Patient SpotlightsRead Bill's story.Read Bill's story from his wife, Janice. Bill Gillmore's Story Bill Gillmore and his wife, Janice, in early 2010. Bill has a clean bill of health after his surgery at the pancreatic cancer to remove an"inoperable" pancreatic tumor. I began my chemotherapy in Houston immediately, pledging to fight against my disease. I was not ready to die. Even as life became an endless array of lab tests, chemo infusions, and doctor visits, I tried hard to plan for the future and to make my life take on the meaning it once had. At the end of my first 9 weeks of chemo, I was given good news. The cancer had disappeared from my liver, and the pancreas tumor had shrunk to half its original size. Shortly thereafter, I began another regimen of chemotherapy, and within these next 9 weeks, my body continued to respond. At the end of this second cycle my oncologist granted me a "chemo holiday," declaring that I would not be given more chemotherapy until things began to worsen. I was ecstatic, and for the summer months I walked around as if I had beaten the cancer. I talked about my future, got new clothes, lined up activities, and began to believe in things again. I told my friends, I was one of the lucky ones and that I was going to survive. However, by November, as my weight began to drop and my energy began to fade, the familiar dark cloud returned. I met with my oncologist who explained that although the chemotherapy had decreased the size of my pancreatic mass I was still inoperable, without an operation I would not survive. I again was devastated, feeling lost, hopeless and defeated. In search of more information and support, I tirelessly surfed the Internet. After reading horrifying statistics and depressing patient anecdotes, I stumbled across a website that read, "offering some hope to those 35% of pancreatic cancer patients considered to be inoperable." These words shook my inner core. Hope. The website belonged to the Pancreas Center at Columbia University Medical Center. I immediately showed my wife and called to make an appointment. I was scheduled to see Dr. Chabot for a consult in early February. I had a chance, I was going to the Super Bowl, and I was a contender. I was on my way to New York. When I arrived at the Pancreas Center, I was treated like an old friend and was immediately made to feel comfortable. Within a few minutes I was called into Dr. Chabot's office where I was introduced to Dr. Chabot. He was very personable and intent on learning everything about me, who I was beyond just my medical history. He explained that a major vein had been completely blocked by the cancer but he reassured me that he was prepared to perform the resection if I was ready to accept the risks. This was an easy decision, Dr. Chabot was able to offer me what I had thought was impossible, a chance to live. That afternoon I met with several nurses and administrators to arrange and finalize my procedure. Although there were many patients present, I was amazed at their care and attention. As I left that day and returned to Texas, I felt as if I had joined the Pancreas Center team and that I was a desired member. I was confident that my teammates would work hard to save my life. The day of my surgery finally arrived, and while the details of that day are a blur, the surgery went smoothly. As I recovered in the hospital, Dr. Chabot and his surgical team followed up diligently each day. I was surprised at the time Dr. Chabot would spend with me on these visits. The empathy and dedication that he put into my care was incredible; his sincerity put me at ease. One evening while my wife was visiting, Dr. Chabot came around to check on my progress. He said that my wounds looked very good and that I was recovering well, even better than he had expected. He then explained that the biopsy results had returned and confirmed that I was cancer free. We had won. My wife embraced Dr. Chabot as she laughed and cried. That moment will forever be engraved in my mind. Tears ran down my own face as I realized that I was one of the lucky ones, I was going to survive. Life was going to be really good. My wife and I flew home on our 26th wedding anniversary with my future as an anniversary present from Dr. Chabot and the Pancreas Center. For that gift, I will be eternally grateful. My recovery is complete. I am active—I began working stained glass, caught up with neglected yard work, went camping. I have a life. Thank you to Dr. Chabot and to all of the Pancreas Center staff. Thank you, thank you so very much. The world is a better place because of all of you. Your compassion, tireless effort, and dedication to the fight against pancreatic cancer will allow others to remain hopeful and to dream—just as you have allowed me. Read the original post here: http://pancreasmd.org/guide_spotlights_gillmore.html |
Sunday, July 14, 2013
Survivor Story #15-Whipple after Stage 4
Survivor Story #14-Tumor tested for chemosensitivity
This
In February 2011, Ken Baumheckel was experiencing pain in the area just above the lumbar curve in his spine. He tried treating it with lifestyle adjustments and over-the-counter analgesics. The pain persisted, so the following month he saw his primary health care provider, who ordered an x-ray. The x-ray revealed minor bone spurring, but nothing that should have caused such persistent, annoying pain.
