Looking For Gallbladder Cancer Survivors
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Gall Bladder Cancer
My mam was diagnosed with gall bladder cancer 2 months ago (November 2008). We have been told that it has spread to the liver but not any further than that. On 10th December she was told that an operation wasn't possible and that she could have chemo to shrink it but that this would just buy her extra time. As yet she hasn't started any treatment and is just on pain killers for the awful pains in her side. They said if they removed the gall bladder that the cancer would return quickly and more aggresively to a different part of the body and that this would have happened by the time she had got over the operation to remove the gall bladder. I keep reading on the internet how people have had the gall bladder removed and chemo has worked well for them but your comments stood out because you mentioned that you had had 3 sections of you liver removed - I wondered if your gall bladder cancer had spread to your liver and that is why they removed some of it? I hope you don't mind me asking but at present we seem to be clutching at straws with the medical teams we are dealing with as everything is moving so slowly and seems to negative. I hope my mam can be one of the survivors too but with the medical teams in the UK this seems out of reach. Thank you.0 -
Gallbladder cancer
I was diagnosed with gallbladder cancer in August, 2006. It was found when my gallbladder was taken out. I had a hepatic resection about 3 weeks after the gallbladder surgery. Then, in November 2006, I started having sever pains in the right side of my abdomen and I found a surgeon who went in and removed lots of adhesions. That helped for a while, but the adhesions are back now, and no-one will even discuss surgery with me.
How are you feeling? Do you have to watch what you eat? I am avoiding alcohol completely now. Please try to respond. I felt like I was the only one out here until I found this website!
Good luck to you!0 -
gall bladder cancernat5282 said:Gall Bladder Cancer
My mam was diagnosed with gall bladder cancer 2 months ago (November 2008). We have been told that it has spread to the liver but not any further than that. On 10th December she was told that an operation wasn't possible and that she could have chemo to shrink it but that this would just buy her extra time. As yet she hasn't started any treatment and is just on pain killers for the awful pains in her side. They said if they removed the gall bladder that the cancer would return quickly and more aggresively to a different part of the body and that this would have happened by the time she had got over the operation to remove the gall bladder. I keep reading on the internet how people have had the gall bladder removed and chemo has worked well for them but your comments stood out because you mentioned that you had had 3 sections of you liver removed - I wondered if your gall bladder cancer had spread to your liver and that is why they removed some of it? I hope you don't mind me asking but at present we seem to be clutching at straws with the medical teams we are dealing with as everything is moving so slowly and seems to negative. I hope my mam can be one of the survivors too but with the medical teams in the UK this seems out of reach. Thank you.
I am so sorry about your mother. My gallbladder cancer was found fairly early because I was having a lot of pain so they took my gallbladder out and I had a cancerous polyp growing into the gallbladder wall. The tumor had grown about halfway through the gallbladder wall, but the cancer had not spread to the liver or any lymph nodes, thank God. 3 weeks after the GB surgery, I had a good portion of my liver removed along with lymph nodes too. My oncologist recommended this surgery (hepatic resection) because she said that even though my tumor was confined to the wall, this type of cancer is so aggressive and years later, it would often come back at the spot on the liver where the gallbladder had been laying. The surgeon removed about 1/2" (??) of my liver from the top all the way around the whole right side.
I think that the only way that I was able to even have the option of this surgery was because the GBC had not moved to my liver. Once it gets into the liver, it seems that the choices are much more limited. I also got a second opinion and the radiation oncologist told me that I was too weak to have chemo and radiation and they weren't sure if it even worked well for GBC. Of course, he also told me that it is so rare that they really do not have enough case studies to know for sure what works and what doesn't.
I will keep you and your family in my prayers.0 -
gallbladder cancer survivor
This is to the gallbladder cancer survivor who posted back in November, 2008. How are you doing?
Are there any other people out there who have had gallbladder cancer or have family members with it? I had never even heard about it until I was diagnosed with it.
Please respond if you know anything about it.
Thanks.0 -
mom has gall bladder cancernat5282 said:Gall Bladder Cancer
My mam was diagnosed with gall bladder cancer 2 months ago (November 2008). We have been told that it has spread to the liver but not any further than that. On 10th December she was told that an operation wasn't possible and that she could have chemo to shrink it but that this would just buy her extra time. As yet she hasn't started any treatment and is just on pain killers for the awful pains in her side. They said if they removed the gall bladder that the cancer would return quickly and more aggresively to a different part of the body and that this would have happened by the time she had got over the operation to remove the gall bladder. I keep reading on the internet how people have had the gall bladder removed and chemo has worked well for them but your comments stood out because you mentioned that you had had 3 sections of you liver removed - I wondered if your gall bladder cancer had spread to your liver and that is why they removed some of it? I hope you don't mind me asking but at present we seem to be clutching at straws with the medical teams we are dealing with as everything is moving so slowly and seems to negative. I hope my mam can be one of the survivors too but with the medical teams in the UK this seems out of reach. Thank you.
