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Life after Pancreatic Cancer

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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

December 23, 2012

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Unknown said…

Happy new year to you too... Love the blog!

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Definitions (see previous post for The Diagnosis)

Let me take a break from the story here to give a few definitions, as this was all pretty new to me I did some research of my own: Insulinoma: A tumor of the beta cells in areas of the pancreas called the islets of Langerhans . Although not usually cancerous, such tumors may cause the body to make extra insulin and may lead to hypoglycemia , a blood glucose (sugar) level that is too low. Hypoglycemia: Low blood sugar (glucose). When symptoms of hypoglycemia occur together with a documented blood glucose under 45 mg/dl, and the symptoms promptly resolve with the administration of glucose, the diagnosis of hypoglycemia can be made with some certainty. Hypoglycemia is only significant when it is associated with symptoms. The symptoms may include anxiety, sweating, tremor, palpitations, nausea, and pallor. Hypoglycemia also starves the brain of glucose energy, which is essential for proper brain function. Lack of glucose energy to the brain can cause symptoms ranging from headache, mil

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Paris - Mission: save my pancreas

What do I do when i'm between a rock and a hard place ??? Well I push with all my might until something gives! I went to my GP and requested he set up a second opinion for me in the mainland (France) a month later here I am, sitting at a friend's apartment in Paris about to go under the knife in a few days. The doctor's here agree with my GP and I, that I should keep the partially functioning Pancreas (It's not secreting enzymes but it is secreting insulin). The problem doesn't lie with the pancreas anyway, it's the connection between the pancreas and stomach that's 'partially collapsed' and 'ill'. The easy way out for the surgeon would be to remove the pancreas (that's what the surgeon here said) but it's not easy on the patient. I'm only 34 what would my quality of life be with full blown severe diabetes? So on 09/15 i go under the knife once more....

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