Support My Fight Against Pancreatic Cancer

Hello all as my dad is humbly asking for prayers and support let me give insight on his journey and how we ended up where we are.

In July 2024 my dad noticed the white of his eyes were very yellow. After many attempts to convince him to go to the E.D., he sought care at St. Luke’s Orwigsburg. After many tests and evaluations by Dr’s is was determined that he was jaundice due to a mass on the head of his pancreas. This mass was constricting his bile duct, and the mass was not allowing his bile to properly pass through. For anyone who is in the medical field his Billirubin was a 12, and normal is around .5. The medical staff at this time decided it was best for my dad to be transferred to the Bethlehem campus. After arriving and getting settled, a series of events came into play. Many of round of antibiotics to prevent infection, lots of fluids and the staff creating a team of many Doctors to figure out his next steps. First step was to place a stent into the bile duct to allow the bile to flow through properly and also to biopsy the mass. After the first round of stents were placed his body rejected one stent, they needed to proceed with another operation to go back in and replace the stent. After a day or so and much pain it was determined that the stent and his body were not agreeing and a failed biopsy as well. At this point it was determined that they needed to go back in and replace the stent with another one made of different material, along with another biopsy. Moving forward again, his body took well to these new stents, but the disruption aggravated his gallbladder and was causing unbearable pain. After speaking with his medical team, and learning that the second biopsy failed, they agreed on going back in for a third operation to place a stent in the gallbladder and take a third biopsy. The operation went well and everything was a success, including the biopsy. After the successful biopsy we learned that intact my dad had pancreatic cancer. After a three week stay and the most incredible care at St. Luke’s he was released to come home. After meetings with his Palliative Care Dr, Oncologist and Surgical Oncologist it was determined that the mass is press against two major arteries and removal of the mass was not an option. It was then decided to move forward to try and shrink the mass with 12 rounds of very aggressive Chemo over a 6 month period. Last week he had an appointment with his Surgical Oncolgist, the mass has not been reduced at all to a safe size to be removed this Dr. her facility can not accommodate the procedure that he would need done. We were referred to a surgical Oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York. At this appointment we will discuss the surgery he needs. This surgery is a very invasive and delicate surgery, as they will attempt to remove the mass, and reconstruct the two main arteries that the mass has affected. We are unsure at this point if this Surgeon will feel that he can perform the procedure, or will he have to try Chemoradiation first. This is my dads story up to date and we will continue to update as the appointments move forward. Anyone who knows my dad, knows he is the happiest, jolliest, caring and giving person. He is the best Dad to all his children and the most wonderful Poppy to all his grandchildren and those grandchildren he has “adopted” along the way. If you can give back and are able to donate it is beyond appreciated. If you are unable to donate and can just send a prayer and share this, he is truly grateful. Thank you for reading this long story, but I wanted everyone to see what a strong man my dad is. He has so much fight in him and he has so much to live for. He loves you all!

Many Thanks from Glenn’s daughter and family.

-Alex

I am currently going through pancreatic cancer and face a serious surgery at Sloane Kettering in NYC for the removal of my tumor. It will be traveling back and forth from Pennsylvania, lodging, food, gas, and anything else that is needed. I am grateful for any help.