My mom was diagnosed with gallbladder cancer sometime in October 2008 after finding out she had gallstones, which a partial cystectomy was done and she did not want any further treatment because of her age and the doctor also suggested no further treatment because of her age and health. Anyway, now she has swelling in her left leg and does not take care of herself. This is scarey and we worry so much, but she does not want any further healthcare. I know this does not bring you much hope, but you are not alone and I pray for your mother as well as mine. I know the creator is watching over them.0 -
need to hear about survivors too
My brother was diagnosed with gb cancer stage 3 about one month ago. He just went through surgery to remove the gb and 25% of his liver. He is still recooping from the surgery and finally just went home. He is supposed to undergo radiation and chemo in 4-6 weeks. He has such a negative attitude about surviving and I'm afraid he is going to give up. He challenged me to find even one person who has survived this. You may be the person who he needs to hear from. Would you be willing to talk to me first about your experience or even my brother? I just don't want him to give up. I know attitude has a lot to do with healing and beating cancer.0 -
need to hear about cancer survivorsfischercare said:need to hear about survivors too
My brother was diagnosed with gb cancer stage 3 about one month ago. He just went through surgery to remove the gb and 25% of his liver. He is still recooping from the surgery and finally just went home. He is supposed to undergo radiation and chemo in 4-6 weeks. He has such a negative attitude about surviving and I'm afraid he is going to give up. He challenged me to find even one person who has survived this. You may be the person who he needs to hear from. Would you be willing to talk to me first about your experience or even my brother? I just don't want him to give up. I know attitude has a lot to do with healing and beating cancer.
Hi,
I'm a female 55 yrs old. I was diagosed with gallbladder cancer March 1, 2009. I went to the ER because I was having severe pains in my right side and thought my gallbladder could be the cause but I never even thought of having cancer. It wasn't until I came out of surgery to have my gallbladder removed that I found out I had a tumor that was 3 1/2 centimeters growing on my gallbladder. They also removed a small portion of my liver and several lymphnoids surrounding my gallbladder. These came back as positive for cancer. I was sent to a very good hospital in ne ohio and they confirmed my diagnosis. They told me that I would be starting chemotheraphy but I would not be getting radiation because radiation affects the liver and my liver was already damaged and they didn't want to risk more damage. I'm a little confused now because I'm reading where several people have undergone radiation for gallbladder cancer even though it spread to the liver.
I started chemotheraphy March 30, 2009 and I go once a week for three weeks in a row and then the 4th week I don't have chemo, only blood work done. I should wrap up the chemo about the first or second week of September, then I will have to have either a CT or MRI scan to see if there are any more traces of cancer. I was told that this cancer is microscopic and there is no way to tell if the chemo is 100% effective. I will have to have blood work done about every 3-4 months for the next 2 years (at least). My cancer is stage 3, so I know I'll be tested quite often. I had a med port put in so the chemo doesn't have to go in the veins in my arms. I've been told that chemo is rough on the veins. The med port is wonderful and I will keep that in for a minimum of five years although I've been told I can keep it in the rest of my life. I still work 24-30 hours a week but the chemo makes me very tired.
I am keeping your brother in my prayers. Please tell him not to give up and I refuse to have cancer define who I am. I still go to my grandaughters softball games, play bingo, etc. I just take more precautions now: I use purell hand sanitizer a lot because while you're undergoing chemo treatments it affects your white and red blood cells. You have to be careful about being around a lot of people with colds, flus etc. Please teel your brother to hang in there. You too.0 -
gallbladder cancerdebg362 said:need to hear about cancer survivors
Hi,
I'm a female 55 yrs old. I was diagosed with gallbladder cancer March 1, 2009. I went to the ER because I was having severe pains in my right side and thought my gallbladder could be the cause but I never even thought of having cancer. It wasn't until I came out of surgery to have my gallbladder removed that I found out I had a tumor that was 3 1/2 centimeters growing on my gallbladder. They also removed a small portion of my liver and several lymphnoids surrounding my gallbladder. These came back as positive for cancer. I was sent to a very good hospital in ne ohio and they confirmed my diagnosis. They told me that I would be starting chemotheraphy but I would not be getting radiation because radiation affects the liver and my liver was already damaged and they didn't want to risk more damage. I'm a little confused now because I'm reading where several people have undergone radiation for gallbladder cancer even though it spread to the liver.
