Pancreatic cancer

Hi Cara-

I wish your friend the best and it sounds like you are a great, positive support system for her. That being said, I can only tell you my single experience with pancreatic cancer in my family. My mother-in-law, not quite 59 years old, was diagnosed May 30, 2008. She died July 29th, 2008. She had been experiencing symptoms since Fall of 2007, and her cancer had spread to surrounding organs, so no surgery could be done. She did chemo for a couple of sessions, but then had a mild stroke on July 4th. She was never the same after that, and declined quickly. It was an extremely difficult two months - much too short to try and create final memories, yet much too long for the suffering that she endured.

That was my experience, but there are people that beat the odds and live several months, even years, like Randy Pausch. I participated in a pancreatic walk last year and it was inspiring to hear the survivor's stories - I believe the longest survivor was 5 years at the event I attended. So stay positive and most of all, make sure your friend knows how much your friendship has meant over the years. If there's anything you've wanted to tell her all of these years, or ways that she has made your life better, tell her! That's the most important lesson I've learned over the past year. My thoughts will be with you and your friend.