mother just diagnosed

I want to tell my mother's story, and ask for any advice...  In March of this year we took my mother to the hospital, she was jaundiced and experiencing pain in her stomach and hips.  Doctors first believed she may have a stone blocking a bile duct.  Tests were done and a mass was found to be the problem.  A stent was placed and she was told that they could not help her here.  She then went to Thomas
Jefferson in Philly.  They replaced the stent and added another.  They told my mom that they were 90% sure that it was cancer, though they could not determine if it originated in the bile ducts or the gallbladder.  They told my mother that it did not appear to have spread to the liver or anywhere else, (just the gallbladder and ducts).  They told her that they felt confident that they could remove it all, and reconstruct ducts if necessary with pieces of her bowel.  She would then need chemo and radiation.  Jefferson made light of the surgery, but did say that they would not know for sure if it spread until they got in there.  Surgery was set for May 6.  During the week or so before the surgery, my dad's insurance changed ( May 1st)  Jefferson would not accept new insurance so my mother decided to contact Geisinger in Danville PA.  After a couple of weeks she finally got an appointment.  Geisinger did every test over again.  Yesterday we sat with the surgeon and he told my mother that the cancer is in her liver, though 95% of her liver fine.  They now believe the cancer to have originated in the gallbladder.  They also biopsied a lymph node above the liver and it contained cancer cells.  They believe several other nodes in the area are also affected.  Geisinger does not want to operate, they want my mother to start on chemo.  

     I have many questions:  why did Jefferson want to operate?  Does this cancer spread this fast?  My mom is 69, and she has lost alot of weight already.  How long does she have at this point?  Will the chemo help her?  Does this cancer go into remission?  How about special supplements to build up her strength and appetite?  Should she get a second opinion?  

Thank you

Renee 

 

On 6/10/2008 azureangel wrote:

I want to tell my mother's story, and ask for any advice...  In March of this year we took my mother to the hospital, she was jaundiced and experiencing pain in her stomach and hips.  Doctors first believed she may have a stone blocking a bile duct.  Tests were done and a mass was found to be the problem.  A stent was placed and she was told that they could not help her here.  She then went to Thomas
Jefferson in Philly.  They replaced the stent and added another.  They told my mom that they were 90% sure that it was cancer, though they could not determine if it originated in the bile ducts or the gallbladder.  They told my mother that it did not appear to have spread to the liver or anywhere else, (just the gallbladder and ducts).  They told her that they felt confident that they could remove it all, and reconstruct ducts if necessary with pieces of her bowel.  She would then need chemo and radiation.  Jefferson made light of the surgery, but did say that they would not know for sure if it spread until they got in there.  Surgery was set for May 6.  During the week or so before the surgery, my dad's insurance changed ( May 1st)  Jefferson would not accept new insurance so my mother decided to contact Geisinger in Danville PA.  After a couple of weeks she finally got an appointment.  Geisinger did every test over again.  Yesterday we sat with the surgeon and he told my mother that the cancer is in her liver, though 95% of her liver fine.  They now believe the cancer to have originated in the gallbladder.  They also biopsied a lymph node above the liver and it contained cancer cells.  They believe several other nodes in the area are also affected.  Geisinger does not want to operate, they want my mother to start on chemo.  

     I have many questions:  why did Jefferson want to operate?  Does this cancer spread this fast?  My mom is 69, and she has lost alot of weight already.  How long does she have at this point?  Will the chemo help her?  Does this cancer go into remission?  How about special supplements to build up her strength and appetite?  Should she get a second opinion?  

Thank you

Renee 

Hi I’m 56 I live in Australia and I have cancer. I’m sorry for what  you, your mum, and your family must be going through. We and our families are going through it to. I think special supplements are a good idea I all so feel you should know your enemy get as much information as you can

Firstly know what your fighting if you wish you can get on to the net and go to http://www.cancertutor.com/Other/Liver_Cancer.html or just type in to Google search “ liver cancer and food “ A lot of really grate sites will  come up  with some pretty useful  information

I got this off the site above  “As long as a person's liver is alive, there is good reason to be optimistic about dealing with liver cancer. The good news is that just because a person has liver cancer does not mean the liver is dead. Liver cancer requires a two-pronged approach.

First, the liver must be "detoxified," to get toxic chemicals out of the liver. Second, the cancer cells in the liver must be killed."

