Saturday, July 16, 2011

Pancreatic Cancer

It started as a nagging pain in the left upper abdomen. He thought he strained a muscle from helping my sister in landscaping project. It did not get better. After about a month of this intermittent but unrelenting pain, he finally went to his doctor. Due to his limited English and stoic personality, the doctor initially thought it was an upper gastrointestinal problem and ordered Upper GI scan. Blood test and the GI scan came out normal. He was relieved but the pain is still there. My sister who's a nurse called the doctor and demanded more tests. Reluctantly, my father agreed to undergo CT scan which suggested a metastatic cancer. After more tests (PET scan, more blood tests and biopsy), he was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer Stage 4.

6 comments:

Makis said...

So sorry to hear this terrible news, Loraine. Thinking about you & the rest of the family. Courage.

Ed said...

So sorry to hear this news. Let us know if we can be of any help. Stay strong.

PhilippinesPhil said...

Man o man. Its like I always say, when things seems good, or normal, or even just okay, it only means the hammer is about to drop. THAT is how I see life, a gigantic sledge high overhead waiting to fall and squash the people I care about (I don't worry about me, only them). I wake up every morning wondering "Is THIS the day something bad happens?"

One of my buddies had this kind of cancer. He found out about it only AFTER his own immune system had already fought it off. He went from a strapping 200 pounder to under a 100. Constant uncertainty, agony and weakness, but he survived without a lick of treatment. Go figure. Life is pain. I feel for you.

kala said...

Malor, my thoughts are with you and your family. Courage. Be strong.

malor said...

Thank you all! I am thankful for all the support.

malor said...

The shock of the diagnosis has passed. Life goes on with more doctor visits and weekly chemotherapy. We haven't given up hope but we are surrendering all the control, realizing we have none at all. But we are holding on to HOPE, we will not allow cancer to take it from us.