This is my feeble attempt to keep you updated on what is happening to Don.  Some of you have already heard all of the news by phone, but here is what we know now.

 

     Don got ill about a month ago, and we've rushed from pillar to post with doctors, hospitals, tests, and procedures to get the big picture.  He has pancreatic cancer.

 

     Yesterday (3/8/12) at Georgetown Hospital he had surgery with Dr. Patrick Jackson in an attempt to have the Whipple procedure.  The surgeon was unable to perform the Whipple, however, because of inflammation in the pancreas (pancreatitis).  He did remove the gall bladder.  The good news is that the cancer has not spread.  The next step is that Don will be removed from all food for six weeks and have only IV sustenance in an attempt to bring down the inflammation.  The metal stent inserted by another hospital may be exacerbating the pancreatitis.  After 6 weeks, they will take another Cat scan and hopefully will attempt the Whipple again.  Those who have had a Whipple procedure triple their expected life span, so it is worth the effort.  The medical oncology team is going to visit today to discuss the possibility of immediate chemo treatments.  Dr. Jackson agreed that this was not the A+ outcome we had hoped for today, but it is a strong B. 

 

He will be in the hospital at least through the weekend.  He is in pain and finds it quite tiring to talk very long.  Presumably that will improve when he gets home.