Welcome to the EmpowHER community. I am so sorry to hear that your brother has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and can appreciate how it must impact your family.
Your best resource is your brother's primary care physician. Is your brother also being treated by an oncologist? His physician knows at what stage the cancer was diagnosed and the progression of the disease. I can only give you general information.
Pancreatic cancer is broken into four stages with stage I being the earliest stage and stage IV being the most advanced (metastatic disease). Unlike many cancers, however, patients with pancreatic cancer are typically grouped into three categories, those with local disease, those with locally advanced, unresectable disease, and those with metastatic disease. Initial therapy often differs for patients in these three groups.
People in advanced stages of a terminal illness experience many similar symptoms as they approach the end of life, regardless of their illness. These include excessive sleepiness and weakness, changes in breathing presenting as rapid breathing alternating with short episodes when breathing stops, hallucinations, decreased appetite, urinary and bowel changes, lose of interest, having an elevated temperature or feeling very cold.
Anonymous, I urge you to reach out to hospice care.
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Hello Linda,
Welcome to the EmpowHER community. I am so sorry to hear that your brother has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and can appreciate how it must impact your family.
Your best resource is your brother's primary care physician. Is your brother also being treated by an oncologist? His physician knows at what stage the cancer was diagnosed and the progression of the disease. I can only give you general information.
Pancreatic cancer is broken into four stages with stage I being the earliest stage and stage IV being the most advanced (metastatic disease). Unlike many cancers, however, patients with pancreatic cancer are typically grouped into three categories, those with local disease, those with locally advanced, unresectable disease, and those with metastatic disease. Initial therapy often differs for patients in these three groups.
People in advanced stages of a terminal illness experience many similar symptoms as they approach the end of life, regardless of their illness. These include excessive sleepiness and weakness, changes in breathing presenting as rapid breathing alternating with short episodes when breathing stops, hallucinations, decreased appetite, urinary and bowel changes, lose of interest, having an elevated temperature or feeling very cold.
Anonymous, I urge you to reach out to hospice care.
Regards,
February 10, 2015 - 10:04amMaryann
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