gall bladder cancer

shellyb
shellyb Member Posts: 1
edited March 2014 in Rare and Other Cancers #1
My siser, who is 44 years old, was diagnosed in November, 2001, with gall bladder cancer. They were doing surgery to remove her gall bladder due to a lot of trouble she was having. When they went in they found the cancer. They removed her gall bladder and a portion of her liver. At this point the cancer is limited to a small spot on her liver that is too far in to remove surgically and they can't use radiation. She is currently undergoing chemotherapy. Her oncologist has given her 4-5 years to live. She was stage 4 when she left the hospital following her surgery. Does anyone have any information, current treatment options or hope to give?
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  • helens
    helens Member Posts: 1
    my mother who is 84 was just diagnosed with gall bladder cancer metasicized to the liver. Two doctors referred us to Dr. Benson/Dr. Mulchahy at Northwestern Hospital in Chicago. We went there yesterday and they had 2 possible treatments for which she qualifies if we choose to try them. They have clinical trials going too. You might want to contact them.
  • knj0198006
    knj0198006 Member Posts: 7
    Gallbladder Cancer
    How is your sister doing? I had gallbladder cancer 2 1/2 years ago and I wanted chat with a survivor!
  • debral
    debral Member Posts: 1

    Gallbladder Cancer
    How is your sister doing? I had gallbladder cancer 2 1/2 years ago and I wanted chat with a survivor!

    gallbladder Cancer
    I had a routine gallbladder surgery on Oct. 21,2008. After the pathology report came back, it was determined that I had adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder stage 1B. I underwent a resection of the abdomen Oct 30,2008,to check my lymph nodes, cystic and bile duct, liver, plus gallbladder fasscia for metastasis of cancer. It came back negative...Praise God. I am now undergoing six weeks of chemo 24/7 with port and radiation treatment. Praying to God I don't lose my hair. My Eyelashes coming out, and I am tired all the time. Friends and even strangers have covered me in prayers for healing. My husband and I prayed constantly for God’s wisdom for us and for the right doctors to treat me. Interested in hearing from survivors.
  • skates
    skates Member Posts: 1
    debral said:

    gallbladder Cancer
    I had a routine gallbladder surgery on Oct. 21,2008. After the pathology report came back, it was determined that I had adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder stage 1B. I underwent a resection of the abdomen Oct 30,2008,to check my lymph nodes, cystic and bile duct, liver, plus gallbladder fasscia for metastasis of cancer. It came back negative...Praise God. I am now undergoing six weeks of chemo 24/7 with port and radiation treatment. Praying to God I don't lose my hair. My Eyelashes coming out, and I am tired all the time. Friends and even strangers have covered me in prayers for healing. My husband and I prayed constantly for God’s wisdom for us and for the right doctors to treat me. Interested in hearing from survivors.

    Husband diagnosed with Stage IV Gallbladder Cancer
    My husband was diagnosed last month (jan 2009) with Stage IV gallbladder cancer. He began chemotherapy last week which will continue once a week. We are exploring cancer treatment centers of america and will likely visit their IL facility later this month. I'm wondering if there are any Stage IV survivors that I could reach out. Thank you.
  • knj0198006
    knj0198006 Member Posts: 7
    debral said:

    gallbladder Cancer
    I had a routine gallbladder surgery on Oct. 21,2008. After the pathology report came back, it was determined that I had adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder stage 1B. I underwent a resection of the abdomen Oct 30,2008,to check my lymph nodes, cystic and bile duct, liver, plus gallbladder fasscia for metastasis of cancer. It came back negative...Praise God. I am now undergoing six weeks of chemo 24/7 with port and radiation treatment. Praying to God I don't lose my hair. My Eyelashes coming out, and I am tired all the time. Friends and even strangers have covered me in prayers for healing. My husband and I prayed constantly for God’s wisdom for us and for the right doctors to treat me. Interested in hearing from survivors.

    Dear Debral
    I am a survivor. I had a mid grade gallbladder cancer. I had surgery Feb. 22, 2006. So I am three years out. The difference in our surgery was that a surgeon who specialized in cutting on the liver did my initial surgery. My cancerous gallbladder was removed along with three sections of the liver and 16 lymph nodes. The cancer had been contained in the liver. I had 6 weeks of radiation and chemo together. Then I had a month off from Chemo. Then 6 months of Chemo. I took Xeloda by mouth. I did not lose any hair or have any of the symptoms that everyone expected me to. I was just fatigued, more after completing Chemo. I continue to have scans every six months. However, my doctors are alternating seeing me once a year. Everything is going well. God is good. It was my faith and God's healing that has made a difference.

    How are you doing? I hope all is going well.

