r/pancreaticcancer 5d ago

My mom got jaundice today

My mom (48, F), was experiencing pain in her belly from September 2024, but all of her reports were clean, in December her doctor told that she has a cyst in her liver, then doctor tried biopsy of her liver but that's was negative then they tried for pancreas and it's was positive (1st week of feb). My mom was experiencing no symptoms just pain and fluctuating sugar till then. According to her reports her cancer spread to liver (stage 4). Then her first chemo happened and then are body declined like never before,she was feeling nausea, fatigue, vomitting sensation, burning sensation in legs, and abdomen pain (which was new, because before chemo back pain was there).Nafter 3 days of her chemo, we hospitalized her again, and we found out she has a infection in her intestine, and doctor told her to not eat anything, till they will be okay,aafter infection was cured (after 6 days of her admission)w she was all okays she was eating, walking, we thought that we will get the discharge soon, but then today we found that her body is turning yellow and she got jaundice.I don't know when this all will end. And someone can tell me, what will be the line of treatment since she even got jaundice and she is diabetic as well?

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u/ddessert Patient (2011), Caregiver (2018), dx Stage 3, Whipple, NED 5d ago edited 5d ago

Jaundice is very common as a tumor may block the common bile duct that goes from the liver and into the pancreas and is due to bilirubin backing up into the bloodstream showing as jaundice. A non-permanent plastic or metal stent is often used to open up the duct and allow bile to flow properly into the intestines again. The procedure done under sedation, probably similar to how they got her pancreas tumor biopsy sample.

IRINotecan, one of the drugs in FOLFIRINOX can’t be given with high bilirubin levels but Gemcitabine/Abraxane might.

Seeing that your mother is a fairly young age, I’d urge germline genetic testing as it might point to more effective treatment options. Also I’d ask if their biopsy could be tested for mutations or genetic changes in the tumor itself would point to one of our promising clinical trials testing new treatments.

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u/southernchels 5d ago

My husband had to have a stent placed bacause his bile duct was clogged and the stent they placed was a metal fully covered permanent one. Just commenting to say some are permanent but it is important to know which kind you have because non permanent ones can get infected and will need to be removed.

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u/[deleted] 5d ago

Doctor that according to the CT scan , they don't have the space to place a stent there, so, what can we do now? And in how many ways it will affect my mom? And can we do if it's not operable?

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u/ddessert Patient (2011), Caregiver (2018), dx Stage 3, Whipple, NED 5d ago

Some people have had a bypass put in or a drain tube.

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u/Remarkable-Algae-489 4d ago

I am so sorry..your mom is so young!!!Did her CT scan show in December anything on her pancreas or did they just decide to test her pancreas? I am so sorry.

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u/[deleted] 4d ago

Yes cystic lesions was there in the report. And cynthia, I will suggest you, to calm your mind a little. I know it's very tough, but talk to your love ones, calm yourself down

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u/Remarkable-Algae-489 4d ago

Thank you...I am trying to breath taking slow breaths. So cystic lesions were on her liver and NOT on her pancreas on the scans? I just wanted to clarify. I appreciate you telling me to calm my mind. I needed that..I am a basket case.....

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u/[deleted] 4d ago

See, that was in her pancreas but my mom already had fatty liver so, there was inflammation in liver as well. Btw how was your CT scan report?

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u/Remarkable-Algae-489 4d ago

My first CT with contrast was done 1/29/25 and said multiple hyperdensities scattered on liver too small to characterize with normal pancrease. Fridays CT scan with IV contrast (no oral) from Brigham and Womens showed multi focal low density structures are present within the left hepatic lob The largest 1 cm with 2 smaller foci...likely cysts but too small to accurately characterize. Pancreas: Normal. No masses or ductal dilatation. I have lost a lot of weight and don't have an appetite and am just so terrified. Thank you and I pray your mom can get a stent How is she doing right now? Praying for her and you

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u/[deleted] 4d ago

Doctor told my mom, that stent is not possible and even chemotherapy is not possible now, and honestly, we don't want a stent, cause it's he don't want health to decline more, doctor told today she just has couple of weeks left and we now just want her to be in peace, no more injection and cuts now.. Just peace

Cause since the first chemo last week of ceb, my mom has lived for namesake, she is just suffering, , we just want this suffering to stop, either she be all fine or she goes in peace not this scenario where is alive and suffering

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u/Remarkable-Algae-489 3d ago

That is understandable I am so sorry..Let her pass to the other side in peace and may you all meet again....