I started chemotheraphy March 30, 2009 and I go once a week for three weeks in a row and then the 4th week I don't have chemo, only blood work done. I should wrap up the chemo about the first or second week of September, then I will have to have either a CT or MRI scan to see if there are any more traces of cancer. I was told that this cancer is microscopic and there is no way to tell if the chemo is 100% effective. I will have to have blood work done about every 3-4 months for the next 2 years (at least). My cancer is stage 3, so I know I'll be tested quite often. I had a med port put in so the chemo doesn't have to go in the veins in my arms. I've been told that chemo is rough on the veins. The med port is wonderful and I will keep that in for a minimum of five years although I've been told I can keep it in the rest of my life. I still work 24-30 hours a week but the chemo makes me very tired.
I am keeping your brother in my prayers. Please tell him not to give up and I refuse to have cancer define who I am. I still go to my grandaughters softball games, play bingo, etc. I just take more precautions now: I use purell hand sanitizer a lot because while you're undergoing chemo treatments it affects your white and red blood cells. You have to be careful about being around a lot of people with colds, flus etc. Please teel your brother to hang in there. You too.
Hi,
I am glad you are doing well. My sister has stage iv gallbladder cancer. The gallbladder was removed in Oct 08 They said they did not see anything but she did a cancer cleanup in march. Now they see cancer seeds and she has to do chemo and rad again. I am worried about her I hope she does well.Please contact me
Deb0 -
Survivorfischercare said:need to hear about survivors too
My brother was diagnosed with gb cancer stage 3 about one month ago. He just went through surgery to remove the gb and 25% of his liver. He is still recooping from the surgery and finally just went home. He is supposed to undergo radiation and chemo in 4-6 weeks. He has such a negative attitude about surviving and I'm afraid he is going to give up. He challenged me to find even one person who has survived this. You may be the person who he needs to hear from. Would you be willing to talk to me first about your experience or even my brother? I just don't want him to give up. I know attitude has a lot to do with healing and beating cancer.
I would love to chat with you and your brother. He too can survive and thrive. I was diagnosed in 2005 Stage 4 gb, chemo in 05,06, surgery 06, chemo 07. I have been cancer free since 03/07. You found your person that your brother challenged you to find now you need to challenge him. Never give up HOPE.0 -
sister with gallbladder cancerLily50 said:Survivor
I would love to chat with you and your brother. He too can survive and thrive. I was diagnosed in 2005 Stage 4 gb, chemo in 05,06, surgery 06, chemo 07. I have been cancer free since 03/07. You found your person that your brother challenged you to find now you need to challenge him. Never give up HOPE.
please contact me my sister has stage iv and having a really bad time she is in alot of pain please help!!!!!!!!!!0 -
sister with gallbladder cancerdje17 said:sister with gallbladder cancer
please contact me my sister has stage iv and having a really bad time she is in alot of pain please help!!!!!!!!!!
My sister (age 50) was diagnosed this month with stage IV gallbladder with mets to the liver. She is not showing her pain but I can definately see a change for the worse these past 4 weeks. She is receiving chemo only.
I am trying to learn about this disease and what I am reading on gallbladder cancer and the prognosis is not good. While the doctor gave her two years, everything I am reading is telling me only months.
Any information would be appreciated.0 -
sister with gallbladder cancerdje17 said:sister with gallbladder cancer
please contact me my sister has stage iv and having a really bad time she is in alot of pain please help!!!!!!!!!!
Hello; jmy sister was also diagnosed recently with stage IV cancer (with mets to the liver). How is your sister doing?0 -
for Lily50 - my dadLily50 said:Survivor
I would love to chat with you and your brother. He too can survive and thrive. I was diagnosed in 2005 Stage 4 gb, chemo in 05,06, surgery 06, chemo 07. I have been cancer free since 03/07. You found your person that your brother challenged you to find now you need to challenge him. Never give up HOPE.
Can you provide details of Chemo - which drugs did you take and if you developed any complications throughout your treatment? My email is g1976d@yahoo.com. My Dad was diagnosed with gall bladder stage 3 cancer and is not doing very well. Thanks.0 -
Brother-in-law with gallbladder cancerLily50 said:Survivor
I would love to chat with you and your brother. He too can survive and thrive. I was diagnosed in 2005 Stage 4 gb, chemo in 05,06, surgery 06, chemo 07. I have been cancer free since 03/07. You found your person that your brother challenged you to find now you need to challenge him. Never give up HOPE.