    Take care,


    Kondo
  • Hope810
    Hope810 Member Posts: 2
    skates said:

    Husband diagnosed with Stage IV Gallbladder Cancer
    My husband was diagnosed last month (jan 2009) with Stage IV gallbladder cancer. He began chemotherapy last week which will continue once a week. We are exploring cancer treatment centers of america and will likely visit their IL facility later this month. I'm wondering if there are any Stage IV survivors that I could reach out. Thank you.

    Mom - diagnosed w/ Stage IV Gall Bladder Cancer (@ age 61)
    Skates,

    My mother was diagnosed with Stage IV Gall Bladder Cancer 2 years ago. We tried so many facilities...NYOH, Sloane Kettering in NYC etc. - all in which failed us. We are now at CTCA in PA (since May of 08'). As we are still battling this beast, I will say they have not given up hope on us. I would recommend CTCA to everyone! When first diagnosed in 2007, it had already spread to her stomach and liver. I am too, looking for any Gall Bladder survivors out there. Please contact me!!

    Thank you!
  • Hope810
    Hope810 Member Posts: 2

    Gallbladder Cancer
    How is your sister doing? I had gallbladder cancer 2 1/2 years ago and I wanted chat with a survivor!

    knj0198006,
    Did your cancer

    knj0198006,

    Did your cancer spread anywhere else?
  • knj0198006
    knj0198006 Member Posts: 7
    Hope810 said:

    knj0198006,
    Did your cancer

    knj0198006,

    Did your cancer spread anywhere else?

    Did my cancer spread anywhere else?
    No, it didn't spread anywhere else. They removed three sections of the liver and 16 lymph nodes and the cancer had not spread outside o the gallbladder.
  • knj0198006
    knj0198006 Member Posts: 7
    Hope810 said:

    knj0198006,
    Did your cancer

    knj0198006,

    Did your cancer spread anywhere else?

    Dear Hope810,
    My doctor referred a patient to me that had gallbladder cancer Stage IV. She has been through surgery, chemo and radiation and she is still doing well. Although my cancer had not spread, my online research showed Stage IV survivors that were 5 - 10 years out. I just celebrated my 3 year cancer free mark today!

    You and your mother are in my prayers and thoughts.
  • Cyndi321
    Cyndi321 Member Posts: 3
    Husband recently diagnosed (I'm out of my mind with worry)
    My husband (65) was just diagnosed with gallbladder cancer.
    Although he says his doctor told him it was curable (hadnt spread) according to an MRI they took, I do not have any more specifics about the grade or stage yet. His oncologist appt. isnt for 4 more days.

    My husband's been putting on a brave face for me, secretely having tests & waited until he had positive results to finally break the news to me.

    A recent physical gave him a clean bill of health he said but he has been missing work, losing weight & looking fatigued so I have been riding him hard to go back for another exam, he just kept telling me he is fine.

    I wonder what else he isn't telling me. I don't want to press him about it & lower his spirits even further. I am trying to put on a brave face for him too, but I'm a nervous wreck & am in need of some answers.

    My husband is obviously very sick. He has easilly lost 30 lbs, has 102 temperature, no appetite, blood in his stool (when he can go, which isn't very often) and is so tired he can hardly drag himself out of bed.

    From what I've been reading at various websites & it sounds like his symptoms are those of advanced stage gallbladder/bile duct cancer and not the operable type as he's telling me.

    Can anyone who knows please share some light on the subject?.
    Are these symptoms indicative of major invasive cancer or should I believe what my husband tells me that it's curable? I've seen the mortality rates for the inoperable kind and prognosis is poor.

    I am beside myself with grief and worry.
    I can't bear the thought of losing my husband to cancer in mere months or even years to come. I havent slept in 3 days & I can't stop crying whenever he doesn't see.

    Please help if you have any knowledge or advice.
    Thanks so very much..
  • lisacma
    lisacma Member Posts: 1
    Newbie Help...
    My mother-in-law found out she has gallbladder cancer last week after they removed it in what we thought was a normal gallbladder surgery. My husband and I and my father-in-law are taking her to her first visit with an oncologist tomorrow. I work in the medical field so I know just enough to make myself worry more...I think I can handle understanding and helping her and my husband cope through this where the medical information is concerned, where I am most wanting to help her and everyone else is at this initial appointment, when they tell her what they can or can't do, when they tell her how bad it is, etc. What do I say to support her? What do I do at this appointment as they pull the rug out from beneath her? How do I comfort her? I want to be strong for her!
    Thanks for listening...
    Lisa
  • In_Gods_Hands
    In_Gods_Hands Member Posts: 1
    Cyndi321 said:

    Husband recently diagnosed (I'm out of my mind with worry)
    My husband (65) was just diagnosed with gallbladder cancer.
    Although he says his doctor told him it was curable (hadnt spread) according to an MRI they took, I do not have any more specifics about the grade or stage yet. His oncologist appt. isnt for 4 more days.

