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PANCREATIC CANCER DIAGNOSIS
Now what?
WHAT SHOULD I DO NOW?
STAY CALM -
THERE ARE OPTIONS
We know a diagnosis can be scary, but stay calm; you’re not alone. The Seena Magowitz Foundation provides a direct line to personalized care, support, and hope to those affected with pancreatic cancer. If you would like to speak with someone immediately, call us at 1-(808)-500-5020 or email us at info@seenamagowitzfoundation.org.
CONTACT USGET INFORMED –
TREATMENTS & RESOURCES
- LEARN MORE ABOUT PANCREATIC CANCER
- Gather resources about treatment options
- Find out if clinical trials are right for you
- Read our warrior stories to learn about their health journeys
CREATE YOUR ACTION PLAN –
LEARN MORE AND CONNECT
We offer a support group for newly diagnosed patients called Pancreatic Cancer Support for Survivorship with monthly meetings and a facebook group for ongoing dialog. We also have a Second Opinions program with our team of rockstar physicians.
LEARN MORE
Questions About Prognosis
GETTING A SECOND OPINION
A newly diagnosed pancreatic cancer patient may be reeling from the news and hesitant to ask about prognosis because he or she may not be mentally or emotionally prepared to hear the answer.
That same patient’s family members, loved ones and caregivers may want and need answers about prognosis, but they must be sensitive to the needs and desires of the patient when seeking them.
Under these circumstances, a patient’s loved ones may choose to meet with the doctor apart from the patient to get the answers they need while maintaining sensitivity to the patient’s wishes. It is important that loved ones understand that, when it comes to questions about prognosis, doctors do their best to offer the most accurate information available. When giving a patient a prognosis, physicians typically reference the average anticipated survival of a large population of patients facing similar circumstances, so the figure may or not be accurate for each individual patient.
The Value of Second Opinions
While it’s important that patients and their loved ones keep the conversation going with their physicians, it’s equally important that patients pursue second opinions after receiving serious medical diagnoses.
When possible, patients may want to seek those second opinions from large-scale academic medical centers with a wide variety of cancer programs in place, as opposed to from smaller hospitals.
Dr. Douglas B. Evans, MD, FACS
While both settings prioritize treating the “patient of today,” academic medical centers are more likely to also focus on treating the “patient of tomorrow,” meaning they may place a heavier emphasis on clinical trials and new and innovative treatment options. When patients seek second opinions from larger research centers, they may, too, have their cases brought before a multidisciplinary board of physicians, none of whom have an existing emotional attachment to the patient.
When seeking second opinions, though, it’s important to be aware of “analysis fatigue.” When patients get opinions from five, six, seven or more doctors, rather than two or three, it may hurt them in the long run. Why? It may lead a patient to consider a wide number of treatment options, which in turn may delay that patient from receiving prompt treatment when it might prove most effective. Securing second or third opinions helps increase the accuracy of diagnostics while improving not only the patient’s chances of survival, both those of future patients, too.
HELPFUL QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR DOCTOR
Here is a list of essential questions to ask your doctor if you’ve been newly diagnosed with pancreatic cancer:
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What type and stage of pancreatic cancer do I have?
Understanding the type (e.g., adenocarcinoma or neuroendocrine) and stage helps guide treatment options and prognosis.
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What are my treatment options?
Ask about surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, or clinical trials, and whether a combination of treatments is recommended.
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Is my cancer operable?
Surgery is often a key component of treatment. If not operable, inquire about alternatives to manage the disease.
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What are the goals of treatment?
Clarify if the focus is on the cancer, prolonging survival, or improving quality of life
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Should I get a second opinion or see a specialist?
Consider consulting a pancreatic cancer specialist or a center of excellence for complex cases.
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What lifestyle changes should I make?
Learn how to manage diet, exercise, and stress, as well as ways to maintain strength during treatment.
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What are the side effects of the recommended treatments? What is the quality-of-life issues?
Understand potential physical, emotional, and cognitive effects and how to manage them. Should I have a dental checkup prior to starting treatment?
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What support resources are available?
Ask about support groups, counselors, dietitians, and palliative care options.
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What is my prognosis, and how might it change with treatment?
While difficult to hear, understanding this can help with planning and decision-making.
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Are there any clinical trials available for my situation?
Clinical trials may provide access to cutting-edge therapies not yet widely available.
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Will you be doing genetic testing on me?
Genetic testing can help determine if there is a hereditary reason for the cancer.
GETTING SUPPORT for Survivorship
Join a community of Pancreatic Cancer patients, survivors and caregivers. Facing a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is a shock beyond comprehension. Facing and coping with what to expect both during and after treatments is daunting. Our focus in Pancreatic Cancer SOS: Support For Survivorship is easing distress of physical and emotional obstacles leading to improved quality of life. Join our groups of other patients, survivors and caregivers in similar places along their journey. Monthly meetings take place over zoom and are always carried out in a safe space. We hope you can join us.
- Share inspiration with peers who have walked the same paths.
- Help newly diagnosed patients cope with issues that lie ahead.
- Reduce anxieties. Absorb the sense of purpose by helping others.
- Learn the importance of taking care of yourself.