Dear Lily50,
I am very happy to know that you are doing well. My brother-in-law, who is 40 years old,was diagnosed with gallbladder cancer stage IV in October 2008. Doctors removed his gallbladder in November 2008 and since then he has undergone chemo and radio treatment. Now, the surgeon wants to shrink his tumour to do a second operation but my brother-in-law is depressed and he is not eating very well. He only finds relief in his two little children (3 and 7 years old).
All the family is quite discouraged and we don't know whether the chemo is working or not. That's why we changed the oncologist because the previous one said that there was not anything else to do and that chemotherapy was only just going to be palliative. The surgeon keeps on insisting that if the tumour was shrinked, my brother-in-law could be operated. Since then, I have only found comfort in your post that I keep on reading again and again to convince my sister, who has lost more than 10 kilos since the terrible news,that there are people who respond to treatment.
I would be very grateful, if you could please contact me to let me know which chemo you have received and what you have done during these four years.
I wish you all the best and I thank you deeply for giving us hope.0 -
Sister with Possible Gallbladder CancerLily50 said:Survivor
I would love to chat with you and your brother. He too can survive and thrive. I was diagnosed in 2005 Stage 4 gb, chemo in 05,06, surgery 06, chemo 07. I have been cancer free since 03/07. You found your person that your brother challenged you to find now you need to challenge him. Never give up HOPE.
Hello there. Nice to hear that you are doing well. My little sister she is 20. She had a baby 4 months age, and shortly after couldn't hold down any food, and the pain in her abdomin was unbarable. She hates doctors and hospitals, ( our father passed away 6 years ago from terminal cancer) so she's horrified of doctors. I had to finally drag her to see a doctor, due to her not being able to care for her children beacuse of the pain. They did an ultasound and found 2 tumors about 3 centimeters, the doctor also said that there was an obstuction to the liver. Now I'm concerned, her doctor has only been a doc for one year. She told my sister that she will have to get back to her sometime next week with more info. My father had cancer of the liver that spread through out his body too quickly for anything to be done. What advice could you give me? She is soooo young and has a 3 year old boy and a 4 month old baby girl. I don't want her to give up and she is really freaking out.0 -
Wife with stage 4 gallbladder cancer
They have now got her with the local Hospice people. The hospital and doctors have pretty much quit on her. No chemo coming and they pretty much made us sign DNR's because they say it wouldn't do any good. She has a strong will to live so we're going to fight it as long as we can. She was always such a strong person. Her legs and feet are severely swollen and they keep giving her diuretics but they aren't helping.
I've read where some supplements have worked wonders for some. Anybody know if they really work at all? I guess when you get this bad you grasp for anything.
Appreciate any reply.0 -
North East Ohio alsodebg362 said:need to hear about cancer survivors
Hi,
I'm a female 55 yrs old. I was diagosed with gallbladder cancer March 1, 2009. I went to the ER because I was having severe pains in my right side and thought my gallbladder could be the cause but I never even thought of having cancer. It wasn't until I came out of surgery to have my gallbladder removed that I found out I had a tumor that was 3 1/2 centimeters growing on my gallbladder. They also removed a small portion of my liver and several lymphnoids surrounding my gallbladder. These came back as positive for cancer. I was sent to a very good hospital in ne ohio and they confirmed my diagnosis. They told me that I would be starting chemotheraphy but I would not be getting radiation because radiation affects the liver and my liver was already damaged and they didn't want to risk more damage. I'm a little confused now because I'm reading where several people have undergone radiation for gallbladder cancer even though it spread to the liver.
I started chemotheraphy March 30, 2009 and I go once a week for three weeks in a row and then the 4th week I don't have chemo, only blood work done. I should wrap up the chemo about the first or second week of September, then I will have to have either a CT or MRI scan to see if there are any more traces of cancer. I was told that this cancer is microscopic and there is no way to tell if the chemo is 100% effective. I will have to have blood work done about every 3-4 months for the next 2 years (at least). My cancer is stage 3, so I know I'll be tested quite often. I had a med port put in so the chemo doesn't have to go in the veins in my arms. I've been told that chemo is rough on the veins. The med port is wonderful and I will keep that in for a minimum of five years although I've been told I can keep it in the rest of my life. I still work 24-30 hours a week but the chemo makes me very tired.
I am keeping your brother in my prayers. Please tell him not to give up and I refuse to have cancer define who I am. I still go to my grandaughters softball games, play bingo, etc. I just take more precautions now: I use purell hand sanitizer a lot because while you're undergoing chemo treatments it affects your white and red blood cells. You have to be careful about being around a lot of people with colds, flus etc. Please teel your brother to hang in there. You too.
