Current status as of

Diagnosis - Adenocarcinoma
Chemotherapy - Irinotecan, Oxaliplatin, 5-fluorouracil
Nov 14th - We received the results of the chess X-ray and abdominal/pelvic CT scan today. All results are clear, no sign of cancer at this point. So, it looks like Debbie and I will get to live normal lives for a while. So this will be the last update. May God be with you all, as He has been with us throughout this last year and always. Thanks for all your support.
Sept 29th - Last chemotherapy administered yesterday. Home and resting well. Should have test within next month to determine if I"m clear of cancer. Praise God, Debbie and all my friends for their support through out the last nine+ months. Steve
Sept 10th - Back from the second to last chemo yesterday (9th) Everything went well. Feeling tired and working on recovery. The chemo was delayed from last week due to low platelets. Pray for a normal recovery as we go into the time prior to the last aggressive chemo. Also, pray for wisdom and Debbie and I try to figure out whether to go through radiation treatments. The medical community seems to be split whether radiation is effective on pancreatic cancer, so doctors are tentatively recommending it. It would be another seven weeks of treatments and would start late October or early November.
Aug: 19 - Ten done and two to go. Chemo went well yesterday. White blood cells and platelets up to near normal. Back home and recuperating. Next chemo on Fri, September 2nd.
July 15th - Chemotherapy was postponed until next week due to uncertainty on the source of the week long low grade fever and a pain the the right side. The source of the fever has still not been determined, but the pain the in the side appears to be a seroma (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seroma) which results in an external lump. Looks like a little alien about to erupt... Additional considerations in delaying chemo is low potassium, anemia, and some swelling of the liver. An MRI is scheduled for Monday to help address the liver question and maybe help answer the fever issue as well.
July 11 - Fifth of eight remaining chemotherapy this Wednesday. Had chemofever this last time for five days. After two emergency room visits and on CT scan, we suspect there is some "swelling" in the liver which might explain the elevated liver enzymes. Let's pray the next round goes smoother and the liver begins to behave.
June 30th - Back from 4th of eight chemo. Only two more months to go. Things went smoothly. Last session, only problem was tiredness. Liver enzymes down a bit, but so is potassium, so am taking some horse pills!!! Next chemo July 13th.
June 16th: - Back home from 3rd of 8 summer chemos! Went well, though Debbie and I were both tired after it was all done (8 AM to 3 PM). My liver enzymes continue to increase, though it doesn't appear to be anything to worry about yet. Doctors practicing medicine don't have an explanation except that it happens during chemo. No nausea last time though did have a fever excursion that worried us a bit. Emergency room and everything, but they sent up home after a lot of blood testing. Expecting it to all go well this time.
May 31st. - Second of eight more chemotherapy treatments (every two weeks) tomorrow June 1st. First one (of eight) two weeks ago went well. No nausea, a bit strange in the head but that is normal (for us all??). Don't anticipate any problems.
April 22nd - Praise God!

I slowly been getting better, so I have nothing but praise. This week we saw the oncologist and the surgeon. They both feel I'm doing great.

The surgeon removed the surgery drains, so i no longer have two plastic tubes sticking out my side. The plumbing appears to be working a bit better each day. There doesn't seem to be anything that I eat that creates any problem. I'm not diabetic. My energy level appears to be getting better.

