HerArticle

Michelle Rose
More From This Member
Send Message

Her Writer

Pancreatic Cancer -- It Started With a Stomach Ache

Two and a half years ago, the week before Thanksgiving in 2006, my mom got a severe stomachache. She had pains for a few weeks but they weren’t going away, she decided to call the doctor, even though her symptoms were those similar to indigestion.

The doctor suggested limiting fat from her diet for a week or two and monitoring the pain. Interestingly enough, the diet change alleviated the symptoms. However, reducing your diet to completely fat free (especially during the holidays) is almost impossible. The doctor believed she was suffering because of her gall bladder and wanted to remove it.

We would come to find out that it was not her gall bladder at all but a cancerous mass on her pancreas. She would need it removed via the Whipple procedure surgery, less than two weeks after the stomachache. Her doctor wanted her to be the, “exception for this diagnosis.”

No one knows the cause of pancreatic cancer, but there are some risk factors. They include being over the age of 60, a smoker, having diabetes, being male and African-Americans. My mom does not fit one of those categories. She is an example of why everyone needs to be aware of this disease, but also an example of survival.

We value and respect the experiences of all of our HerWriters, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.

CONNECT with Women Interested inPancreatic Cancer

Diane Porter

Pancreatic Cancer Guide