After two months of seeing a chiropractor and an acupuncturist without getting relief, Ken returned to his nurse practitioner in early June and told her he now sometimes felt pain in his abdomen. She ordered an abdominal ultrasound, which revealed that Ken’s pain was caused by a tennis-ball sized pancreatic tumor and five growths in his liver. An endoscopic exam with biopsy confirmed that Ken had stage IV pancreatic cancer that had metastasized to his liver.
Ken learned about Robert Nagourney, MD, from a friend in the health care system and made an appointment. During the initial consultation, Dr. Nagourney told Ken that his statistical survival rate was 10 to 30 percent and that he might not be alive in nine months. He also explained how Rational Therapeutics customizes cancer treatment by beginning with a chemosensitivity test, called an assay. They introduce a piece of one of the patient’s tumors to several chemicals to see which ones work best on that patient’s cancer. However, even with the insights provided by this test, Ken was looking at a coin flip chance of survival.
Fully understanding the seriousness of his prognosis, the following week Ken underwent a laparoscopic procedure to obtain a viable piece of one of his liver tumors for the Rational Therapeutics laboratory. The assay test showed there were three chemicals that his cancer was sensitive to, and he received his first chemotherapy infusion the last week of June. Unfortunately, his pancreatic tumor was quite large, and its location near his small intestine meant that it was pinching off the intestine at the duodenum and preventing the flow of digesting food. Intestinal bypass surgery was required so that he would be able to eat. By August, Ken had lost 60 pounds but was eating and had resumed his infusions.
Ken completed six cycles of chemotherapy. His tumor marker (a protein in the blood revealing the cancer’s presence in the body) was 208 before starting treatment; it had fallen to 44 in November and then to a normal reading in December. A follow-up CAT showed that his tumors were gone, and in January 2012, Ken was switched to a lighter regimen to finish off any remaining cancerous cells.
So far, Ken has regained 35 of the 60 pounds he had initially lost, feels great, and is very glad he chose to have a chemosensitivity assay test before beginning his cancer treatment.
For more information about assay testing and how it may help other patients with pancreatic cancer, please visit: www.rational-t.com
READ THE ORIGINAL POST HERE: http://vanguardcancerfoundation.org/uncategorized/p1195/
Survivor Story #13: remission after stage 4
This is a post I found on cancerforums.net:
Hope
That is what has happened for me. I was diagnosed with stage IV in March 2011. My CA19-9 was over 140,000 and the immediate prognosis was only a few weeks to several months to live. My weight was plummeting, I couldn't eat, it had spread to my liver, and I was horribly sick. Fortunately, I got a doctor who told my wife and I that he'd fight for us for as long as we wanted to fight. His wife is also an oncologist working with clinical trials. They immediately started me on FOLFIRINOX. My markers dropped below 100,000 at the first 4 week blood test and continued to drop dramatically. Tumors on the liver and pancreas continued to shrink. For the past four months my CA19-9 has been stable around 40 (normal is <35) and last Wednesday our oncologist told us it's remission. My weight has returned, up to 165 from a low of 98. For this we are wonderfully thankful that our oncologist continued to work with us even though the weight loss and performance status (quality of life) could have led others to drop or change treatment.
So, yes, I can tell you your sister's response to FOLFIRINOX is not unique and as for what it means, I hope the same as it has been for me... More days, months, and year(s). We still have to work with the damage left by the cancer, and I'm on a maintenance level of FOLFIRINOX. What's next? We don't know. Our oncologist says we are "rewriting the book" on pancreatic cancer. I wish your sister the best and tell her to never give up.
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