I received this on my website

May 15, 2004

I received this on my website...I have responded...Would anyone else care to

respond?

Hi! I just found this website by accident. I do hope someone can offer me some

advice or information. My nephew is 35 years old. He's been dealing with

pancreatitis for about five years now, I think. For the past year he has been

suffering immensely. Just in the last few months it's gotten to the point where

he can barely manage living. He's okay for a few days to a few weeks, then he'll

get an acute attack that will last for a week or more. Just about a week ago he

had what he said was the worst attack he has ever had. He tends to deal with

these attacks on his own because he has no health insurance. He's unable to

work, and I don't think he qualifies for social security. Usually, he just goes

to one of the local emergency rooms and gets pain killers then goes home. He

won't stay in the hospital when they want to admit him, even without insurance.

He weighs 130 pounds now and is 6'2 " tall. He says he can only eat rice and fish

and drink water. He doesn't drink alcohol anymore--he's been dry for several

years. He vomits constantly now when he eats anything. Yesterday, he did consent

to be admitted to the hospital. Today, they said his pancreas is calcified.

We're wondering if he has pancreatic cancer, too. However, if he doesn't, what

does the calcification mean? Can he just have surgery and then go on to live a

reasonable life for some time to come, or do you think he'll die? His father

died at the age of 38 in an accident, my mother's only other child besides me.

She's now beside herself to think she may lose her grandson. I hope there's

someone out there who can offer us some hope, but as I said, he has no medical

insurance. He lives in Georgia, is a graduate of a law school so he's pretty

smart, but he says that there are no social programs in Georgia that can help

him. I just want to know if he'll live or not if he doesn't actually have

pancreatic cancer, which we don't know yet. However, his pain has been so great,

that he's been on the types of pain killers that are given to end stage cancer

patients. Thank you to all of you who read this and for any responses you may

have for me. Mostly, I'd just like to know what the implications of having a

calcified pancreas are and if there's any hope. Please send any responses to my

email address at sunshine20716@... because I haven't yet explored how to

use this website.

I hope this finds you and yours well

Mark E. Armstrong

casca@...

PAI NW Rep

ICQ #59196115

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