Gallbladder Cancer - 2012 (Any Stage)

Lily50

hillaryjoRN said:

Just wanted to let everyone know that my mom's CT scan in December was NORMAL:) !!!  March will mark her one year anniv. since the diagnosis. She is doing great...and we expect to continue to recieve good news!         hugs to everyone!     Hillary

Hillary's Mom

Hi!

That is great news!!!  Happy Dance for you both!  I started a new thread since this one has gotten so big.  Gallbladder Cancer - 2013 (Any Stage), if you don't mind maybe you could post a brief statement regarding your mother's diagnosis and just how well she is doing for the new people coming to the new board.  It is always good to hear success stories.

Happy New Year to you both!

Take Care

Lily

JennyJenny

Lily50 said:

Hillary's Mom

Hi!

That is great news!!!  Happy Dance for you both!  I started a new thread since this one has gotten so big.  Gallbladder Cancer - 2013 (Any Stage), if you don't mind maybe you could post a brief statement regarding your mother's diagnosis and just how well she is doing for the new people coming to the new board.  It is always good to hear success stories.

Happy New Year to you both!

Take Care

Lily

UPDATE! Mom's Cancer Shrunk

It's been a while since I posted here but I wanted to say thank you to Westie66 for your response, that made me feel better knowing there's someone out there similar to my mom. All of these posts are incredibly helpful and inspiring. I love hearing the updates of positive CT scan results too which made me want to share my mom's results. 

In October my mom's CT scan showed that the tumors in the liver, abdomen, and ovaries all shrunk over 50%!! This was after her treatment of Leucovorin, Oxaliplatin, and 5-FU, every other week for 6 weeks. So needless to say it was a successful treatment.

And in turn, her dr gave her a break from treatment over the holidays. However, I think this may have been too long for her because now she has ascites (fluid build up in her abdomen and lungs) and it's really making it hard for her to breathe and is just really uncomfortable. Has anyone else had that symptom before? She looks worse than she did on chemo, and I just don't get it. I'm so excited that her cancer shrunk, but I'm still so very worried that somehting else is wrong. I want her to be well enough to at least take walks and lead a normal life again. I feel like she spends every day in the hospital now. Last time the chemo helped this but I would hate to know she has to be on chemo the rest of her life in order to not have this anymore. Trying to stay strong for her though. 

Anyways, any support would be awesome. Hope everyone is doing well and are having a happy new year!  

Jenny

Kristina916

JennyJenny said:

UPDATE! Mom's Cancer Shrunk

It's been a while since I posted here but I wanted to say thank you to Westie66 for your response, that made me feel better knowing there's someone out there similar to my mom. All of these posts are incredibly helpful and inspiring. I love hearing the updates of positive CT scan results too which made me want to share my mom's results. 

In October my mom's CT scan showed that the tumors in the liver, abdomen, and ovaries all shrunk over 50%!! This was after her treatment of Leucovorin, Oxaliplatin, and 5-FU, every other week for 6 weeks. So needless to say it was a successful treatment.

And in turn, her dr gave her a break from treatment over the holidays. However, I think this may have been too long for her because now she has ascites (fluid build up in her abdomen and lungs) and it's really making it hard for her to breathe and is just really uncomfortable. Has anyone else had that symptom before? She looks worse than she did on chemo, and I just don't get it. I'm so excited that her cancer shrunk, but I'm still so very worried that somehting else is wrong. I want her to be well enough to at least take walks and lead a normal life again. I feel like she spends every day in the hospital now. Last time the chemo helped this but I would hate to know she has to be on chemo the rest of her life in order to not have this anymore. Trying to stay strong for her though. 

Anyways, any support would be awesome. Hope everyone is doing well and are having a happy new year!  

Jenny

Hey JennyJenny, Your story

Hey JennyJenny, Your story reminds me of my own. My mom is 55 and has been on the same chemo regime for 11 rounds. She had lots of problems with her blood counts, so it took her much longer to get through the 11. She did 9/11 with the oxyplatin until her neuropathy started to really bother her. Her CT scans showed continual shrinkage in her main tumors, which was wonderful news. Recently, some mets to the spine showed up and she has been in a lot of back pain, but the oncologist thinks the pain is coming from her liver. We are going to start some radiation and then switch over to gem/cis to kill some more cancer cells. I just wanted to reach out as someone in your position and let you know that I hope things continue to go welll for your mom and that you stay strong and take care of yourself as well! Much good luck to your family!

