Path Forward?

Hi all, to make a long story short, my mom (60) was diagnosed in April with pancreatic cancer after experiencing jaundice.

She ultimately had 3 biopsies and on the 3rd one (core biopsy that only happened thanks to her oncologist pushing for it) it was positive. They did a PET and found some tiny nodules in her lungs which were indeterminate at the time and that was it aside from the pancreas tumor.

She pretty immediately started on FOLFIRINOX and has done pretty well on it overall. She has had good days and bad days, but she has been determined and has been able to maintain her weight and overall health. Her CA19-9 went from about 4200 down to the 200-400s.

Her initial 3 months of chemo are over and she just today got the results of her new PET. Overall it's good news - the pancreas tumor has shrunk a LOT. Here is the impression:

1. No findings of hypermetabolic metastatic disease.

2. The previously demonstrated hypermetabolic focus in the right upper quadrant is not visualized on current examination.

3. Mild abdominal pelvic ascites represents a new finding.

4. Mild component of central biliary dilatation, with the presence of a common bile duct stent extending into the duodenum. Please correlate with hepatobiliary chemistries.

5. Nonspecific marrow uptake is evident, favor hematopoietic marrow changes related to treatment. Osseous metastatic disease is considered much less likely.

6. Subcentimeter pulmonary nodules are unchanged, without findings of FDG avidity.

All that said, it's overall very positive. Her oncologist today was VERY pleased. His only concern is the ascites. He said it's possible that the fluid could contain cancer cells, but it's a very small amount and could be difficult to biopsy. My mom has an appt this Friday with her surgeon to see about next steps. We're hopeful that with the positive news that they will move forward with additional testing and hopefully surgery.

Has anyone had a loved one experience ascites and it not be cancerous? She has been diagnosed previously with fatty liver for what that is worth. Obviously we are hopeful but also want to be realistic.