Title : Pancreatic Cancer - Living through Diagnosis to Death - The Diary of a Cancer Patient's Daughter
One of the hardest things to do in life will be to live once you've been told you are going to die. which's as if life speeds up after you receive knowledge which your days are ticking away on a finite clock which you have no control over. One important thing which I learned while experiencing the devastating affects of Pancreatic Cancer with my mother as she fought This specific distressing disease will be which which will be crucial to focus on the time which you have rather than on the time you don't have. To me This specific article will be a condensed product of the Diary of Cancer Patient's Daughter as I explain what living with Pancreatic Cancer will be like through diagnosis to death as I framed the picture of my mother's experience in my mind.
I trust as well as pray which you receive something out of these words birthed out of pain which will bring you peace as well as help you or your loved one using a Cancer diagnosis live a little longer as well as happier in spite of the sad reality you are facing. There are 7 D's in This specific Cancer Diary which can help you manage the physical as well as mental aspects of This specific awful disease. Remember which what you don't do from the Cancer Crisis will be just as important as what you do.
Entry # 1: The Diagnosis:
My mother Joyce was 66 years old when she was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer during the summer of 2008. Though all Cancer will be bad, Pancreatic Cancer will be considered one of the worst because which will be the most difficult to diagnose. The reason will be which the symptoms mirror digestive problems as the disease hides from the depths of the digestive system. My mother had chronic pain in her stomach as well as though she went to the emergency room repeatedly receiving numerous tests as well as ultra sounds the doctors kept telling her nothing was wrong with her as well as sent her home every time. Initially they thought which was a problem with her gal bladder which will be a common misdiagnoses from the case of Pancreatic Cancer.
Her Father Boyce whom she was named after died of Pancreatic Cancer 20 years earlier, yet the chance which she could have which very same thing never occurred to her or anyone else in our family. If Cancer runs in your family, especially Pancreatic Cancer, I might advise you to have regular screenings with This specific disease as early diagnosis will be a key to survival. One of the most deadly things about Pancreatic Cancer will be which because which will be so hard to diagnose most patients don't receive their diagnosis until they are already in Stage 4 of the Cancer when there will be practically no trust.
The symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer include: abdominal pain as well as pressure, jaundice, nausea, loss of appetite, depression, weight loss as well as weakness. My mother had all symptoms except for jaundice. Just because a person will be missing a common symptom doesn't mean they don't have Pancreatic Cancer. The most common procedures used to diagnosis This specific brutal disease are: Ultrasonography, CT Scanning, Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancretography, Endoscopic Ultrasound, MRI, as well as Cholangiogram Percutaneous Transhepatic. I'm pretty sure my mother had all of these tests done as well as which can be very draining to endure such experiences, however which will be vital in obtaining a diagnosis. The results of her diagnosis showed which there was a tumor on her pancreas blocking the flow of bile through her liver, as well as, the flow of enzymes through her pancreas. In her case the tumor was wrapped around a blood vessel as well as surgery to remove the tumor was not truly an option. Very few surgeons from the country might have been able to successfully perform the surgery as well as her chances of survival might have been slim to none. Even if she had of had the surgery her quality of life following which was questionable. This specific surgery will be commonly known as the Whipple Operation as well as removes a large part of the pancreas, the duodenum as well as a portion of the bile duct
What do you do in This specific situation? You make the choice to live the best life from the time which you have which will be undetermined as well as different for everyone. Suck every drop of joy out of life you can as quickly as possible. If we could turn back the clock as well as do which all over again the one thing we might do differently will be have annual screenings for the disease conducted because had we done which my mother might still be alive today. What you do in time can determine the time you have on This specific earth.
Many people allow the hands of time to cover their eyes to what they don't want to see. Open your eyes today as well as if you have not been diagnosed with This specific disease begin to use preventative measures such as a healthy diet, exercise, as well as regular checkups with your doctor.
Entry # 2: Denial:
We were in such disbelief after receiving the diagnosis we failed to take immediate action locked from the paralysis of our fresh found reality. One thing Cancer does not give you will be time. which big devil called denial must be dealt with. I can still hear my mother saying, "I can't have This specific...not me!" You must come to grips with what you have in order to get a grip on the situation. Sometimes I think of Cancer being more of an accident of health rather than a mistake of nature. All you can do using a mistake will be wish which which never happened yet accidents can be prevented. Maybe This specific will be a little optimistic since Cancer tends to creep in like an unexpected thief to steal your most prized possessions. Even so, optimism will be always stronger than pessimism as well as which merely means which our powerful spirits encased in a fragile frame of flesh chooses to live.
