Bile Duct Cancer

barln89
barln89 Member Posts: 1
edited March 2014 in Liver Cancer #1
I was diagnosed with Cholangiocarcinoma on October 8th, 2010. I had surgery to remove the tumor about 2 weeks later on the 26th of October. The surgery said he was able to get the entire tumor out. I am 21 years old, so I have my age working in my favor. I saw an oncologist a few weeks later and he said that whether or not I do chemo is up to me! I spoke back with the GI doctor who diagnosed me, he suggested that chemo is probably something that I should do. He said that if I wanted a second opinion that I should make a trip to MD Anderson, because they are experts there! I live in GA so that is a kind of far trip. Ive also read that chemo isnt that affective against Cholangiocarcinoma. So I dont know what I should do.... Does anyone know anyone who has been in a similar situation and what they did or any suggestions on what I should do next??

Comments

  • SarahD
    SarahD Member Posts: 139
    #2
    Dont know much about bile
    Dont know much about bile duct cancer. Seeing as how you are only 21 i would DEFINATELY get a second opinion at a larger cancer institute for sure! YOur life is definately worth the travel take care keep us updated!
  • Tina Blondek
    Tina Blondek Member Posts: 1,500 Member
    #3
    Welcome
    Hello and welcome to this discussion board. This is the cancer that my dad passed away from in March. It started as esophageal cancer and then went to his liver. My dad just turned 71. You are so young, please make a trip to a more experienced cancer center for a second opinion! Do not waste anymore time. You can look into Ga, Fl, NC etc. Best of luck to you. Keep us up to date.
    Tina in Va
  • bryn0511
    bryn0511 Member Posts: 1
    #4
    Tina Blondek said:

    Welcome
    Hello and welcome to this discussion board. This is the cancer that my dad passed away from in March. It started as esophageal cancer and then went to his liver. My dad just turned 71. You are so young, please make a trip to a more experienced cancer center for a second opinion! Do not waste anymore time. You can look into Ga, Fl, NC etc. Best of luck to you. Keep us up to date.
    Tina in Va

    Hello - not quite sure how
    Hello - not quite sure how this works. I also am new to this. A friend was recently diagnosed with intrahepatic bile duct cancer. His is said to be inoperable, terminal, and the treatments he is receiving is palliative. He has received one diagnosis - no other opinions. What are some other cancer centers? Just because one doc says terminal isn't it possible that either there are more options? He was given 9-12 mos. He is 50 with two girls under 10.
  • Tina Blondek
    Tina Blondek Member Posts: 1,500 Member
    #5
    bryn0511 said:

    Hello - not quite sure how
    Hello - not quite sure how this works. I also am new to this. A friend was recently diagnosed with intrahepatic bile duct cancer. His is said to be inoperable, terminal, and the treatments he is receiving is palliative. He has received one diagnosis - no other opinions. What are some other cancer centers? Just because one doc says terminal isn't it possible that either there are more options? He was given 9-12 mos. He is 50 with two girls under 10.

    Welcome
    Hello Bryn
    Welcome to this discussion board. Yes, you are correct there are always other options. 50 is young. Where does your friend live? Do research on the internet. Put in cancer centers and the state he lives in. Contact the American Cancer Society. They are always very helpful. Best of luck, let us know how you make out.
    Tina in Va
  • bigtrout72
    bigtrout72 Member Posts: 3
    #6
    bryn0511 said:

    Hello - not quite sure how
    Hello - not quite sure how this works. I also am new to this. A friend was recently diagnosed with intrahepatic bile duct cancer. His is said to be inoperable, terminal, and the treatments he is receiving is palliative. He has received one diagnosis - no other opinions. What are some other cancer centers? Just because one doc says terminal isn't it possible that either there are more options? He was given 9-12 mos. He is 50 with two girls under 10.

    Cholangiocarcinoma
    Bryn-
    Very sorry to hear about your friend. I am a cholangiocarcinoma survivor. I would highly recommend that he seek an opinion from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, where I was treated. A group of physicians there specializes in this disease, and developed the treatment protocal used in various hospitals around the country. They certainly saved my life, and I am very fortunate.

    Best Wishes and Good Luck to your friend.
  • bigtrout72
    bigtrout72 Member Posts: 3
    #7
    bryn0511 said:

    Hello - not quite sure how
    Hello - not quite sure how this works. I also am new to this. A friend was recently diagnosed with intrahepatic bile duct cancer. His is said to be inoperable, terminal, and the treatments he is receiving is palliative. He has received one diagnosis - no other opinions. What are some other cancer centers? Just because one doc says terminal isn't it possible that either there are more options? He was given 9-12 mos. He is 50 with two girls under 10.

    Cholangiocarcinoma
    Bryn-
    Very sorry to hear about your friend. I am a cholangiocarcinoma survivor. I would highly recommend that he seek an opinion from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, where I was treated. A group of physicians there specializes in this disease, and developed the treatment protocal used in various hospitals around the country. They certainly saved my life, and I am very fortunate.

    Best Wishes and Good Luck to your friend.
  • bigtrout72
    bigtrout72 Member Posts: 3
    #8
    cholangiocarcinoma
    BARIN
    If you can should follow up the Mayo clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. They saved my life. Drs. Gores, Heinbach, Rosen and Masuoka and the rest of the team there are first rate and very knowledgeable on this disease.
    Best of luck to you!
  • leoleo
    leoleo Member Posts: 1
    #9
    intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma,
    please help!
    any suggestion or comment will help. My 28 year old brother was diagnosed with this type of cancer recently. He was told by his doctor that he is in early stages of this type of cancer. Please advise or recommend anything that would be of benefit to this young man.
  • LeeandShirley
    LeeandShirley Member Posts: 122 Member
    #10
    Bile Duct Cancer
    My husband was dx with cholyangiocarcenoma July of 2010. He had a resection with clear margins in August of 2010. He did not have follow-up chemo after surgery. In April of 2011, his cancer had returned in his liver with multiple tumors and mets to the abdomen. He was considered stage 4 uncurable at that time. Chemo was then offered and we were also told that chemo was not very effective on this kind of cancer, but it was his only option. It is Feb. 2012 and he has had chemo since April and his tumors have all shrunk, with the exception of further mets to the bones, (being treated with radiation). So, to sum it up, chemo can help, and it could kill microscopic or very small cancer cells that cannot be seen yet. If we had it to do over again, we would have had the chemo after surgery. Just our story. AND, I would get to the best cancer center regardless of distance.

Discussion Boards