John Cameron is truly the sole heir to A O Whipple the father of Pancreatic surgery in USA. It’s heartening to see that the third generation of John Hopkins residents and pupils of Cameron are placed as chairman, department heads or faculty across the country carrying the Cameron legacy of safe & innovative practices in the field of pancreatic surgery.
I just got done with my Pancreatic Cancer regimen. No radiation. Positive for BRCA2 and tested positive (138) for the CA19-9. Biopsied. No METS, no lymph involvement, stage 1a. Incredible. If THAT wasn’t good enough, I’m the 3rd in my family to be diagnosed. My brother who is exactly 2 years older than me was diagnosed 18 months ago. Had a WHIPPLE and was back to work in 3 months. Chemo , no radiation, head of pancreas with with ductal block and was jaundiced at time of presentation. Our cousin, female, age 51 also was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the tail. She was told she was palliative because of the tumor wrapping around vessels. She went to the University of Michigan for a second opinion and was given the opportunity for surgery. She too is fine now and back to work. Note: all female granddaughters tested positive for the BRCA2. Me? Age 50. Mild, dull but persistent mid back pain. For about 5 years I knew something wasn’t right but it was so nonspecific. I did everything at home that I could . What made me go in? I couldn’t get in a comfortable position to play my first person shooter games! Lol! I was angry so I went to the ER in my Jammie’s. I knew something was wrong because what I felt was minor , but I was in that room for HOURS without being acknowledged. The ER DR. came into the room saying how sorry he was. I looked and said , ‘what’… he told me. To try and shorten this even more, I’ll jump ahead. My female cousin and I are identical. Our cancers were the same except I caught mine super early. We both had severe CNS anaphylactic reactions to Ironetecan. So I only had 2 types of chemo. Getting my port out in October. I’m no dummy nor am I in denial… but aside the crippling and debilitating fatigue, you’d never know I was ever sick. Yes, I had some severe side effects , as in neuropathy, memory loss, numbness in areas, brain fog. But no hair loss, no. Weight loss, minimal nausea. Anyways, enough on me. Everyone I tell this to, asks me if they are researching our family. So far, all of us are testing completely clean. Not even on enzymes and so far none of us are Diabetics. Thanks for your time. Jami
I'm so sorry to hear that you and your family had to go through so much, but happy that you're recovering. If you want a suggestion for a test to see what might have triggered this, I suggest genetic testing for methylation function, most specifically MTHFR and COMT (the slow kind). It could be that your family has inherited difficulty in removing catecholamines, excess estrogens, and toxins from your body. You can talk to your doctor, genetic specialist, or do it yourself with a broad medical DNA test or do a 23 and Me test and search through the data yourself. I have MTHFR and slow COMT, so I have to make sure I take a non-methylated vitamin B complex minus folate and take folate as dark leafy greens. Vitamin Bs help you do the above.
Thanks for sharing your story! When you went to the ER, did they dismiss your symptoms? Did they eventually run tests and find the cancer during that hospital stay? Thanks in advance.
I am so confused now. I went to see 4 doctors, and 3/4 oncologist treatment plan was just Chemo (Folfirinox) and then Surgery (note, they said, I am borderline respectable, localized 2.5 mm tumor), other oncologist mentioned Chemo, Radiation and then surgery. SIGH.
Hi, thank you for reaching out to us. Unfortunately, because each person’s medical situation is different, we are unable to provide treatment recommendations or second opinions via this form of communication. If you would like to request an appointment at one of our hospitals, please call 888-872-1408. Our specially trained medical concierges can arrange consultations or treatment plans with the most appropriate specialists. Johns Hopkins USA can also provide language interpretation, financial counseling, assistance with travel arrangements and anything else to help make Johns Hopkins feel as close to home as possible.
There was a news story in 2018 about Dr. Dom Leidner in Portland Oregon who was using a gene therapy with some great success. Is this something that may be in trials or is being used?
very good for all those who survive pancreatic cancer i had only seen 1 of 10 people who got this disease surviving very sad but glad to know that others got better luck
During my operation surgery the doctor will remove or Whipple the solid mass the denocarcinoma ,what is next move can give some advice the best steep ty
John Cameron is truly the sole heir to A O Whipple the father of Pancreatic surgery in USA. It’s heartening to see that the third generation of John Hopkins residents and pupils of Cameron are placed as chairman, department heads or faculty across the country carrying the Cameron legacy of safe & innovative practices in the field of pancreatic surgery.
Well done, I like the aggressive surgery approach after the patients respond well to systemic therapy. I knew it would work.
