Done the first treatment

Two days treatment is over. Oncology doctor and health care teams are just excellent and are so experience and caring. All the pre-chemo prep had performed a very good job to prevent all the side effects. Two good news: 1. CT scan report no more other area findings. The only existing liver and pancrea. 2. So far he is reponse to the side effect well. This coming two weeks rest from chemo will know how much he is able to tolerate the side effect even with all the under lining medication in placed. First night home, he is tired, nausea and lack of appetite. As dietitian has told us, he has to try eating a small portion at a time to get his energy and nutrition. After the routine medication I have encourage him to intake some meal before rest. There is four treatments total every other two weeks. The long journey is just the beginning. Patient, care and encouragement for him are very important. It's a long two days for both of us, it's my turn to take a rest in my own bed, give myself some good night rest tonight.

During the first course of treatment

We admit to the hospital getting all kind of prep ready. At 9:30pm chemotherapy finally start. Full body scan had performed just to be sure there isn't anywhere else in his body has anymore cancer cell found. Keep our finger across the report is negative and normal. We had to salute our oncology Dr. Picozzi. He participate in the pancreatic cancer research study. As mentioned previously this is consider a rare case of carrying two different type of cancer cells in his pancreas. The adenocarcinoma and neurondocrine. Doctor mentioned will invent a new medication to treat his conditions. He will named this research using my husband name " Patrick's program " At this point we see some bright side and hope ahead. My husband might have a chance to try out new trail medication if it comes available. The chemo using four different drug infusion. Some take as fast as half an hour, the longest one take 8 hours. There is also pre-med taken before this chemo. Such as anti nausea medication and prevent blood clog med. I know he is a bit nervous today, having me by his side. It will give him more comfort to sleep through the night.

First Chemotherapy - 2 consecutive day treatment

My effort finally paid off. My husband able to start the first Chemotherapy treatment on this Wednesday. Two weeks battle since the diagnosis. Phone call after phone call. Finally, it's time; it's time for the army of medicine entering his body to fight back. We need that stronge dose of cocktail to stop this cancer cell doing any more damage to him. I am glad that doctor able to admit him and stay one night at the hospital for this two consecutive days treatment. At least he can rest better and are fully monitoring by health care professional to make sure he response well on the medication. Once the Chemo start we really have to limited everyone visitation. As Chemo will make his immune system very weak and we can't afford to make him sicker. I can communicate with anyone with any concern so he can focus on his recovery. We feel really blessed and feel all the generous love surrounded by all our families and friends. At this tough time this support is very important to bring up our spirit.

Day 10 - Reality kick in

This is the first time in the hospital after the diagnosis; surgery implant for the port goes well. The first day we both taste of the water being very tired and exhausted after a long day in the hospital. Besides trying to confirm all the appointments another thing we need to battle for is our job security and the medical insurance securely in place during this long battle of treatment. We learn that not all the company will give you sympathy in term of taking a long term sick leave. It's time for us to reach out with the hospital social workers. They are there to answer all the questions and resource any possible benefit you might get from the government. Next week he have the nerve block appointment confirmed and the Chemo will be confirm by Monday, mostly likely he will admit to the hospital to stay one night for the Chemo treatment due to the fact that the treatment last for two consecutive days. I am hoping the treatment can start next week. Glad that we have a good supportive network in place. Don't refuse other people offer you a helping hand. You need it. Having someone can help cook for us and offer us child care for our 10 years old that lift us off tons of load on our shoulder. Now we have two days weekend rest. Glad that his group of friends able to take him out, to get away from all the worry and sorrow a little bit.

Day 8,9 - Scheduling the treatment

Trying to schedule all the appointments, my advice is don't rely on call back. Get all the direct number from each department and reach them yourself. That would speed up your process. We choose the procedure to implant a port on his chest for coming Chemo instead of the picc line, that way it will have less chance of having infection. Nerve block appointment has scheduled next week so at least he will get rid of taking the "oxycontin" for pain. That high dose of pain killer will make you addicted if you don't pull yourself out from it. We will meet with the oncology doctor again tomorrow; hopefully he will plan out all the schedule of the chemo appointment. At least we have something moving forward now. His pain control is getting a little better so at least he can start eating a little bit at a time besides just taking "Ensure".

Day 7 - Review of Biopsy results

Finally after a long long wait over the weekend. Today is the date that we will possibly review the biopsy results. A very shocking recovery, my husband was diagnosis Stage 4 Pancreatic and Liver Cancer. The doctor who consult us is the Director of the Virginia Mason Onconogy Team in Seattle WA. He was having the very rare combination of two type of cancer cell in his Pancreas and have already spread to the liver, it's only able to prolong and improve his quality of life but the sad part is, that's wasn't able to completely cure. It will come back in the future. So at this point of time, the doctor aiming to control his pain by using nerve block and start chemotheory right away. We really don't know how's the life expectancy is till we start the treatment. It's shocking for him and it's also shocking for everyone around him. Sadly including our 10years son. Today we have to wait for the coordination of the implant of the device to the future chemo treatment. I know I am the center of eveything right now. I have to stay stronge to fight this battle with my husband together.

Day 2, 3

My husband still in pain and tired but we still need to wait at the doctor's office entire morning to arrange the oncology appointment and the biopsy. Half a day gone by still no news, Toward almost the end of the day, finally got the Biopsy appointment as early as the following day. We really want to know for sure what stage and how bad that is. Whether the cancer can be treat or not. So we can act fast. Thankful for all the health care providers assistance, whole day in the hospital and successfully take out some good tissue to be tested. Again go throught the weekend and it's a very long waiting game for us. Oncology appointment won't happen till the following Tuesday. Now we just have to watch the clock ticking till the time come.

Day 1 - Jan 15, 2014

My whole family life is completely change on the night that I send my husband to Emergency Room because of his severe abdomen pain. He is only 52 years old. The discomfort start about one month and we've been following up with the primary care, up to the stage after X-ray on the stomach and ultra sound on the abdoman. Doctor find some adnormality on the Pancrea and Liver. Right on that evening he is suffer from a severe pain, emergency is my only option to find out immediately. The worst nightmare, shocking and unbelievable news begin, Doctor review it's most likely is Cancer. At 11pm Doctor had contact with primary care doctor to line up appointment with Oncology. Even the doctor didn't review a lot of information because of insufficient for him to do so. But you can feel the urgency of every health care provider around you is trying to push and race against time.