u/No-Country6093

My dad did 7 rounds of Folfirinox. It was working, the tumor was shrinking. He was stage 3 at diagnosis and borderline resectable. His only complaint throughout treatment was shortness of breath, dizziness, and appetite loss. His oncologist admitted she couldn’t figure out why he was so short of breath. He told the cardiologist and oncologist he thought it was malnutrition. All his heart tests showed his heart was strong and functioning well. He waited a month to see a GI specialist, and finally saw one when he was admitted to the ER for feinting. The specialist said 90% of his problems were malnutrition. Finally, someone listening and a new plan, but he’s been unable to hold food down since he was admitted four days ago. A feeding tube isn’t an option because they can’t control the vomiting. Two months ago we were hopeful seeing his tumor shrinking and planning for draxonrasib to be approved about the time chemotherapy ended (he has the KRAS mutation). Now they are talking about hospice. I’m so angry his team wasn’t listening or urgently managing his side effects. He nearly feinted prior to round 7 and they decided to give him a week more rest. No change in treatment or urgency in getting him nourished. Now he’s dying and it’s not the cancer, it’s the chemo. I don’t know what to do and feel so helpless.

My dad was diagnosed with stage 3 pancreatic cancer 3 months ago and just completed his 5th round of chemo (Folfirinox). He’s tolerated chemo well, and has been slowly getting “better” (appetite returned, diminished pain, more energy), so we’ve been hopeful that the chemo is working to shrink his tumor (limited to the head of the pancreas with some spots on lymph nodes)

This past week he had some swelling in his ankles and he’s had some bloat for a month or so that they finally performed an ultrasound on and saw fluid that they drained (4.5 liters). He also had a PET scan today and we will know the results from his paracentesis shortly too. I’m freaking out over the ascites because everything I’m reading indicates the cancer has spread and the chemo isn’t working. It just seems so unlikely since he’s been feeling better than he has in months.

Can ascites be caused by something other than the cancer spreading?

My dad (77) was diagnosed with PCAN stage 3 and is set to start chemo next week. The tumor is on the head of the pancreas and on nearby lymph nodes. Because of the location of the tumor, it was causing stricture in his bile duct, so a stent was placed. His doctor says he’s a candidate for Folfirinox based on the fact he was healthy and active prior to his diagnosis. I’m reading that patients with stents are not good candidates because of the sepsis risk. Anybody have any insight on this?

He has been told that he’s a candidate for surgery, but that adjuvant chemo is the best course of action. They plan on doing 3 rounds of chemo before reevaluating his tumors and doing surgery. I’m trying to understand why surgery isn’t performed first, or why he can’t go surgery and an MNRA trial prior to chemo? His oncologist seems to be following a standard procedure but I’m worried it’s not in his best interest given his age. I read a study showing adjuvant chemo prior to surgery “significantly” increased lifespan by… 3 months? At what cost?