Happy New Year Bert

January 1, 2004

Hi Bert!

Thank you for your good wishes and thoughts. Although I had pain

yesterday and to-day is still a bit " iffy " , I have had such a good

two or three months that I don't think, psychologically, I could

have the operation at the moment. Of course, I know that doesn't

make any difference to that very high cancer risk and that is what

is so hard to live with from day to day, particularly as none of the

screening processes is reliable. There seem to be four : CT scan,

C19 9 (blood tumour marker test), EUS and ERCP. I have had the first

two recently and will ask my pancreatologist about the EUS. I don't

fancy ERCPs because when I had one back in 1988 it resulted in my

worst ever pancreatic pain. I think they can extract

pancreatic " juice " for analysis with the ERCP but that is not 100%

reliable either. I'm not sure if they can also do this with the EUS

which is, apparently, less invasive than the ERCP. My gastro doesn't

want to do ERCPs, at least, not regularly, but I have to discuss

this with the pancreatologist when I see him. Unless done regularly,

they wouldn't be much use as a screening method.

Anyway, that's my decision for the moment, Bert. Only the Almighty

knows if it's the right one and He hasn't written to me recently!! I

think I've detected His voice in some e-mails, however!!

Now, Bert, what about YOU? How are YOU feeling? I can't remember

when you said your next tests were (CT scan?) (Whatever about my

pancreas, I wish they could do something about my brain!) Did you

have a good Christmas despite the pain and worries you were going

through? I thought a lot about you. I do hope things are going to go

really well. I'm sure you will let us know.

I wish you every possible blessing and happiness in 2004 and that

your " blip " will be dealt with, leaving you only with the good

effects of your TP. Remember, my surgeon warned me of a " horrid 12

months " if I chose the operation. You're nowhere near that yet so

give it time.

With love and best wishes,

Fliss

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