# I Just found out I don't have pancreatic cancer! YAY! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 22, 2017, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-found-out-i-dont-have-pancreatic-cancer-yay/791882 "2017-07-22T15:43:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2017, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-found-out-i-dont-have-pancreatic-cancer-yay/791882/21 "2017-07-23T10:15:13Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > … > Regardless, if I had a spot on my pancreas that turned out to be a non-malignant cyst (or a pseudocyst), I’d be dancing for joy, as the likelihood of horrible death after terrible debility would have dropped from 95+% in the case of cancer to well under 10%. > … It’s pithy summaries like this from journeymen in every field that keep my coming back here every day. It’s darn hard for laymen to get a sense of perspective on any issue in any field not their own. Google, wiki, _et al_, provide simultaneously far too much info and far too little context for understanding. Thank you. Not only to **QtM** and not only for this post, but also all the other medical pros who’ve contributed here and in so many other medical threads. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2017, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-found-out-i-dont-have-pancreatic-cancer-yay/791882/22 "2017-07-23T10:46:13Z")
30+ years ago, when I was still on active duty, I went to sick call about some painful “female problems.” If you’ve never been in the military, I need to mention that you don’t get to pick which doctor you see for something like this - you get who you get. And the guy I got was a total ass. He hit me right away with the big _ **C** _ when he ordered further tests, telling my my uterus was the size of a grapefruit and a bunch of other stuff that scared the crap out of me. Fortunately, for the post-test follow-up, I saw a different doctor who didn’t have his head up his ass, and it turns out I had an ovarian cyst. Surgery went fine and I lived happily ever after. But boy, did the first guy mess with my mind. He obviously didn’t pay attention in the part of doctor school about delivering possible bad news. All this to say, I know where you’re coming from, and YAY!!! I misread your thread title at first and almost didn’t open it because I don’t like sad news. So again, YAY!!! ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2017, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-found-out-i-dont-have-pancreatic-cancer-yay/791882/23 "2017-07-23T11:15:24Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > I’m glad you got good news, but: > > Why didn’t your primary doc order the MRI? Why wait for the specialist to do so? > > When my patients get a fishy finding like that on a CT, I (as a Family Medicine physician) order an MRI pretty quick. Then if it needs a specialist to sort out further, off they go. > > Some issues need the specialist’s input to decide what to do next, but in my experience most questionable CT lesions which can be better analyzed by MRI don’t need their input. First thing they’ll do is order an MRI anyway. I was wondering the same thing. Why the hell did you have to wait to see a specialist before finishing the basic diagnostic stuff your gp should be able to do? ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2017, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-found-out-i-dont-have-pancreatic-cancer-yay/791882/24 "2017-07-23T14:30:52Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I was wondering the same thing. Why the hell did you have to wait to see a specialist before finishing the basic diagnostic stuff your gp should be able to do? IF imaging studies can resolve the type of cyst involved into a benign category (i.e. pseudocyst, which is a space surrounding non-epithelialized tissue, typically seen in the setting of pancreatitis or trauma), then specialist input wouldn’t be needed. Borderline situations might require putting a fine needle into the cyst under imaging guidance to get fluid for chemical and cytologic analysis (the latter being something I do fairly routinely), which is not something one’s family doc/internist is typically equipped for. Echoing **Qadgop** , the news should still come as a big relief to the OP (as opposed to the finding of a solid mass suspicious for carcinoma). ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2017, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-found-out-i-dont-have-pancreatic-cancer-yay/791882/25 "2017-07-23T14:47:26Z")
Congratulations! Pancreatic cancer is a very good cancer to NOT have. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2017, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-found-out-i-dont-have-pancreatic-cancer-yay/791882/26 "2017-07-23T15:03:06Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Borderline situations might require putting a fine needle into the cyst under imaging guidance to get fluid for chemical and cytologic analysis (the latter being something I do fairly routinely), which is not something one’s family doc/internist is typically equipped for. Yeah, _that_ would be a real fun procedure to do in my office. :eek: **Jackmannii** , would you needle the cyst based just on CT results, or would you want an MRI image too? I rely on the radiologist myself; if the radiology report says “consider MRI to better define the lesion”, I get the MRI done before sending the patient to someone like you. But if that’s a waste of resources, perhaps I should rethink . . . ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2017, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-found-out-i-dont-have-pancreatic-cancer-yay/791882/27 "2017-07-23T15:19:59Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > **Jackmannii** , would you needle the cyst based just on CT results, or would you want an MRI image too? I rely on the radiologist myself; if the radiology report says “consider MRI to better define the lesion”, I get the MRI done before sending the patient to someone like you. But if that’s a waste of resources, perhaps I should rethink . . . It’s not up to me. I just get the call to the bullpen, I don’t decide on the pitching change. 