Even people with diseases such as drug addiction as well as alcoholism must come out of denial before they recover. I know Cancer survivors as well as they are the same people which arrived of denial as well as dealt with the disease. You will never take action in regards to something you don't believe.
Entry # 3: Drugs:
We live in a pill popping nation where there will be a drug for every situation. One of the main problems with drugs will be which they mask symptoms yet fail to provide a cure. Drugs do their best to cover up the Cancer until the victim will be covered with earth in a coffin. I keep hearing rumors which there will be a cure for Cancer yet the medical as well as funeral industries are generating too much money off of the disease to Discharge the cure. I don't know if which will be true yet which sure makes sense.
Though drugs were diagnosed to help my mother one of the first things we did which will be extremely important for Pancreatic Cancer patients was to have a stint put in. Stints were inserted into the tubes leading through her liver as well as pancreas to help them function as well as This specific helped her to live a better life. In some cases, depending on the size of the tumor, which will be very difficult to insert stints yet there are several alternative methods as well as procedures to accomplish the same effect. If you have a Great doctor he will inform you of all options. If you have a doctor which doesn't tell you all the options; get another doctor.
My experience using a mother with Pancreatic Cancer perfected a hatred in me for Morphine which will be the pain medication my mother was put on. Since the pain caused by the Cancer will be so intense our options were limited as well as we wanted my mother to be able to live out her days as pain free as possible as I think anyone might. The Morphine altered her mind, changed her personality, as well as caused aggression as well as paranoia. The effects of the Morphine put the family in pain while relieving my mother's pain.
At times which was as if she was out of her mind as well as which nearly drove us out of ours. She no longer trusted the people which loved her as well as many times might forget what she was saying from the middle of a sentence. The family told her many things over as well as over again as well as she wouldn't do them as well as always forgot what we told her. To me Morphine kills a person before they die. which kills their ability to convey the essence of who they truly are. There are alternatives for pain relief drugs yet I don't know how much better they are since we only dealt with Morphine.
which amazes me how Patrick Swayze filmed a television series with Pancreatic Cancer refusing to take pain medications so he could concentrate on as well as accomplish his work. I remember hearing him speak about preparing hours in advance of his shoots to be mentally as well as physically prepared to accomplish every task in pain. I think drugs such as Morphine make a person die faster because which arrests their mind. from the movie the Matrix if you've ever seen which, Neo will be doing the jump program with Morpheus as well as falls. When he comes out of which he will be bleeding as well as makes a statement to the fact which he thought which wasn't real as well as Morpheus tells him which the mind makes which real as well as which the Centeng cannot live without the mind. If you are mentally incapacitated, how can you make a conscious decision to fight for your life?
A glimmer of trust came to us while dealing with the madness of the Morphine which will be an alternative pain treatment which Cancer patients can receive which deals with injecting alcohol around certain nerves to block the feelings of pain. My mother had This specific procedure done yet said which which didn't work. To This specific day I don't know if the treatment truly didn't work or if by the time she had which she was
already addicted to the Morphine as well as the pain she felt were the pangs of withdraw.
Unfortunately Morphine was only one wave from the ocean of drugs we had to deal with. There were digestive enzymes which had to be taken prior to eating, beta blockers, heart medication, anxiety medication, insulin for the diabetes caused by the shut down of the pancreas, medication for indigestion, vitamins, blood thinners for blood clots as well as so many medications we had to make an Excel spreadsheet just to keep track of them.
One of the effects of the disease which had to be dealt with was extreme swelling of the abdomen as well as feet to the point where diuretics were prescribed, fluid draw procedures had to be performed by using a needle to draw the fluid through the abdomen as well as as for the feet; only house shoes could be worn. I found out which the swelling was caused by the Cancer mainly due to the Centeng's reaction to the tumor as well as to the lack of protein from the blood disabling the bloods ability to hold fluid.
The things which a person goes through with Cancer are almost endless. Every part of the Centeng will be affected; especially the mind, the will, as well as the emotions. Based upon the experience I encountered with my mother a couple of additional crises we had to press through was the C Diph infection causing chronic diarrhea causing contact isolation which will be almost like quarantine to be implemented. My mother could barely eat as well as we had to put on hospital gowns as well as gloves to be from the room with her or even come in contact with her.
An episode we faced with internal bleeding caused by the rupturing of blood vessels was very traumatic as well as hospitalized my mother after she passed out through weakness with her eyes rolling back in her head due to the extreme blood loss. Blood was in her bowels as well as blood transfusions had to be issued in order to get her blood count back up to normal which will be usually 14 as well as hers was almost half which. Had we not sought medical attention for her at which time she could have died. to ensure you can recognize This specific, the symptoms are usually extreme weakness as well as black loose bowels. I experienced the same thing when I was four years old as well as diagnosed with acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis.
