Re: To re: Triglycerides & PC cancer screening

[Guest guest]

,

I believe you misunderstood the reason for my suggestion. The

suggestion of the triglyceride test as a diagnostic test for

pancreatitis was addressed because Ian had said that his amylase and

lipase tests had been normal, as well as having a clear CT-scan. A

patient can have repeated normal amylase and lipase levels, making

physicians believe that pancreatitis isn't present, yet once a

triglyceride test is done and high triglycerides ARE found, it can

confirm a pancreatitis diagnosis. Actually, only a small percentage

of CP patients DO have high triglycerides, not " most " as you said in

your reply. Mine were only 58 when last tested. This particular test

is often overlooked, yet, if done, a high level can be indicative of

pancreatitis. The triglyceride test can be a very helpful tool in

establishing a diagnosis when the other " standard " indicators, such as

amylase and lipase tests, or a CT-scan, come back normal.

You felt that my mention of the CA-19-9 blood test and CT-scans as

screens for pancreatic cancer were too generalized, yet these ARE two

tests that physicians will agree to perform to ease a patient's mind

when there are no other symptoms or signs of PC evident. I don't know

of any more specific tests, and would appreciate your sharing your

knowledge of any others, if you do.

In my opinion, it would be highly unusual for a non-smoking patient as

young as Ian, with no other indicative degenerative PC symptoms, nor

even a confirmed dx of chronic pancreatitis, to have pancreatic

cancer. But this is only my personal opinion, as the disclaimer at

the bottom of my letter explains, and only a physician could confirm

or deny this type of diagnosis, as I advised.

It is true that the CA-19-9 blood test will only show if there is a

cancerous tumor marker present. Just as a fine needle aspiration

biopsy of tissue taken from a pancreas pseudocyst, (another test I've

had done), can only test for cancer in the portion of tissue that was

actually aspirated from the cyst. A Pancreatologist, Dr.

Lange, who treated me at the Mayo Clinic, was the physician who

explained that a twice a year CT-scan could be used for my cancer

screening, along with alternating bi-yearly CA-19-9 blood tests. He

has great confidence in the accuaracy of these tests, and all the

reseach I've read has cited these as the first diagnosistic screening

tests that physicians do perform to check for cancer. Dr. Lange did

discuss with me that although these tests couldn't guarantee my being

absolutely cancer-free, he said that if they were used, in conjunction

with regular monitoring of all physical signs and no evidence of any

asymtomatic conditions, they would be about 99% accurate. I didn't

mean to imply that only these tests were alsolute disqualifiers of

pancreatic cancer, and I apologize if anyone misunderstood.

Again, if you're talking about adenomacardinomas of the bilary duct or

gallbladder you're speaking of cancers that are diagnosed at a mean

age of 45.8, or usually associated whith chronic choleocystitis in

women over 50...it just didn't seem to me that these are issues that

Ian, in his early 20's, needs to fear at this time. I was only trying

to reassure him that although we all seem to immediately fear this,

especially when confronted with a problem as mysterious as CP can be,

that the probability of him having it would be very remote.

As for the fact that your pancreas didn't even show CP last year when

you already had it, Ian had already explained that his doesn't now,

and I commented early in my post that this is often the case. We all

know that just because the tests don't show it, doesn't mean that you

don't have chronic pancreatitis.

It needs to be explained, though, that while chronic pancreatitis is a

slow growing condition that becomes more progressive as the months and

years pass, pancreatic cancer isn't! It's fast and fiercely

aggressive, with a life span of 3-6 months from diagnosis, at best.

Unfortunately, a PC patient doesn't linger around for months or years

being worried about it, it hits so fast.

I do hope that it wasn't construed that the tests I mentioned were

absolute guarantees of 100% validity, and I would recommend that if

ANYONE has any concerns about pancreas cancer, their concerns should

be addressed to a qualified physician immediately.

With love, hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

South Carolina State Rep.

South Eastern Regional Rep.

PAI

Note: All comments or advice are based on personal experience or

opinion, and should not be substituted for professional medical

consultation.

wrote:

> Just reading your response re diagnosing this C.P. and wanted to say

that I have never had high triglycerides, so it may be elevated in

most, but not all. Also, re the cancer & Ct scan & Ca 19, whatever

blood test, I was told that neither are very good for diagnosing

adenomacarcinoma, just can not see until it has spread, this from Dr.

Hoffman at MUSC re me.

(snip) This is why so many people die of adenomacarcinoma, cause it

> is so very difficult to diagnose