Risk Factors

I'm wondering how many people with Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma (Bile Duct Cancer) served in the Viet Nam War? Would like to hear from them. J

My brother has just been diagnosed with Bile Duct Cancer..he was in Okanawa, Japan during the Vietnam War and did serve in Iraq in the first Desert Storm..Marine Colonel Tank Division..

Hello, thanks for the reply. I wish your brother well. Every case is different since it depends on many factors. My husband had adenocarcinoma type and it was Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma. (the part of the duct inside the liver). His was in the advanced stage when diagnosed and had already spread to his liver and bones. But I know of a woman that had some type of "seed" placed in the duct and she is doing great now, a few years later. I think she was out west. I am hoping to speak with her soon. If you'd like, I'll pass things on to you. It's a rare cancer. I have heard from a few family members of veterans that have it. Do you know what your brother was exposed towhile in service? I have been researching many chemicals that may cause it. Has he been seeing a VA Dr? We had our own. Military used many deadly chemicals. My husband was in 69-70.

Thanks so much for replying so rapidly, we are inurgent need of information since this is news that is a week old and we are all taken by surprise. If you receive any information on this from the woman in CA about this "seed" please forward it would be helpful. My brother is 56, which is relatively young we have been told.

Thanks Again

I will try to get info on that in the A.M. I know what it's like to hear that and want things moving. I just heard about this the other day. My sister in-law knows her. She is going to tell her to contact me by phone,, maybe we can learn something. I will see if she can talk right away. My husband was 56 also. Do you have any idea where this came from?

Thanks for getting back so quickly...We have no way of knowing how he ended up with this cancer...many facors could apply, exposure to chemicals during the his service in Iraq for the first war could be a factor yet we could not say for sure...

His cancer first presented itself in rash form , which his doctors could not control, next symtom was jaundice...then they brought him in expecting to do a whipple procedure..when in surgery they realized it had spread to just a localized area of his liver...the doctor took out his gallbladder and performed a roux-en-y..he is recovering now and looking at options at Mayo, Johns Hopkins, Sloan kettering etc...and will be talking to specialists this week...

Again I appreciate your info and am so sorry for your loss....we feel we have a 50-50 chance and are praying for success...

Maria

Maria, The woman I told you about was ready to go out but she said she will call me tonight and give all the details. Her Dr. sent her to Jefferson Hospital in Phila. She mentioned a Dr. in Indiana, also had chemo and radiation. She is doing well now. I will send you a message after I speak with her tonight. She will explain the "seed".

My 40 year husband was diagnosed in Sept 2004, had surgery in October, did chemo and radiation in Jan and Feb 2005. Unfortunately, the cancer has spread to another site near his intestines. As I was reading this message page, I was struck by the number of military or former military who seem to have this disease. My husband is still on active duty in the Army. He was not in Viet Nam or Desert Storm. His only combat experience was in Panama. He was diagnosed while we were living in Okinawa, although we had only lived there for a few months. It would be really interesting to see if this is a widespread problem with members of the military. Does anyone have any thoughts or information on this? I am also very interested to hear about the "seed" as we are looking at any and all treatment options.

There are other vets with this that served in Okinawa. I haven't gotten back to the info of the "seed" because we had a death in the family. But I will sometime tomorrow. I am researching the chemicals our vets were exposed to and so many of them can cause BDC. Also, it is more prevalent in S.E. Asia because of liver flukes. What type does your husband have?

My husband has intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (Klatskin's Tumor). They checked to see if it could have been caused by liver flukes and don't believe it was. They have no idea what caused it.