I was diagnosed with ampullary cancer June 27 of 07. I underwent whipple surgery July 12 at UI hosptials in Indianapolis. The Doctor who performed my surgery was trained at Johns Hopkins and performs whipples several times a week. Based on the information we researched - it was best to get someone who has done hundreds of these operations because of the high risk of complications associated with this surgery. 40%. I was an unlucky 40% and was in the hospital, in and out of the ICU three times and ended up in rehabilitative care to learn to walk, dress, and eat again. Over nine weeks total hospitalization.
As a result I had to wait until healing was complete for adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Five weeks prior to Christmas, I went to radiation five days a week and in weeks 1, 3, and 5, I had 5FU for 72 hours. I tolerated this regimen amazingly well. I only had some nausea and some loose stools. No hair loss, appetite loss, mouth sores, or abdominal pain.
Now, because I want to throw everything I can it, we are doing a course of gemcitabem (sp?). This will be 6 months of infusions. Three weeks on, one week off and start again. This may cause hair loss. If my insurance would approve it, I would next throw FOLFOX at it, but they won't. I was told that with ampullary cancers - 25% are related to pancreatic cancers and 75% are related to intestinal cancers. My doctor is very aggressive and I appreciate that so we are trying to cover all bases.
I will write more later. My last scan three weeks ago was clear. So at seven months post surgery I am doing good. BUT I did have one lymph node involved, perineural invasion and lymphovascular invasion with a poorly differentiated cell. Those things are not good.
I am doing everything in my power to learn about this cancer and what I can do to fight it!
Check out www.pubmed.com for the most up to date articles on ampullary cancer (of which there is little).
brotzdesart