Bearss

dawnfoiles said:

My husband

My husband Steve was diagnosed on Labor Day of this year. We were all in shcck since he is so healthy and YOUNG 48 years old. Who is your doctor and how did you find success? The Gemzar and Cisplatin did damage on his hearing so they changed chemo...then THAT didn't work and the tumors got bigger. Now he is on Oxaliplatin and Xeloda. We are running out of options...any advice?

sounds familiar

I was diagnosed Oct of 2012, I was 47, now 48, was very healthly and in shape man at 215#, now 170. I too was started with Cis and Gem, ringing in my ears now. I stopped the chemo in Jan 2013 after 5 cycles. At the same time the chemo started i started the Hallelujah Acres diet, juicing spiniach and carrots daily, i have also used the Dr Schulze incurables program for the month of Feb, after my 5th cycle, i had awesome results up to now. By March the CT scan couldn't pick up the tumors in the liver and omentum, lymph nodes and pelvic area anymore (they were at a cellular level) Now in June 2013, they have grown back to 25% in my liver and omentum only. I have stayed on the Hallelujah diet and juicing with now adding supplements For my adrenal and thyriod glands. The oncologist wants me back on chemo and/or will monitor me with my alternative programs. How is your husband doing at this time, i hope well. Bearss

Bearss

dawnfoiles said:

My husband

My husband Steve was diagnosed on Labor Day of this year. We were all in shcck since he is so healthy and YOUNG 48 years old. Who is your doctor and how did you find success? The Gemzar and Cisplatin did damage on his hearing so they changed chemo...then THAT didn't work and the tumors got bigger. Now he is on Oxaliplatin and Xeloda. We are running out of options...any advice?

sounds familiar

I was diagnosed Oct of 2012, I was 47, now 48, was very healthly and in shape man at 215#, now 170. I too was started with Cis and Gem, ringing in my ears now. I stopped the chemo in Jan 2013 after 5 cycles. At the same time the chemo started i started the Hallelujah Acres diet, juicing spiniach and carrots daily, i have also used the Dr Schulze incurables program for the month of Feb, after my 5th cycle, i had awesome results up to now. By March the CT scan couldn't pick up the tumors in the liver and omentum, lymph nodes and pelvic area anymore (they were at a cellular level) Now in June 2013, they have grown back to 25% in my liver and omentum only. I have stayed on the Hallelujah diet and juicing with now adding supplements For my adrenal and thyriod glands. The oncologist wants me back on chemo and/or will monitor me with my alternative programs. How is your husband doing at this time, i hope well. Bearss

jca2cali

Lily50 said:

MRI vs CT vs PET
Hi Charmi,

I guess it just depends on what the doctor's want to use. I have had all three at some point in time. Started out with CT scans, surgeon didn't like them so had to have MRI scans, had surgery then got a PET scan. When the tech that was administrating the PET scan came in to give me the injection and he had full body armor and a metal box with tongs to remove it from the box I felt like I was in a science fiction movie. More chemo and CT scans every three months for 2 years, and then every 6 months, I’m hoping this year I will only have to have one (fingers crossed).

Yes, I do glow in the dark (my daughter scratched her cornea and when I took her to the doctor and they used a black light to look at her eye there I was there next to her glowing). We all had a good laugh about that.

Yes, I do set off those pesky sensor bars when I'm are walking out of a store, I have been stopped many a time to check my bags for stolen merchandise. In the beginning I would get angry, but now I just laugh about it and don't let it ruin my day.

So the bottom line is whatever the doctor's want is what your mom will have to do. I have had all my diagnostic testing done at the same facility and I have requested that the same doctor read my scans for consistency. I get in and out of there quite quickly; I don’t even have to wear the lovely fashion gowns. As long as I wear sweats, t-shirt and a sports bar I’m good to go. The standard joke at my facility is here comes Lily the frequent scanner (wish I would get frequent scanner miles to somewhere).

Take Care
Lily

You are giving me hope

My mom was diagnosed with stage 4 GBC and boy has it been rough....I pray for your continued success and remission for my mom