We tried chemotherapy which will be extremely hard on the Centeng, killing the Great cells along with the bad. Chemotherapy will be like infusing your Centeng using a poison in order to get rid of another poison. For some people which works yet sadly to say from the cases of Pancreatic Cancer which will be rarely effective. I am not a doctor as well as therefore give no medical recommendations as to how to treat Cancer of the Pancreas yet in my own personal opinion as well as experience through observation I might say if possible, find a better way.
There are alternative treatments, natural remedies, as well as experimental treatments. A Cancer patient can seek studies which are being conducted for the type of Cancer they have as well as in many cases when they become a part of the study they can receive free or very low cost experimental treatments. One day one of these experimental treatments might be the answer. My mother used an experimental chemotherapy which was available yet which was too hard on her heart. One of her smaller tumors did disappear yet which wasn't enough to save her.
Chemotherapy can carry such side effects as nausea, vomiting, as well as decreased white blood cell counts. Historically, Chemotherapy has not been effective from the treatment of Pancreatic Cancer, yet there are more up to date treatments which use an FDA approved agent called gemcitabine which has helped to shrink some tumors for Carcinoma of the pancreas.
At one point we went to see a naturalpathic doctor specializing in alternative Cancer treatments which knew of a treatment which had proved to be effective for Pancreatic Cancer. The name of the treatment will be Intravenous - Lipoic Acid/Low-Dose Naltrexone Protocol. There are various articles as well as information on This specific treatment for you to research as well as intelligently consider.
Our problem with the treatment was which one of the drugs prescribed for which which could only be filled at a compound pharmacy blocks the affects of opiates as well as since my mother was on Morphine for pain a known opiate she plunged into a chronic pain episode which caused her to lose coherency through the pain as well as go to the emergency room where the only thing they could do to relieve her pain was to give her a drug strong enough to sedate her as well as completely knock her out. which was a tremendous setback in her treatment. The opiate blocking drug was supposed to be a very low dosage which should not have negatively affected her so if This specific particular treatment will be chosen I might do extensive research as well as make ample preparations before trying which.
When you are personally dealing with Cancer or know someone close to you which will be, you will find out quickly which everyone features a product to sell you which they claim has cured someone through Cancer. Maybe they have as well as maybe they haven't. Again, I remember watching an interview with Barbara Walters as well as Patrick Swayze when he said something to the effect of, "If you had a miracle cure for Cancer you might be rich as well as everyone might know you so just shut up." We tried several products as well as ordered everything we thought could make a difference or be a cure. I'm going to share with you two things which you can buy on your own which we didn't get a chance to try because we found out about them too late. I don't know which they work, yet its worth a try as anything will be when you or someone you love will be dying.
You can search YouTube as well as find videos on the banking soda Cancer treatment as well as you can search the Internet to find articles which specifically discuss the use of asparagus to treat Cancer. There will be so much more I could say about different treatments as well as drugs yet instead of going on as well as on about This specific subject I will instead give you a few helpful hints.
Helpful Hint #1: If you are strong enough to do which, aerobic exercise helps Chemotherapy patients by ridding the toxins in their system through Chemotherapy through sweat. I read an article once about a lady with Cancer which felt too sick to do aerobics when her coworkers kept inviting her to class because they didn't know she had Cancer. She commenced the classes eventually as well as felt sick at first as well as then commenced feeling better. She sweated the toxins out as well as one year later was teaching the class Cancer Free.
Helpful Hint #2: When a Cancer patient's veins are to the point where which will be extremely difficult to draw blood or administer IV medication a Central Line which will be a port for IV as well as medication inserted into the jugular vein by ultrasound can be Great. I witnessed the pain of my mother as she was poked multiple times with attempts to draw blood as well as insert IV's. Save yourself This specific pain using a Central Line.
Helpful Hint #3: Keep a positive attitude as well as laugh as often as possible. The Bible says which laughter doeth the heart Great like a medicine. Sometimes simple laughter will do more for a Cancer patient than any drug. Laughter heals as well as which makes a person's time on This specific earth more enjoyable. Talk about funny memories through the past with family as well as friends as well as laugh, laugh, laugh! You deserve which! Mental support will be important. Encourage, speak positive things, as well as most of all be there for the person which you know which has Cancer. Cancer as well as all the things a person goes through with which are scary. I coached my mom as well as encouraged her as well as told her she could make which when she didn't think she could. Encouragement in love can add time to a Cancer patient's life. Ask lots of questions as well as gain as much knowledge as possible. If a drug or treatment you or a Cancer patient you know will be on doesn't seem right; talk to the doctor about which because there will be always an alternative.