My Mom was just diagnosed with gallbladder cancer on Oct. 21 and is seeing an Oncologist at the Cleveland Clinic. I was wondering where you are going in N.E. Ohio and what the name of your Oncologist is and what Chemo you were getting? How did you feel during your chemo treatments and how are you now? My mom is stage IV and she will be starting chemo this Thursday and will actually be getting the most aggressive at first and she if she can handle it.0 -
My mom is 65 and was justdebg362 said:need to hear about cancer survivors
Hi,
I'm a female 55 yrs old. I was diagosed with gallbladder cancer March 1, 2009. I went to the ER because I was having severe pains in my right side and thought my gallbladder could be the cause but I never even thought of having cancer. It wasn't until I came out of surgery to have my gallbladder removed that I found out I had a tumor that was 3 1/2 centimeters growing on my gallbladder. They also removed a small portion of my liver and several lymphnoids surrounding my gallbladder. These came back as positive for cancer. I was sent to a very good hospital in ne ohio and they confirmed my diagnosis. They told me that I would be starting chemotheraphy but I would not be getting radiation because radiation affects the liver and my liver was already damaged and they didn't want to risk more damage. I'm a little confused now because I'm reading where several people have undergone radiation for gallbladder cancer even though it spread to the liver.
I started chemotheraphy March 30, 2009 and I go once a week for three weeks in a row and then the 4th week I don't have chemo, only blood work done. I should wrap up the chemo about the first or second week of September, then I will have to have either a CT or MRI scan to see if there are any more traces of cancer. I was told that this cancer is microscopic and there is no way to tell if the chemo is 100% effective. I will have to have blood work done about every 3-4 months for the next 2 years (at least). My cancer is stage 3, so I know I'll be tested quite often. I had a med port put in so the chemo doesn't have to go in the veins in my arms. I've been told that chemo is rough on the veins. The med port is wonderful and I will keep that in for a minimum of five years although I've been told I can keep it in the rest of my life. I still work 24-30 hours a week but the chemo makes me very tired.
I am keeping your brother in my prayers. Please tell him not to give up and I refuse to have cancer define who I am. I still go to my grandaughters softball games, play bingo, etc. I just take more precautions now: I use purell hand sanitizer a lot because while you're undergoing chemo treatments it affects your white and red blood cells. You have to be careful about being around a lot of people with colds, flus etc. Please teel your brother to hang in there. You too.
My mom is 65 and was just diagnosed with gallbladder cancer, and there are a couple small spots on her liver as well. She too is in NE Ohio, so can I ask you what hospital you received treatment? Are you still receiving chemo? What type did you have and how long? Any other information would be greatly appreciated?
Thanks,
Kellie0 -
Gallbladder Cancer - Supporting My Momjmr0531 said:gallbladder cancer survivor
This is to the gallbladder cancer survivor who posted back in November, 2008. How are you doing?
Are there any other people out there who have had gallbladder cancer or have family members with it? I had never even heard about it until I was diagnosed with it.
Please respond if you know anything about it.
Thanks.Hi,
My mom was diagnosed with gallbladder cancer 2/5/21. This came after months of radid weight loss, loss all her enegy, terrible dry cough, became anemic, hosplitalized for a large, serious blood clot in her upper left thigh, and lesions found on her liver. Her blood counts had tanked months ago and the doctors were still puzzled - searching for primary source of cancer (had not ever mentioend cancer for the first 2 months of all this and every test under the sun) after her biopsy on 1/18. She is a strong, stubborm about to be 80 year old woman, who by all other counts, is in good shape. She starts chemo today. They say it is to "shrink the tumor and prolong life," however I know she will be victorious in regaining her strength & quality of life. This woman was jetting up and down the staris just last Thanksgiving! Although I am angered that is too so long for a diagnosis, sad that this lack of energy and fraility is not only dangerous but devastingly depressing for her, I have a deep well of faith to pull from. She had her port out in yesterday. I am the only one, THE ONE, here with her am my dad helping to the best of my abiliity. My sisters are out of town. I guess I just wanted to get my story out there so I can connect with others who are having similar experiences and hopefully provide and receive hope, knowledge and support from this community. God Bless.
PS She is not in pain, she has reproted very little discomfort or pain - but that is just her. Reading your stories I bet she had the side pain for longer than she says & worse than she says - when it got bad overnght as it seemed - and her leg swelled up -that is when she went in to the hosptial -for the biopy and clot. She has been home this whole time otherwise.
0
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