Pancreatic Cancer

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Hello everyone

I felt insecure thinking about starting to post anything on this platform - which is probably a good reason to deliberately do so anyway.

I'm 24 and I'm here because mental health has always been an issue for me and also because I lost my dad to pancreatic cancer this year... It's comforting to read other people's experiences and to have a safe space where people are honest about their emotions and struggles.

#Anxiety #ComplexPosttraumaticStressDisorder #Grief #AdjustmentDisorder #PanicAttacks

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Therapy- how it has helped my mental health journey

Part 1 of 2 Being diagnosed with bipolar in my mid-twenties was scary enough, I was experiencing symptoms way earlier( started in high school my senior year) and I was not sure how to handle this in a positive way and tried to stay away from my negative coping skills(such as drinking and self-harm). Then one day my doctor suggested going to individual and group therapy and it has changed my life. I am a firm believer that everyone could use some sort of therapy whether it be individual or both. Below here are some of my tips that have made my therapy successful for me and being able to cope and manage bipolar and my life itself.

Individual Therapy

1.  Find someone you connect with– this is SO important to be able to open and start to heal you need to trust the person you are talking to and feel comfortable with that person. This person does not know you at first, but the outcome to me would be this person will know you (maybe even better than the people in your life). I wanted to make sure the person had my best interest; I did not want to feel like a “number being called to come into the office”.  I had an awesome therapist, she made me feel loved and really listened to what I said. She actually was the one that convinced me to check myself back into the hospital during a mania episode (had been up for 5 days) and suicidal thoughts. During our treatment she told me she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and passed away- it crushed me. I knew I had to find another therapist and start all over again. I did find one and then went a few times, but the connection was NOT there and I went back to the drawing board. I did find another one and we have been doing great! She challenges me and likes to see results and has helped me step outside my comfort zone. She has me do homework to make me a better person. I feel comfortable getting angry, sad, and even crying in front of her. So, please do not feel bad if it does not work with a therapist, just go find another one, you want the sessions to be helpful and successful.

2.      Be open and honest– working with a therapist can be scary at first, I always thought does this person really care? I would think if she is judging me as well, will she think I am a bad person. But I had to let that all go, I knew if I held back information or my feelings I would not start to heal. I had covered up all my wounds, now it was time for me to rip those band aids off and let the healing begin. Once, is started to do this and opened those flood gates, my healing process really started to begin. I felt more and more comfortable with my therapist and felt good. I know it can be scary but trust me the healing cannot start till you are truly being yourself.

2.      Do the work– many times my therapist would give me assignments to do and at first, I would not do them and lie and said I did. My sessions were not productive. She was trying to help me develop coping skills to be able to manage bipolar and just myself better. After realizing this, I started to do the work and the assignments, exercises and/or challenges given to me. I really have noticed a difference.

Group Therapy:

1.       Find the support group that is right for you– NAMI was introduced to me and when I first attended my first group for those living with a mental health condition, I was nervous and was quiet. I did not say anything the first time I just went ahead and listened to everyone. It was definitely an eye opener, to be able to hear other people experience what I was going through and be able to relate to them. There are so many support groups out there, you do need to do some research on them.

2       Find which platform is going to give you the best experience– now there are support groups out there that are virtual as well. Some people that are suffering with social anxiety this would be great for them. I have done some virtual as well and it was nice to see faces on the screen, now you do not need to show your face if you did not want to. People still talked and the facilitators were there to give advice etc.

3      Do not be afraid to speak– unlike individual therapy remember you will be in a group setting so once you feel comfortable speak out, you will be amazed how much in common you may have with someone and what their struggles are. It is awesome to get advice from so many other people than just from one person (with individual therapy) you may get a different perspective and learn new coping skills. Depending on the group they start to become like your family and there is no judgment being made. You can just let it all out.

Therapy truly has been my saving grace; I do both now and I gain a lot from both types. I truly look forward to attending and will continue for as long as I can. Do no

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Pediatric Pancreatic Cancer

I am here for my son Max.

Max is an intelligent mature, amazing little man who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in December 2022.

He came to me with concerns of the whites of his eyes starting to yellow. He was a jaundiced.

He was taken to the emergency room, and there were thoughts. He had hepatitis or mono, and really a wide range of things.

Less than a week later at a follow up appointment with the pediatrician, we were informed he was having organ failure, mainly his liver, and we were rushed to University of Missouri hospital.

A few days later, they’ve started using the word cancer, and he was then diagnosed with a primary neoplasm of the pancreatic head.

This never happens. His situation is so rare that there is no protocol for any treatment. There are no protocols for symptoms or anything that he’s going through whatsoever at all.

He was due to have a Whipple procedure done which at the very last minute was decided against by his medical team, due to inflammation of the portal vein from a previous endoscopic ultrasound and biopsy.

He is now receiving treatment of chemotherapy drugs, which he has had one treatment he started this week.

