Another update from Mom.

Mom call the surgeon, Dr. Williams, today to see if she could get some questions answered.
Q- Should Bob start chemo before his surgery?A-Dr. Williams has not talked to the Oncologist, Dr. Whitehead, yet. So that had not coordinated yet.

Q-What stage is the cancer?
A-They won't know until they look inside.

Q-The stent Dr. Padda put in is plastic and temporary. It will eventually collapse. Will Dr Williams put in a metal stent while Bob is opened up?
A-If they do the Whipple procedure the will be no need. If the cancer is inoperable then Dr. Padda will need to do the surgery to put in another stent.

Q-Will chemo shrink the tumor, if surgery cannot be done?A-Depends on how advanced the tumor is and what chemo mixture they decide to use.
To learn more about the Whipple procedure click on the link.
http://www.pancan.org/section_facing_pancreatic_cancer/learn_about_pan_cancer/treatment/surgery/Whipple_procedure.php

I can not believe there are Americans that don't like the Canadian healthcare system!

Americans don't like the fact Canadians have to go on a waiting list for "non emergency" surgery. My Canadian friend had to wait a month for his "public health care system" to get him in for his hernia surgery.

Dad can't get in for his "emergency surgery" until December 17th. Are there others out there that see a problem with this excuse?

Still Having to Wait!

Wait, Wait And Then Wait Some More!!

They will not know when he will go in for surgery until the end of the week, and we will not know to what extent the cancer is until the surgery. The waiting is a pain in the BUTT! 

Great Weekend In Las Vegas

I spent the weekend with mom, dad and Rachael.

As always, we were a little wild and crazy!

Whatever happens in Vegas,

stays in Vegas.

Mom and dad are going to go see the surgeon today. This visit is to get scheduled for Laparoscopic surgery. It is a surgical procedures with the assistance of a video camera and several thin instruments. During the surgical procedure, small incisions of up to half an inch are made and plastic tubes called ports are placed through these incisions. The camera and the instruments are then introduced through the ports which allow access to the inside of the patient.

The camera transmits an image of the organs inside the abdomen onto a television monitor. The video camera becomes a surgeon’s eyes in laparoscopy surgery, since the surgeon uses the image from the video camera positioned inside the patient’s body to perform the procedure.

This will allow the surgeon to determine whether or not the tumor will be able to be removed through surgery. If there is fatty tissue around the tumor the surgeon may be able to remove it. If there is no fatty tissue around the tumor, dad will not be able to have the surgery. Either way, he will have chemotherapy and possibly radiation to control, and possibly remove, the tumor.

We are all hoping for good news today!

Moms message to you all..

 

Here is a synopsis of what the doctors told them on Wednesday.

Yesterday Bob went to the gastrologist at 9:30am then the Oncologist at 1:30.. a day for doctors.

The gastrologist said there was a chance a oncology surgeon could remove the tumor. He will use a camera to take pictures of the tumor and see if it is operable .  Chances are 50/50. Bob has a appointment to meet with him on Monday the 8^th.

We are keeping our fingers crossed that is operable!

Then off to the Nevada Cancer Institute, time to meet the Oncologist.  The Oncologist recommended Chemo and radiation ASAP. We told him that we wanted to see the surgeon fist.. the Doctor said that even if he has the surgery he would still need the treatments.

The oncologist further explained why the pancreas cancer would be a delicate operation. Of the tumor tentacles have wrapped around blood vessels in the pancreas , then it will be inoperable. But if there is enough fatty tissue between the cancer and blood vessels it will be a go.   The camera will show the layers of the tumor. The procedure will require a incision.  

Still no 100% answers!

Mom and Dad went to the oncologist today. They found out there is a 50-50% chance he will be able to have the tumor removed through surgery. If they do surgery the prognosis looks good. Either way he has chemo and radiation in his future. At this time, the good news is it sounds like the chemo and radiation is something he is willing to go for! Still don’t have all the answers but they are optimistic with the news they found out today!