Yes, Michel. If you start looking into those, you might as well "buy"
every/anything here
http://www.mdanderson.org/departments/cimer/ (Reviews of therapies) and
here http://www.quackwatch.org/00AboutQuackwatch/altseek.html and more,
that sometimes gets posted about here.  (see my point?)

I'm sorry to hear that, Michel. He really sounds too unwell for chemo, but
Babara's friend has pancreatic cancer. He's youngish, I think >50 years
old and was taking Xeloda and Gemzar along with Taxotere. He had to stop
(I think) the Taxotere, too severe side effects.  She did say that one or
the other of the other two helped with pain and diarrhea. She felt that it
bought him quality time. Although as far as I know, during that time, it
was not in his liver and brain. They've stopped the chemos now and he's in
palliation.

Depending on what the doctors say for estimated survival, you may wish to
consider Steph's "Questions to Ask"
http://tinyurl.com/4akk6

It's my understanding that routine use of gene therapy is years away.
You could check/look at clinical trials for pancreatic cancer to see what
clinical trials are available in the US, in case you want to ask the onc
to duplicate the treatment for your Dad.
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/
You may need his Karnofsky/performance status to guide you.

http://www.hospicepatients.org/karnofsky.html and/or
http://www.clevelandclinicmeded.com/diseasemanagement/neurology/braintumor/table3.htm

Then read the clinical trial criteria and seems to fit your father's
situation, but does not include your father's problems. I looked at one
but it excluded diabetes.
There's more there. Just type in pancreatic.

I believe in honesty with the patient. What that is for your Dad, I don't
know, because I'm not there to see his medical records and discuss your
Dad's health complications, age, current condition, symptoms (such as
whether there's a different way to deal with the pain), how the chemo
would affect his brain (negative or positive). I would have to see him to
see if he's lost a lot of weight and muscle function. I would have to ask
the doctors what they think is causing his symptoms, the salt situation or
the cancer, or the metabolic processes that occur with end stage cancer.
The metabolic processes are so similar to dying..you'll see here
http://www.crossingthecreek.com/guts.htm  If it's a matter of weeks or a
month, then I would go with hospice if they can control the pain.

Where's the pain?  Steph's a radiation oncologist. He's been absent a bit,
but may be back shortly and might comment.

I would have to know whether your Dad has got all his affairs in order,
how your father would react to hear that he probably won't survive this..
With Dad it was fairly easy; he'd been sick for a while and had already
made up his mind; no heroic measures in his case.

In your father's situation, if he has his affairs in order, I would
certainly tell him of the potential side effects and possible benefits of
treatment (not just force it on him). I would also talk to him about
hospice care and give him the option of deciding (if he's capable of
making an informed decision about that). Otherwise, I might not say
anything and make a decision that I thought best for his comfort and
quality of life.

But I'm not you...
I've presented you with a lot of information, places to search (clinical
trials), options, questions to ask of the doctors.
IThere's also a private email list at www.acor.org for Pancreatic if you
wish to subscribe.
You're always welcome here too.
If I or others can be of assist, please ask.
I care

'm sorry that I don't have one good easy answer for you.
Please know you and your father will be in our thoughts.

J