Pancreatic cancer is the beast due to lack of detection. It’s too late for our family, but hoping for breakthrough and relief for others.
My classmate has pancreatic cancer treated with a Whipple procedure (and prior chemo/radiation). The Whipple wasn't 100% fix for him. His "clue" was development of Type 1 diabetes and severe weight loss. My ampullary cancer was heralded by a rise in liver enzyme ALP. The tumor blocked the path to my duodenum and caused the common bile duct to dilate from a normal 4mm to well over 17mm with bile backup into my blood. The path to detection started with a blood test in January. Sonograms, MRCP, CT, colonoscopy, transoral endoscopy and an ERCP have culminated on April 17th with a referral for a Whipple. May 16th brings a consult with the surgeon. The Whipple follows.