6 reactions 7 comments
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Pediatric Pancreatic Cancer #PancreaticCancer #kidswithcancer #PediatricCancer #prayformax

I am 11 years old and was diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer after noticing jaundice of my eyes. I was also enduring liver failure due to this with no symptoms.

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I’m new here!

Hi, my name is mightymax. I am here for my son, Max, who is 11 years old and has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in December 2022.
#MightyTogether #PancreaticCancer #Cancer

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I’m new here!

Hi, my name is Daniel. The last 2 years have been some of the hardest in my entire life. In January 2021 my Dad was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer, and then after collapsing and being rushed to the hospital, he was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer as well. My wife and I got pregnant in June 2021, and suffered a miscarriage in August. My Dad had Whipple Surgery in October. When his health continued to degrade, they discovered in December 2021 that he did not in fact have Pancreatic cancer, but Distal Bile Duct Cancer. It had already spread to his peritoneum, and he told he had 6 months to live. My wife became pregnant again in January. My Dad died at home on May 19th, 2022. I started Therapy for the first time in my life in July, after dealing with depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation since I was a teenager. As the due date of our child grew nearer, I only got worse, culminating in over 10 panic attacks within 2 days. My therapist suspected I had Intrusive Thought OCD. I made an appointment with a Psychiatrist for the first time, and as I was gathering symptomology for my appointment, I stumbled upon a short list of possible symptoms for ASD, and my jaw dropped. That was September 11th, 2022. I now have been diagnosed with ASD with Anxiety, Severe Social Anxiety, and ADHD. Navigating being a new parent, and identifying triggers for Sensory Overload in the midst of all this has been overwhelming. It is very, very hard.

#MightyTogether #Anxiety #Depression #Migraine #AutismSpectrumDisorder #ADHD #actuallyautistic

15 reactions 6 comments
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A rough year

It’s been a very tough year for me! I lost my husband to Glioblastoma 3 years ago. I miss him terribly but I know I will make it.
Then my Stepdad’s Pancreatic Cancer came back mid-2021 and Mom started drinking heavily and not taking care of herself. She should have probably been in therapy and/or antidepressants years ago. She is a narcissist and always in competition with me my whole life. She ended up in the hospital in November 2021 with Wernicke’s Syndrome and Stepdad died in December 2021.
Being the responsible oldest (and only daughter) I moved her in with me…it was a disaster!! She was verbally abusive and basically has dementia now. She needed more care than I could provide. My brother actually cussed me out, telling me “I told you not to move her in” and I had a full-blown panic attack.
I’ve moved her into a Memory Care facility and she’s much nicer to visit, although I still feel anxiety every time. She has no concept of time, where she is or who is alive or dead…but she’s taken care of and healthy. I’m still trying to unravel my Stepdad’s estate, bills, investments, etc so I can start using HER money to pay for her care. I’m currently paying until I wrap this up.
I’m feeling very overwhelmed and overloaded with my own stuff, my bills plus her bills, taking care of my house AND her house (until we can clean it out and sell). The worst is the feeling of being so alone…my husband is gone, my stepdad is gone and my Mom is gone!! I feel like a juggler who keeps getting balls added. Ever time I “waste” time I feel so guilty…like I should have been being productive (despite my body telling me to take a break).
I’m just so tired of this awful anxiety and responsible feeling. 💜

#GeneralizedAnxietyDisorder
#PanicDisorder
#AbuseSurvivors #ChronicIllness #AnkylosingSpondylitis

19 reactions 7 comments
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# day to day event 6-18-22 and days prior

I have talked before abt the first psychiatrist I ever saw. I saw him when I was 25. He dropped me as a patient w / o any support because I would not go into a psychiatric hospital. I was a 25 year old or (maybe 26 )teacher at the time. I became very I’ll. I never fully recovered I don’t think. That was 50 yrs ago.
I found this psychiatrist is still practicing. I left him a voicemail saying he ruined my life . I hated the hospital.
I don’t know how I feel about that. I don’t know if he remembered me or not.

I feel a lone. My husband tries to talk w me as much as he can. But, I don’t think he comprehends how I feel or what I talk about.

I found out abt a month ago my sister has stage 4 pancreatic cancer.

I also found out abt a month ago I have a life changing health issue.

I pray when I can. Tonight w the fact that my neighbor moved away - I need to chipper up. Life awaits.

6 comments
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New Medication?

In the last six months my Fibromyalgia has "gone nuclear" as I put it. I've had the diagnosis for 11 years, but recently the intensity of pain/brain fog/losing balance/and other symptoms has grown, and the length of my flare-ups has increased as well. Honestly, I've just been dealing with. After so many tests this last year for whooping cough, pancreatic cancer, viral pneumonia, and bipolar disorder, I just didn't want to go in.

But last week I decided to see my PCP. He wasn't surprised that it had intensified over time, which is I guess a good sign that he has dealt with it before. I don't know if I'm allowed to post medication names here, but he started me on Savella. I'm wondering if anyone else had been on this medication, and if their outcomes were good. Thank you in advance!

#Fibromyalgia

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