We did learn this week that additional chemotherapy is recommended, starting in early May. This will last four months, basically until early September. At that time, radiation therapy is recommended, four to six weeks. The surgeon said this is the time to hit it hard. Even with surgery, pancreatic cancer returns within 5 years, 75% of the time. In my case, it is probable the odds of the cancer returning are lower.
April 5th - Stomach and intestines fairly well awake at this point and vomiting is starting to become a memory. The two srugery drains are still outputting more than the body can handle, so they haven't been removed and still sprout out my side like I'm some kind of Borg.
March 26th - Received pathology report this morning. Stage 1B. No lymph node involvement. Cancer appears to have been contained within the tumor that was removed. However, chemotherapy and radiation is still being advised.
March 25th - Released from the hospital and home again. The surgery went well, getting all the tumor with no involvement of the portal vein. (It "peeled off" the vein) Still have 60% of my pancreas and it is working as I appear to not be diabetic at this point. Not fully recovered. The stomach has not woken up to the new configuration of guts, so it is just sitting and holding fluid/food until it decides to go the wrong direction. This is normal and this discomfort may continue for 1-3 more weeks.
March 3rd - Met with oncologist and surgeon this week. Chemotherapy has shrank the tumor slightly and surgery is scheduled for March 14th. Debbie noted it was a good omen that it wasn't scheduled for the Ides of March (Et tu brute!?). Surgery will be at OU Medical Center - Presbyterian Tower.at 7:30 AM. We have to be there at 6:00 AM in the MORNING? Even I have trouble being awake at that time of the morning!!!! We continue to pray for God's will in our lives.
Feb 26 - We received word yesterday that the tumor is resectable (operable). Is it a good thing that I find "happiness" looking forward to surgery?!?!? We meet the the oncologist Monday morning and the surgeon Tuesday morning. We should know the schedule after we meet with the surgeon. Debbie and I feel so blessed and uplifted will all your support and love. Thank you so much.
Feb 14th - We are both home and doing well. Debbie was able to have the laproscopy procedure to remove her gall bladder, so the recovery will be easier than if she had the "open" procedure. As far as me...Well, the last chemo is done (?). The two of the main stuffs have been "infused" into my body, and the last is slowly getting in over the next two days. The last chemo is well on it way!!!! BTW, it appears Debbie and I have a large piece of sunshine in our lives, not only all you but somehow, Debbie's sister Ruth has managed to melt all the snow. All I know is that it was here when I left for OKC on Sunday night and I get back Monday afternoon and it's GONE.
Feb 3rd - This recovery has been a bit longer. Only had one incident on Sunday after chemo, but problems crept in with the blizzard. Digestion problems allowed a loss of a bit more weight and lethargy than normal, so only beginning to start to feel active again today. Most of the digestion problems may be resolved. Debbie once again has done a great job of taking care of me. Thanks for everyone's support.
Jan 27th - Back from third session of chemo. Took a little longer 8-2 PM since they couldn't get a blood draw from the port and had to run test in the lab instead of the infusion center. Felt very tired yesterday, but seem to be rested up now. They have added some anti-nausea medication as last time it gout out of control for about 36 hours. Debbie and I watched inception while getting treatment. Boy a very convoluted by good movie. It turned out good, I think?!? Pray this Saturday goes well. They tell us that I shouldn't suffer any nausea. Would be nice. I ask continued prayers that this mass shrinks. We will have a CT scan mid February and meet with the Dr. on Feb 21st to find out the results.
Jan 22nd - Basically completely recovered at this point. Excess gas but the insides are not normal. Ready for next chemo.
Jan 12th - Second chemo treatment completed and home again. Went smoother than the first about about an 1 1/2 shorter. Still got to spend 5 1/2 hours there and got to bring home my little friend who will pump me with 5-FU for the next 48 hours. Feeling OK at this point with a bit of disorientation. Gosh, pump yourself with poison for 5 hours, what do you expect?! Oh joy. What a beautiful day out there. Cold but bright as a tack.
Jan 4th - Feeling almost normal again. Lots of drug responses, chemo responses, loss of appetite, vomiting, feeling sick, sleepiness, lethargy, etc. Haven't felt like doing anything at all. Found out complete results of 2nd CT scan on Dec. 22nd. Besides the 'clear' lungs, the pancreatic mass did not appear to have changed in size. Again, evidence the tumor has not metastasized.
December 31st - Took pump off sometime around noon. Was kind of freaky injecting myself with 10 cc of saline and 5 cc of Heprin. Where is that stuff really going?!?!?! Pulled the needle out and nurse Debbie bandaged me up!!!
December 30th - God is good!!! First round of chemo went well, though long. Checked in at 8 AM and finished at 3 PM. A bit of kinkiness in the lines kept things from flowing well (and alarm bells ringing. Thought I was in a bell choir.) Sent home with a pump to deliver the third chemical over the next two days. Feeling fairly well, though a bit different. Debbie is taking great care of me.
December 18th - Port placement on Dec. 22nd at 7:30 AM at St. Anthony's in Oklahoma City.
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_(medical) for a description of a "port" and what it is used for.
Appears I will be getting a silicone breast implant!!!
CT scan to ensure no lung involvement at 1:30 PM same day.
Chemotherapy anticipated after Christmas. Will depend on results of lung CT scan.
December 13th - Friday the 13th on a Monday. Biopsy indicated positive for malignancy. With luck (Really?) chemotherapy will start right after Christmas. Once every two weeks. Need to get insurance clearance, install a port (so we can take a chemotherapy pump home with us, oh joy), and get a new CT scan to insure lungs are not involved.
December 7th - Endoscopy with ultrasound and needle biopsy at OU Medical - OKC. Biopsy results anticipated by Friday. A 2.4 cm hypochoic mass was identified in the pancreatic head. Local invasion of the portal vein, as manifested by a short loss of interface, and the PV narrowed in this area.
December 2nd - Consulted with Chief of Surgery OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City. Second CAT scan. Surgeon indicated mass inoperable at this time as it appeared to be close to a vein. Ordered 2nd Endoscopy, capable of needle biopsy.
November 30 - Endoscopy (ERCP) confirmed mass was NOT a gall stone. Put stint in collapsed bile duct. Attempt at biopsy.
November 19 - Cat scan and results showed a 3 cm mass on the pancreas.
November 18 - Thank God for Debbie Hugghins Wharry - Insisted PA at GP order a CAT Scan
Middle of November - ultrasound found sludge in gall bladder and bile duct.
End of October - gaseous pains, thought it was virus. Lasted a couple weeks. Went to GP. GP indicated it was gall bladder problem.