    My husband's been putting on a brave face for me, secretely having tests & waited until he had positive results to finally break the news to me.

    A recent physical gave him a clean bill of health he said but he has been missing work, losing weight & looking fatigued so I have been riding him hard to go back for another exam, he just kept telling me he is fine.

    I wonder what else he isn't telling me. I don't want to press him about it & lower his spirits even further. I am trying to put on a brave face for him too, but I'm a nervous wreck & am in need of some answers.

    My husband is obviously very sick. He has easilly lost 30 lbs, has 102 temperature, no appetite, blood in his stool (when he can go, which isn't very often) and is so tired he can hardly drag himself out of bed.

    From what I've been reading at various websites & it sounds like his symptoms are those of advanced stage gallbladder/bile duct cancer and not the operable type as he's telling me.

    Can anyone who knows please share some light on the subject?.
    Are these symptoms indicative of major invasive cancer or should I believe what my husband tells me that it's curable? I've seen the mortality rates for the inoperable kind and prognosis is poor.

    I am beside myself with grief and worry.
    I can't bear the thought of losing my husband to cancer in mere months or even years to come. I havent slept in 3 days & I can't stop crying whenever he doesn't see.

    Please help if you have any knowledge or advice.
    Thanks so very much..

    My Husband
    My husband was diagnosed with inoperable Stage IV gallbladder cancer with metastasis into the liver in May 2009. Grief, worry and crying are all normal reactions because if you read up on this type of cancer the outcome is dismal and the survival rates are extremely low. Don't let the doctors rob you of your faith and belief that God is the healer and will do wonderous works! Even though the doctor told my husband that he will not live, I know that God is the last word and miracles do happen.

    The thought of chemo frightened me and he opted not to do it the night before the port was going to be inserted. I urge anyone that is diagnosed with cancer to do their own research before doing chemo/radiation. This treatment is only effective for the more common types of cancer because more research has been done on them versus the rare types. In addition, oncologists make money on the chemo drugs they use which makes me question if they really have the patient's best interest at heart.

    My husband instead opted to change his diet to organic, natural and non-processed foods eating only chicken and fish high in Omega 3. Do research on the types of food and supplements to ingest that have cancer fighting agents and include them in his diet. He is also using the Budwig protocol of mixing organic flaxseed oil with organic yogurt (the plan prefers organic cottage cheese but we have not been able to find it). Search the Budwig plan on-line and read up on it. He has been on the plan for only five days, but his bowels have loosened up and he said the fecal matter that is coming out looks like toxins and it makes his overactive stomach calm down. He is still very tired and hot, but his appetite is better.

    The medical community wants gallbladder cancer patients to believe that no one lives more than a few years at best after the diagnosis and I have not found any stories on-line to refute the statistics. I am of the belief that there are some out there and if anyone knows of any I would be interested in reading about it. I believe that my husband will be a survivor by God's grace and healing! I have done enough crying and lost enough sleep. Chemo was not going to help him anyway so we are spared that nightmare. It's going to be a rough road for him and everyone else on this post. I am going to pray for all of us.
  • dje17
    dje17 Member Posts: 12

    Dear Hope810,
    My doctor referred a patient to me that had gallbladder cancer Stage IV. She has been through surgery, chemo and radiation and she is still doing well. Although my cancer had not spread, my online research showed Stage IV survivors that were 5 - 10 years out. I just celebrated my 3 year cancer free mark today!

    You and your mother are in my prayers and thoughts.

    gall bladder cancer
    I am so happy you are 3 years cancer free!!!!!!!!!!!
    My sister has gallbaldder cancer. The gallbladder was removed. They did a clean up chemo and radition.Now they did a biopsy and found cancer seeds.I need help I am worried about her. What is the best treatment?They want her to do more chemo is this enough.
    Please e-mail asap.
    Deb
  • kcpe
    kcpe Member Posts: 1
    Hope810 said:

    Mom - diagnosed w/ Stage IV Gall Bladder Cancer (@ age 61)
    Skates,

    My mother was diagnosed with Stage IV Gall Bladder Cancer 2 years ago. We tried so many facilities...NYOH, Sloane Kettering in NYC etc. - all in which failed us. We are now at CTCA in PA (since May of 08'). As we are still battling this beast, I will say they have not given up hope on us. I would recommend CTCA to everyone! When first diagnosed in 2007, it had already spread to her stomach and liver. I am too, looking for any Gall Bladder survivors out there. Please contact me!!

