[quote=bearishgurl] Thanks for your condolences, CAR. I think about her often. Her doctors didn’t give her any hope from the beginning, but she wanted to try, because of having minor children. I think the same could be said of Dr. Pausch, here . . . his kids were VERY young……For me, I would rather just “accept” my fate and do nothing if there was no hope for me than go thru what my sister (and other relatives) have.[/quote]

You’ve mentioned this a few times, BG, and I understand your sister’s actions AND your views completely. When the facts were laid out before me, my children’s young ages were what decided it. I, myself, was willing to take the odds on no chemo, but I knew if they didn’t work out in my favor, I’d never forgive myself. If it had been 10 or 15 years later, it would have been different.

But that proves my point: there were factors that forced me to think about what I was going to do, and your sister, also. And in so many cases these days, patients and/or their families don’t think, don’t see the whole picture. In their defense, they’re not always encouraged to.

[quote=bearishgurl] The type of related cancers that my sister and Pausch were diagnosed with are rarely discovered when they are still curable and are typically “late-stage” diagnoses (where distant metastasis has already occured) and are nearly always terminal. It’s just a matter of when . . . and what kind of life the patient wishes to live until the end…….
Yeah, a lot more research needs to be done and it is happening but since it is research, it takes a long time and many more people will die waiting.
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As you are well aware, pancreatic ca is incredibly scary. Fortunately, it’s starting to get more attention, but I know that you are familiar with how problematic diagnosis, treatment, and long-term study can be. However, they are doing testing for genetic predisposition to pancreatic ca, and, in some cases, performing prophylactic removal of the pancreas. You’re right: there’s a very long way to go with research. But it seems like more researchers are showing an interest in this type of ca, and, more important, more money (both government and private) is being directed to it.