Entry # 4: Disappointment:
Normally in life there are disappointments. When you already have a disappointing disease, disappointment can be magnified. What do you do when the Chemo doesn't work? How do you react when the miracle cure you found out about doesn't cure? How do you deal with setbacks which surface along the way? What you do will be keep going, keep trying, as well as don't give up. which will be important to express disappointment as well as acknowledge which as long as which doesn't take you captive. Just having the disease will be disappointing, not to mention all of the obstacles encountered while dealing with the disease. Disappointment will be not only experienced by the Cancer victim yet by the family as well as friends which love which person so much.
I was working on my MBA when my mother was diagnosed with Cancer. Since she was already in Stage 4 of Cancer when she was diagnosed we found out shortly after the diagnosis which the Cancer had spread to her lungs as well as additional areas of her Centeng. I can remember the day I found out about which. I commenced crying at work as well as couldn't stop as well as had to leave the office. I know what which feels like to try as well as hold tears in as well as there will be nothing you can do to keep them held in your eyes. I know what which will be to cry until your stomach jerks in as well as out as well as snot comes out of your nose as well as you feel like throwing up. My mother was my best friend as well as because of which I am well acquainted with disappointment.
I always wondered how the people with these miracle stories which publish these books about overcoming Cancer did which. Their methods worked for them with no doubt yet my mother was in such a bad state she couldn't even do most of the things these books said to do as well as which was so disappointing. I wished I could speak with these people personally just to ask them...HOW? How did you do which?
One of the greatest challenges faced was which my mother was a Minister as well as Pastor as well as she had a lot of people praying for her as she even believed for her own healing. Father Yah (God) will be a healer yet He doesn't always heal as well as there will be always a question of why for those which are not healed. Dottie Olsteen the wife of the late Pastor John Olsteen of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas at This specific point pastured by Joel Olsteen at one time had terminal Liver Cancer. Dottie gathered together the healing scriptures through the Bible as well as began to speak them over herself three times a day like a medicine prescription as well as was totally as well as completely healed.
Why her as well as not my mother? I don't know. Maybe Yah (the name for almighty God the Creator in Hebrew) was ready for my mom to come home with Him. All I can tell you will be which disappoint can as well as will come in many forms. The best cure for disappointment will be to overcome with an attitude of thankfulness, accepting which you don't know the reason for all things yet you do know which there will be a reason as well as a purpose for all things. Stay positive while keeping your mind as well as spirit open to whatever might happen. Disappointment comes when something additional than what you expect or anticipate happens. With Cancer you have to be prepared for the success or failure of anything as well as everything. Be encouraged; you are stronger than disappointment. Don't let which catch you off guard yet be prepared for which. Know which for every disappointment there will be a triumph on the additional side.
Entry # 5: Diet:
Anyone with Cancer should reconstruct their diet to contain the foods which fight against as well as can even cure Cancer. Eat as well as drink substances which are non-acidic, alkaline, as well as highly concentrated with antioxidants. Research to find Cancer healing foods.
One of the most important things to do will be to drink a lot of water. Water will be the source of life as well as the human Centeng will be mostly composed of water. There will be an author which wrote a book called, "You Aren't Sick You're Just Thirsty" talking about the importance of water as well as its affects on the Centeng.
Diet will be a rough subject with Pancreatic Cancer because you can know all the right things to eat as well as not be able to consume them. The affects of the disease on the digestive system makes which very hard to eat as well as drink. The patient may lose their appetite as well as even if they do have an appetite, once they eat which can make them feel sick. Pancreatic Cancer sabotages the digestive system.
One thing which helped us was some information we found on dill pickles which assists from the digestion of food. In many instances when someone with Pancreatic Cancer or additional digestive problems eats a dill pickle with each meal which helps to counteract the digestive problems so they can eat in comfort as well as keep the food down for nutrition to the Centeng.
There are also drugs available to enhance the appetite, yet if dill pickles can also be eaten with every meal which should help greatly as well. Since Pancreatic Cancer patients have difficulties in eating as well as tend to lose a lot of weight, dietary supplements such as protein shakes are suggested which are ingested easier with the use of a straw. Peanut butter can be added to the shakes to raise the calorie content as well as nutritional value of the shake. Another suggestion will be to eat very little meals all throughout the day. The Cancer patient may not feel like eating yet in order to live they must FORCE themselves to eat. Lack of food as well as liquid can kill quicker.
