Matthew Rosenblum survived Stage IV pancreatic cancer | pancreatoduodenectomy | folfiinox | abraxane скачать в хорошем качестве

Matthew Rosenblum survived Stage IV pancreatic cancer | pancreatoduodenectomy | folfiinox | abraxane

In today’s episode of the @CancerInterviews podcast, Matthew Rosenblum relives an arduous journey that led to his surviving Stage IV pancreatic cancer. His journey began with bile duct obstruction jaundice and the subsequent removal of his gall bladder. It was from an app on his phone that he learned he had cancer. After two clashes with chemotherapy with folfirinox, and two surgeries, Matthew leads a healthy lifestyle and works to help others diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. In January 2021, Matthew began to experience the nasty symptoms of bile duct obstructive jaundice. His urine became very dark and his stool became very light in color. In addition, he suffered from severe itching all over, especially on his hands and feet. Matthew is from Hazel Park, Michigan, but in 2021, he was living by himself in Durham, North Carolina. He hadn’t been there long and didn’t have a primary care provider. So, he went to a local urgent care. A nurse practitioner did some blood tests, and his liver enzymes were significantly elevated. The nurse practitioner thought Matthew had a serrated liver, but he insisted it was something else. Additional blood tests were run and when the results came back, the nurse practitioner said Matthew needed to go to an ER. That’s where he underwent an endoscopic ultrasound, a CT and an MRI. They saw a stricture in his bile duct, which is what caused the symptoms. Doctors removed his gall bladder and told Matthew he should be fine. They didn’t know what was causing the symptoms, but sent Matthew home and said he shouldn’t be concerned. However in March 2021, the symptoms returned. Additional tests were run, and while Matthew was working at a grocery store, I received a call telling him he had adenocarcinoma, with little mention of his pancreas. He received another call from the surgeon who removed Matthew’s gall bladder, who said Matthew’s case had been referred to him because he was experienced with pancreatic cancer surgery, a pancreatoduodenectomy. In May 2021, the attempted this procedure, which called for the removal of the affected part of the pancreas, roughly a third of Matt’s stomach, part of his colon, plus his gall bladder, after which his digestive system would be redesigned. However, once they went in they found a tumor on the head of his pancreas. That was what was pinching his bile duct and the cancer had spread throughout his gut. He learned that when pancreatic cancer has spread, the surgery isn’t done because the outcomes tend to be worse. They went ahead and made an incision from his pelvis to his navel. The surgeon said because of Matthew’s genetic mutation, that is why Matthew, at age 32, was diagnosed roughly 40 years younger than most who are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The surgeon also said there was a good possibility Matthew could be back in a year for a similar surgery. They gave him a few weeks for the incision t heal, then put Matthew on a chemotherapy cocktail with folfirinox, which as chemo cocktails go, is the kitchen sink. The folfirinox was nasty, but by May 2021, the tumor shrank; yet in September, the tumor had grown and spread to Matthew’s liver. That inspired doctors to put Matthew on a different chemotherapy regimen, this time with gencitabine and abraxane. He found this cocktail to be livable. Slowly, his quality of life improved enough for doctors to attempt a second surgery in March 2022. The spots on Matthew Rosenblum’s liver disappeared, the tumor became non-viable, all of the lymph nodes were good, and since then, there has been no evidence of metastatic recurrence. With a redsigned digestive system, he has to relearn how to eat, but has done so. Matthew is very thankful for the life he has, even if some days are worse than others. Additional Resources: Support Group: Pancreatic Cancer Action Network: https://www.pancan.org