I just got done with my Pancreatic Cancer regimen. No radiation. Positive for BRCA2 and tested positive (138) for the CA19-9. Biopsied. No METS, no lymph involvement, stage 1a. Incredible.
If THAT wasn’t good enough, I’m the 3rd in my family to be diagnosed. My brother who is exactly 2 years older than me was diagnosed 18 months ago. Had a WHIPPLE and was back to work in 3 months. Chemo , no radiation, head of pancreas with with ductal block and was jaundiced at time of presentation. Our cousin, female, age 51 also was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the tail. She was told she was palliative because of the tumor wrapping around vessels. She went to the University of Michigan for a second opinion and was given the opportunity for surgery. She too is fine now and back to work.
Note: all female granddaughters tested positive for the BRCA2.
Me? Age 50. Mild, dull but persistent mid back pain. For about 5 years I knew something wasn’t right but it was so nonspecific. I did everything at home that I could . What made me go in? I couldn’t get in a comfortable position to play my first person shooter games! Lol! I was angry so I went to the ER in my Jammie’s. I knew something was wrong because what I felt was minor , but I was in that room for HOURS without being acknowledged. The ER DR. came into the room saying how sorry he was. I looked and said , ‘what’… he told me.
To try and shorten this even more, I’ll jump ahead. My female cousin and I are identical. Our cancers were the same except I caught mine super early. We both had severe CNS anaphylactic reactions to Ironetecan. So I only had 2 types of chemo.
Getting my port out in October.
I’m no dummy nor am I in denial… but aside the crippling and debilitating fatigue, you’d never know I was ever sick. Yes, I had some severe side effects , as in neuropathy, memory loss, numbness in areas, brain fog. But no hair loss, no. Weight loss, minimal nausea.
Anyways, enough on me.
Everyone I tell this to, asks me if they are researching our family.
So far, all of us are testing completely clean. Not even on enzymes and so far none of us are Diabetics.
Thanks for your time.
Jami
Thank you very much for your story
Thanks for explanation
I'm so sorry to hear that you and your family had to go through so much, but happy that you're recovering. If you want a suggestion for a test to see what might have triggered this, I suggest genetic testing for methylation function, most specifically MTHFR and COMT (the slow kind). It could be that your family has inherited difficulty in removing catecholamines, excess estrogens, and toxins from your body. You can talk to your doctor, genetic specialist, or do it yourself with a broad medical DNA test or do a 23 and Me test and search through the data yourself. I have MTHFR and slow COMT, so I have to make sure I take a non-methylated vitamin B complex minus folate and take folate as dark leafy greens. Vitamin Bs help you do the above.
Update: I’m on enzymes and now am a type 2 diabetic. Lol. That’s ok though! I’m here!
Thanks for sharing your story! When you went to the ER, did they dismiss your symptoms? Did they eventually run tests and find the cancer during that hospital stay? Thanks in advance.
I am so confused now. I went to see 4 doctors, and 3/4 oncologist treatment plan was just Chemo (Folfirinox) and then Surgery (note, they said, I am borderline respectable, localized 2.5 mm tumor), other oncologist mentioned Chemo, Radiation and then surgery. SIGH.
Are you still doing surgery on Stage IV pancreatic cancer patients?
Hi, thank you for reaching out to us. Unfortunately, because each person’s medical situation is different, we are unable to provide treatment recommendations or second opinions via this form of communication.
If you would like to request an appointment at one of our hospitals, please call 888-872-1408. Our specially trained medical concierges can arrange consultations or treatment plans with the most appropriate specialists. Johns Hopkins USA can also provide language interpretation, financial counseling, assistance with travel arrangements and anything else to help make Johns Hopkins feel as close to home as possible.
How do I get the pancreatic vaccine. Does it have to be given before the surgery or is it still effective after the Whipple surgery?
There was a news story in 2018 about Dr. Dom Leidner in Portland Oregon who was using a gene therapy with some great success. Is this something that may be in trials or is being used?
very good for all those who survive pancreatic cancer i had only seen 1 of 10 people who got this disease surviving very sad
but glad to know that others got better luck
Which one involve for pancreatic ca MSI or LOH?
Is there any treatment about my adenocarsenoma pancreatic cancer I have been done 12 session stage #2
I got 12 session chemotherapy
During my operation surgery the doctor will remove or Whipple the solid mass the denocarcinoma ,what is next move can give some advice the best steep ty
If the pancreatic cancer have spread to other organs, will this type of surgery help?
For specific questions, we suggest reaching out to a health care professional.
are you guys able to cure it
You can learn more here: www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/pancreatic-cancer
This video couldnt be anymore boring.