Life Expectancy?

My husband had a Whipple procedure for bile duct cancer one year ago.   He is cancer-free, but extremely anxious about what lie ahead, both in terms of how many years of life he has left and what health issues are likely.  Right now, it is frequent bowel movements.  At different times during the past year he used pancreatic enzymes and cholestrymine (spelling??).  Nothing made a real difference, so we are starting over with a gastroenterologist. 

 I am new to this website, and hope to hear of your experiences.  Thanks.

Thanks for your reply.  I'm happy to hear that your mom is doing well, and curious about whether or not she takes enzymes for digestion or other maintenance meds. 

Did your mom have cancer remaining after her Whipple surgery?  Any chemo or radiation?  I'm familiar with the blood test and CT check-ups; so far, so good.  The knowledge that recurring cancer at this site is grim news is a huge stresser---does the "worry factor" lessen as time goes on?

I am appreciative of your input.  Thanks again.

HI again,

My mom did have both radiation and chemo ( a 24 hour chemo pack) for 8 weeks post surgery.  She did not have to take any additional medicines.  They are never sure if they get it all due to any cells that have already metastisized. 

My mom's doctor did tell her last visit that if they do see a recurrence, it usually is at the 2 year mark, which is this summer for my mom. They also told her when she was diagnosed, that it is a slow growing cancer and that she probably had it 10 months or so before the symptoms started. 

This is my mom's 3rd cancer.  She had skin, uterine and now this.  All unrelated, so she was told.  Cancer has no rhyme or reason.  My best friend died 2 years ago from melanoma of the colon.  She didn't even have skin cancer, but somehow a melanoma was found in her colon.  Brutal stuff.

  Sorry to hear about your husband's diagnosis.  I have bile duct cancer, was diagnosed Feb 2007, had "Surgery" April 2007.  As for the Whipple Procedure.....the surgeons opened me up & closed me right back up again.  The cancer had already spread to my liver & pancreas. The cancer was left inside of me.  Had 9 months of chemo. Since Jan 2008 have had no treatments.  Since the beginning I have been on pancreatic enzyme capsules to help in my digestion. Throughout the past year have had bouts of sepsis (blood poisoning), blockages of infection & food particles like fruit & vegetable skins in the stent put into my main bile duct, pancreatitis when the tumor has blocked my pancreas duct.  At the present time (after one month of clear liquid diet only) I am able to eat chicken, fish & turkey; nothing fried or greasy; must be low fat.

  I have learned to live one day at a time. I was not supposed to live past Christmas 2007.  Feeling pretty good except very low energy & strength. My family & friends have all been loving, helpful & praying for me.  The doctors are all amazed at how well I am doing. Believe me I do not take any day for granted knowing that it may be my last.  Every time I get sick, there is no warning.  I could be feeling fine one hour & the next I would be on the floor with pain off the scale charts!

   I have made my peace with God and have apologized to Him for not trusting that He is able to take care of my family better & in more ways than I ever could.  I am thankful for the family I have been blessed with, but have reconciled to the fact that I cannot provide all their needs as much as I love them & they love me.  We have made all the necessary planning & arrangements for when I do die.  Do not want to leave everything a surprise for my family or a burden.  We love each other more than ever before.  Hugging has become a standard hello & goodbye with everyone that I know.  I have no time for anger or grudges with anyone. Just want everyone to know I love them & appreciate what ever part they play in my life!

   It is true that when the symptoms of bile duct cancer first appear, the cancer has been in your body for about 2 years.  That is why there is such a high mortality rate.  Since your husband was able to have the Whipple Procedure, he has a much better life expentancy than I do.  His about 4 years after diagnosis.  The sooner he & his family can accept the reality of this horrible cancer, the better his quality of life will be.  Ignoring or hoping for the impossible will only delay the beauty of the love you all can experience with one another's fellowship.

8mjm8 - what a touching message - it brought tears to my eyes.  Thank you for sharing that with us.

My dad was diagnosed with bile duct cancer in 10/2007.  Like you said, the doctors feel he had the cancer for 2 years before symptoms occurred, which was only a sudden onset of severe jaundice.  The cancer had spread into his liver, which they went in and removed 55% of his liver.  The doctor did tell us, he "almost" didn't operate because of so much infection, but luckily he did.  Biopsies taken during surgery  returned with no clean margins anywhere.  The cancer is in every organ, but due to my dad's age, he is 72, they felt further operations would not do any good.  My dad is now on his last chemo treatment, 6 weeks radiation and 6 months chemo.  AT his last CAT scan, the new liver growth showed NO CANCER.  We do take one day at a time and I am grateful I have my dad still with me.  A dear friend in our community was diagnosed 2 weeks before my dad with the same cancer and never came home from the hospital.  I am truly blessed to have my dad with me.

Thank you again for sharing your story - my prayers are with you and your family......best of luck and God Bless.

wow THE STRENGTH FROM EVERYONE IS AMAZING.

My husband has bile duct cancer and will have the whipple on June 23rd.

If anyone has any suggestions I would love to hear them.  I hope I will have the strength and courage that everyone on this site seems to have

My husband was diagnosed with stage 4 cholangiocarcinoma in October 2007 and died in early March 2008.  His was inoperable.  When his was diagnosed, his secondary tumor in his liver was the size of a softball.  He ended up with secondary cancer in liver, abdomen, spine, the covering of heart, the covering of lung, and stomach. 

I'm glad to hear some people with operable cancers have had more time with their families.  This is a horrible type of cancer, and I'm glad it now has it's own section on this website.  Finding resources when my husband was diagnosed was a full time job. 

 For those of you diagnosed with bile duct cancer, did you smoke and drink?  I've found some websites that say those are huge risk factors.  My husband had a son from his first marraige, and I'm worried that it might be heriditary.  I don't want my husband's son to have just forty-two measly years like his dad.