Vitamin D fights Cancer as well as freshly juiced vegetable juices containing the juice through green leafy vegetables can be extremely helpful especially when drank right after juicing when vitamin content as well as living substance will be at a high level. The external diet will be also important which consists of Epson salt baths which help to heal as well as Discharge toxins through the Centeng.
We all know the saying, "You are what you eat." Eat what will be alive as well as which will help you stay alive. The first 3 letters of the word diet will be the word die. Don't let what you are eating kill you. Since Cancer patients many times have to give up foods they love in order to live, which will be great if the family can conform to their diet in support of their dietary efforts. Some foods make Cancer grow like simple sugars. Cut the sugar out of your diet as well as use a natural alternative like Stevia to sweeten foods. Stevia will be a naturally sweet leaf which will be available in powder as well as liquid form to sweeten foods as well as use in recipes. I am a big Bible reader so I love which Stevia will be a leaf because the Bible says which the leaves shall be used for the healing of the nations. additional well-known artificial sweeteners can actually be poisonous to the Centeng so be careful with them as well as avoid them if possible.
Entry #6: Death:
Even when you know someone will be going to die, nothing truly prepares you for the affects, effects, as well as real life reactions to which death. Everyone's experience will be different, as well as I will share my personal experience with you hoping which will help you in some way. I can remember my mom looking at me one night as well as saying to me, "I'm dying!" I didn't know what to say back because even though I knew she had Cancer as well as death seemed inevitable, I refused to accept the fact the she was actually going to die.
We took her to the hospital on a Thursday as well as the very next day they wanted to send her to hospice. Hospice will be a great as well as awful place all at the same time. Great due to the care as well as support as well as painless exit for the patient through This specific world they provide. Awful because you know which which will be the last place you will be with the one you love. Hospice facilities are very comfortable as well as they give you a chance to say goodbye even if you don't want to. No one does. Please know which you aren't the only one going through This specific; neither are you the only one which has ever gone through This specific.
Counselors are provided, as well as, chaplains for spiritual support as well as prayer. You will receive a booklet explaining the death process which helps you know when death will be near. During This specific process, give the Cancer patient a lot of love, comfort as well as support, as well as make sure you yourself get ample food as well as rest. Speak to your loved one while they are responsive as well as even after they are in a drug induced comma because they can still hear you. Be sure not to be selfish as well as Discharge them to pass on so they won't linger on in suffering. which will be all I will say about the hospice experience as you will learn more as you are actually in which. This specific will be the time to meet with the funeral home as well as make preparations for the funeral as well as burial. You won't want to do This specific, yet which will be necessary as well as will help smooth out the process. Overall, hospice will be a place to say your final goodbyes.
Entry # 7: Debt:
My dad only had enough life insurance to cover my mom's funeral, as well as This specific will be not recommended. The moment a Cancer diagnosis will be in place get as much checkup free insurance as you can get. For some reason the bill collectors don't understand the word death, as well as you can be stuck with bills which increase your sorrow after your loved one will be gone. You will need a living will for your patient to be able to make medical decisions for them as well as you also need a power of attorney to deal with their accounts way before a death experience will be upon you. You may have to handle business matters which they can't deal with while they are still alive as well as after they have passed on.Also make sure a will will be in place so you don't have to deal with probate. Some accounts are easily closed after death simply by submitting a copy of the death certificate to the creditor as well as which will be important to see if insurance will be in place to pay off accounts upon death such as mortgages.
I have shared my heart, soul, as well as intimate personal experience with you in This specific article to the best of my ability. which should not take a crisis such as Cancer for us to become mortgage as well as debt free yet if something such as Cancer arises I know which being mortgage as well as debt free can be one less worry. Work to reduce or delete your debts as much as possible. My dad might have more freedom as well as options today had his house been paid off when my mother passed. In addition to medical bills there were some prescriptions which cost $800 for a 10-day supply after our prescription benefits ran out. Death as well as sickness know nothing of the extra financial burdens which can increase as well as extend sorrow.
You will feel the pain of your loss for awhile as well as which will be absolutely unbelievable for a very long time, yet you will get through which. Remember the Great times, look at pictures of life, as well as hear the voice of your loved one live on in your mind as well as spirit forever. I wish you abundant peace. If you might like to find out how to get a copy of the book I've written in hopes of helping people deal with the loss of a loved one, please call or email me.
Pancreatic Cancer - Living through Diagnosis to Death - The Diary of a Cancer Patient's Daughter
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