Question 1

my wife has been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer, it is inoperable. can octreotide treatments extend her survival ?

Accepted Answer

Maybe: Octreotide does have a role here and there are several small studies that show that it helps control disease and may prolong survival. I would have her also see a surgeon who specializes in this to make sure she is truly inoperable.

Question 2

experts, might someone recommend nexavar (sorafenib) for a stage 4 inactive neuroendocrine pancreatic cancer patient?

Accepted Answer

Possibly: Stage 4 indicates that you have net at a site distant from the pancreas or regional lymph node, likely the liver.  Not clear what you mean by"inactive", whether you mean it is stable or not secreting any substance.  In any case, sorafenib (nexavar) is being tested in metastatic net in clinical trials (http://clinicaltrials.Gov/ct2/show/nct00131911) & (http://www.Ncbi.Nlm.Nih.Gov/pubmed/23475104).

Question 3

what is the average prognosis for pancreatic cancer?

Accepted Answer

Very poor: It is quite dismal.  Most cancers are discovered late and are unresectable.  For localized cancers, resection offers the best chance of cure, and even this is only in the order of 25% at 5 years in the best series...But is better than nothing!

Question 4

my son has pancreatic cancer. it has moved to the lymph nodes. generally what is the prognosis? he is 39.

Accepted Answer

Poor: Prognosis is 6-12 months for unresectable adenocarcinoma of the pancreas.

Question 5

prognosis for 3 pancreatic ampullary cancer tumors. 1 removed with whipple. chemo 7months helped 1 shrink & 1 disappear. liver lesions shrank. ?

Accepted Answer

Key is nutrition: To improve your prognosis, my primary suggestion is to research the ideal ways to optimize your nutrition as your GI system has been affected. The poorer the nutritional status, the worse the prognosis.

Question 6

pancreatic cancer, ampullary tumor. whipple procedure.  spread to liver, not respectable. chemo for 6 months and continuing. prognosis?

Accepted Answer

Poor: While Whipple is the best approach for a primary pancreatic or ampullary lesion, the recurrence rate at 1-2 yrs is 90%.  Chemo either of the FOLFIERI or Genciabine /Abraxane combo have limited effects on liver mets which in pancreas are not considered amenable to resection.  There is an FDA protocol using specific monoclonals targeting pancreas that might be available but only after chemo failure

Question 7

my husband has pancreatic cancer. distal pancreatectomy/splenectomy three months ago. adenocarcinoma stage iii (pt3, pn2, cm0) diagnosis, margins 1mm to 3mm. what is his prognosis without chemo? he also has pancreatic divisum and chronic pancreatitis?

Accepted Answer

: Pancreatic cancer is one of the worst cancers as very few people survive it for more than 1-2 years.
Taking chemotherapy can buy extra time, may be an additional year or two.
I would have him see a medical Oncologist and take additional treatment; otherwise this tumor is likely to spread further within a matter of months.

Question 8

where can i pay for tests for pancreatic cancer in the u.s.?

Accepted Answer

Anywhere?: There is no perfect test for pancreatic cancer though it is most commonly diagnosed with a pancreatic protocol ct or mri. Those can be done at most any facility.

Question 9

could children get pancreas cancer?

Accepted Answer

Possible, not common: There is a very rare type of pancreatic cancer (called pancreatoblastoma) that can occur in children.  This uncommon type of malignancy usually happens before age 10 with a median age of 4 to 5.  If the tumor is confined to the pancreas, young patients with pancreatoblastoma can be cured by a combination of surgery and chemotherapy.  Hope that this helps.

Question 10

pancreatic node may be cancer. what should i do?

Accepted Answer

Need more info: The questions you should ask: a) what kind of cancer-- neuroendocrine or adenocarcinoma b) where did the cancer start before going to the node c) is the node and the primary cancer site removable with an operation d) make sure your physician(s) are comfortable taking care of this type of problem.

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Doctor answers about:

Pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer prognosis

A member asked:

My wife has been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer, it is inoperable. can octreotide treatments extend her survival ?

A member asked:

Experts, might someone recommend nexavar (sorafenib) for a stage 4 inactive neuroendocrine pancreatic cancer patient?

A member asked:

What is the average prognosis for pancreatic cancer?

A member asked:

My son has pancreatic cancer. it has moved to the lymph nodes. generally what is the prognosis? he is 39.

A member asked:

Prognosis for 3 pancreatic ampullary cancer tumors. 1 removed with whipple. chemo 7months helped 1 shrink & 1 disappear. liver lesions shrank. ?

A member asked:

Pancreatic cancer, ampullary tumor. whipple procedure. spread to liver, not respectable. chemo for 6 months and continuing. prognosis?

A member asked:

My husband has pancreatic cancer. distal pancreatectomy/splenectomy three months ago. adenocarcinoma stage iii (pt3, pn2, cm0) diagnosis, margins 1mm to 3mm. what is his prognosis without chemo? he also has pancreatic divisum and chronic pancreatitis?

A member asked:

Where can i pay for tests for pancreatic cancer in the u.s.?

A member asked:

Could children get pancreas cancer?

A member asked:

Pancreatic node may be cancer. what should i do?

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