🙂 Typically the patient has already had a CT or MRI (often both) before pathology gets involved. A gastroenterologist does EUS (endoscopic ultrasound) to pinpoint the lesion and stick a needle in it. We do immediate onsite evaluation of specimen adequacy and give a preliminary diagnosis. Johns Hopkins has [a pancreatic cyst clinic](http://pathology.jhu.edu/pancreas/cyst/Whattoexpect.php) where patients can get this workup done in a (presumably) efficient manner. And here’s [a worksheet](http://pathology.jhu.edu/pancreas/professionals/ipmn.php) used to differentiate cystic lesions (with which cytologic findings can be correlated). TMI, I know… ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2017, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-found-out-i-dont-have-pancreatic-cancer-yay/791882/28 "2017-07-23T16:05:42Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Johns Hopkins has [a pancreatic cyst clinic](http://pathology.jhu.edu/pancreas/cyst/Whattoexpect.php) where patients can get this workup done in a (presumably) efficient manner. Ah, the Hop! It’s been ages since I [del]was exiled from[/del] last visited my dear Alma Mater! Wish I had their resources to draw on in my current practice setting. [sub]My professors always said I’d end up in prison . . . [/sub] ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2017, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-found-out-i-dont-have-pancreatic-cancer-yay/791882/29 "2017-07-23T16:08:56Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > I suggest making sure your followup visit(s) are with a specialist who is knowledgeable about diagnosis and management of pancreatic cystic lesions and can help you decide what further workup may be necessary. [This article](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3166757/) is a bit on the technical side, but describes the various entities and how they are diagnosed and treated. Thank you for that article. I’m going to go over it several times so I’m prepared for future discussions with the doctors. As to why it took so long, I mentioned already partly my fault for not pushing harder for action and someone screwed up in making the referral. Why didn’t the first doctor order the MRI? Beats me, he’s a urologist, certainly should have been familiar with this situation. He may have been operating on the assumption that my insurance required a referral to a specialist (it doesn’t, I can see any specialist without a referral), but that doesn’t explain why he didn’t order the MRI himself. Then for whatever stupid reason the surgeon’s office insisted I needed an appointment to see him before he would do anything, possibly a legitimate insurance requirement or just a practice to make money. And then after all that it was over a week before I could get the MRI done which makes no sense to me. But I have to take the blame for trying to put this all out of mind instead of getting on the phone and insisting it all get done immediately. I’ve actually done that for others, done it for myself in others for all sorts of less potentially dire circumstances, yet this time I fell into an avoidance mode. **Quartz** , I’m sorry to hear about your father. I’m aware this isn’t the end of the story, it may not even be the end of the beginning of this story, there’s a lot of follow up ahead. ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2017, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-found-out-i-dont-have-pancreatic-cancer-yay/791882/30 "2017-07-23T20:28:41Z")
I’m SO glad you had such a good outcome! Congratulations! I know the feeling you’re having: It sounds like survivor’s guilt. I did have cancer, but as far as cancers go, it was a “good” :rolleyes: one to have and the indications are I’ll be fine for a very long time (knock wood). But there are people with variations on this cancer who aren’t so lucky, who suffer terribly and then DIE, and it’s so hard to not that feel that guilt. But now, we’ve been in different shoes and have empathy for what others face, and maybe we’ll make a difference because of it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2017, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-found-out-i-dont-have-pancreatic-cancer-yay/791882/31 "2017-07-23T23:18:55Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats](#): > > Omigod, I can’t imagine going through that! Having to wait that long for _an appointment_ for something like testing for pancreatic cancer is _criminal!!_. Not just for the mental torment, but for the delay in treatment should cancer be found! > > I’m elated at your good news **TriPolar**. Now do something you love, and relax yourself. I was thinking the same thing! As dysfunctional as our health care system is, for a disease like that, they’d get you in that same day. I’m glad the news is good, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2017, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-found-out-i-dont-have-pancreatic-cancer-yay/791882/32 "2017-07-24T00:59:28Z")
so happy for the good news! ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2017, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-found-out-i-dont-have-pancreatic-cancer-yay/791882/33 "2017-07-24T01:01:48Z")
Great news! ---
**Author:** ![brujaja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2017, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-found-out-i-dont-have-pancreatic-cancer-yay/791882/34 "2017-07-24T12:40:55Z")
Whew! Glad you’re okay. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-found-out-i-dont-have-pancreatic-cancer-yay/791882.md?page=1)