep you posted when I feel up to it. I’ll keep going as much as I can. Please keep replying if you want to, it’s a comfort to read.

OP posts:
HoleyShit · 19/05/2023 08:22

I've also been thinking about you OP. Please come back if you feel able to. There is so much virtual support here if you need it x

FlamingoQueen · 19/05/2023 08:24

I hope that you get to visit the beach today. I’ve been thinking of you and your family. Sending hugs Flowers

SquirrelSoShiny · 19/05/2023 08:27

We'll be here @WilsonMilson. And thank you for writing what you wrote. We all need that jolt of perspective sometimes about not sweating the small stuff. I hope you're able to get to the beach today x

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