    Thank you!

    Very tough
    I just found out my mom has stage IV. I am sorry to hear your story. I wanted to see how things are going with you and do you have any advice.

    Thank you
  • dje17
    dje17 Member Posts: 12

    Dear Hope810,
    My doctor referred a patient to me that had gallbladder cancer Stage IV. She has been through surgery, chemo and radiation and she is still doing well. Although my cancer had not spread, my online research showed Stage IV survivors that were 5 - 10 years out. I just celebrated my 3 year cancer free mark today!

    You and your mother are in my prayers and thoughts.

    Gallbladder cancer
    My sister has stage IV gallbladder cancer. What research online showed 5-10? What did you do? We live in Chicago area. Please help
  • dje17
    dje17 Member Posts: 12

    Dear Hope810,
    My doctor referred a patient to me that had gallbladder cancer Stage IV. She has been through surgery, chemo and radiation and she is still doing well. Although my cancer had not spread, my online research showed Stage IV survivors that were 5 - 10 years out. I just celebrated my 3 year cancer free mark today!

    You and your mother are in my prayers and thoughts.

    my sister
    My sister has gallbladder stage Iv cancer. The gallbladder was removed she had chem and radition for 6 weeks. They said they saw cancer seeds when they did a biopsy. We are now going for a 2nd opinion. What research showed stage Iv lived 5-10 years? I think that would encourage her more. PLease send me any info you can.
    I am s glad you are cancer free for 3 years
    deb
  • jrazdan
    jrazdan Member Posts: 2

    Dear Debral
    I am a survivor. I had a mid grade gallbladder cancer. I had surgery Feb. 22, 2006. So I am three years out. The difference in our surgery was that a surgeon who specialized in cutting on the liver did my initial surgery. My cancerous gallbladder was removed along with three sections of the liver and 16 lymph nodes. The cancer had been contained in the liver. I had 6 weeks of radiation and chemo together. Then I had a month off from Chemo. Then 6 months of Chemo. I took Xeloda by mouth. I did not lose any hair or have any of the symptoms that everyone expected me to. I was just fatigued, more after completing Chemo. I continue to have scans every six months. However, my doctors are alternating seeing me once a year. Everything is going well. God is good. It was my faith and God's healing that has made a difference.

    How are you doing? I hope all is going well.

    Take care,


    Kondo

    gallbladder cancer
    Dear Kondo,

    my mother just got diagnosed with it. I am trying to find an oncologist who has experience with this type of cancer.

    Where did you have your treatment done?

    jrazdan
  • Grace28
    Grace28 Member Posts: 1
    Look up stem cell transplantation
    I heard that stem cell transplantation may help.
  • This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • Mama2six
    Mama2six Member Posts: 1
    lisacma said:

    Newbie Help...
    My mother-in-law found out she has gallbladder cancer last week after they removed it in what we thought was a normal gallbladder surgery. My husband and I and my father-in-law are taking her to her first visit with an oncologist tomorrow. I work in the medical field so I know just enough to make myself worry more...I think I can handle understanding and helping her and my husband cope through this where the medical information is concerned, where I am most wanting to help her and everyone else is at this initial appointment, when they tell her what they can or can't do, when they tell her how bad it is, etc. What do I say to support her? What do I do at this appointment as they pull the rug out from beneath her? How do I comfort her? I want to be strong for her!
    Thanks for listening...
    Lisa

    I have a very dear friend
    I have a very dear friend who was diagnosed with gall bladder cancer earlier this year. Hers is advanced and is in both her liver and abdominal lining. I know by now that you've already had your appointments and I'm sure that your mother-in-law is in the throes of her treatment. One of the most important pieces of advice I can offer is that someone goes with her to each of her doctor's appointments and that the person takes careful notes and asks lots of questions. Everyone who touches your mother-in-law should know something personal about her. This starts with the receptionist to the nurse to the x-ray tech to the doctor. If you're battling insurance or billing depts., ditto with the info. Share a silly story about her childhoold. Let them know what a terrific grandmother she is. Gush about her baking and bring a plate of cookies on a couple of the visits. Carry around pictures of her not only as she appears now but the way she looked in her youth. I can't even begin to tell you how humanizing her in the doctor's and nurse's eyes will elevate her level of care. Once they connect with her as more than just a patient, they will treat her as more than just a case, a file, a cancer-victim. You never want your negative energy and outlook to spill over to those who are caring for your mother-in-law. A nurse about to stick a needle in an arm is more likely to be gentle with your mother-in-law when they feel they know what a lovely person she is. Too often, folks in the medical field become jaded and need to be gently reminded of the human aspect of the care they are entrusted to give to our loved ones. God's blessings to you all.