Third learn what foods are best to help fight cancer there are some easy thing that you mum can do like avoiding Simples Sugars ( “ sugar that we put into tea or coffee cakes cans of soda etc) taking large amount of an antioxidants “like vitamin C ” I hope all this will help just dont lose hope Take Care Ray     

The memories of this are just too short. My wife had gallbladder cancer and did not make it.I did huge amoiunts of research and would now have done things differently. Chemo takes a huge toll on the body. There is NO

standard treatment for gb cancer. First I would have acted quickly to obtain a biopsy of the tumor and had it assayed to determine what chemo treatment would be the best. The assay probably isn't perfected as yet but it's a start. The first chemo treatment is called "first line" and it's most likely the most effective before the body develops resistance. There fore I would have added to the chemo treatment a biological -Avastin is one the few (not Fda approved for gb cancer so would have to get prior insurance approval) By the way there is an assay facility in Philly. Let me know if you need more info.

Art

On 6/10/2008 azureangel wrote:

I want to tell my mother's story, and ask for any advice...  In March of this year we took my mother to the hospital, she was jaundiced and experiencing pain in her stomach and hips.  Doctors first believed she may have a stone blocking a bile duct.  Tests were done and a mass was found to be the problem.  A stent was placed and she was told that they could not help her here.  She then went to Thomas
Jefferson in Philly.  They replaced the stent and added another.  They told my mom that they were 90% sure that it was cancer, though they could not determine if it originated in the bile ducts or the gallbladder.  They told my mother that it did not appear to have spread to the liver or anywhere else, (just the gallbladder and ducts).  They told her that they felt confident that they could remove it all, and reconstruct ducts if necessary with pieces of her bowel.  She would then need chemo and radiation.  Jefferson made light of the surgery, but did say that they would not know for sure if it spread until they got in there.  Surgery was set for May 6.  During the week or so before the surgery, my dad's insurance changed ( May 1st)  Jefferson would not accept new insurance so my mother decided to contact Geisinger in Danville PA.  After a couple of weeks she finally got an appointment.  Geisinger did every test over again.  Yesterday we sat with the surgeon and he told my mother that the cancer is in her liver, though 95% of her liver fine.  They now believe the cancer to have originated in the gallbladder.  They also biopsied a lymph node above the liver and it contained cancer cells.  They believe several other nodes in the area are also affected.  Geisinger does not want to operate, they want my mother to start on chemo.  

     I have many questions:  why did Jefferson want to operate?  Does this cancer spread this fast?  My mom is 69, and she has lost alot of weight already.  How long does she have at this point?  Will the chemo help her?  Does this cancer go into remission?  How about special supplements to build up her strength and appetite?  Should she get a second opinion?  

Thank you

Renee 

 

We can help you with our experiences - suggest foods, supplements, tell you what worked for us.  I assume that the docs want to shrink the tumors, mets - etc. and then do surgery.  Sometimes they don't and the treatment plans may include radiation.  It is impossible for us to go beyond that.  I hope that more post that have the same diagnosis going in.  What I can suggest you do as soon as possible is make an appointment with you Docs and ask all the questions you have asked here.  I know it can be difficult because sometimes we are frightened, and we are hesitiant to ask because of the potential of bad news.  I know - I have been fighting colon camcer for three years and have had to ask those questions.  Make a list and get to them ASAP.  The worry, depression, can be very debillitating.  Stay strong and fight like is hell is my moto, and, try to stay positive.  Please keep posting and let know how things are going.  God Bless and Good Luck.

Thank you so much Art and Ray.  My mother asks my sister and I to come to her appointments to ask questions, because she and my dad do not ask ANYTHING.  My mother asked me look up info on the net, but when I tell her what I have found she seems not to care... I don't want to push her, I know she is going through alot, and I am sure she is confused.  All I can do is tell her what I have learned and let her decide what she wants to do.  My heart was broken today when she berated me for being too opinionated.  I love her so much and I want to make sure she has the best care out there.  I am going to continue to find out all I can about this cancer and I hope and pray she is with us for a long time.  I am 40 and I still need my mom so much, I can not bear the thought of losing her.  My heart aches for everyone on this site, I can feel your pain and it is horrible.  Thank you again.

Hello Azur...haven't heard from you in a while and we are thinking of you and your mother.  How are things going?

Thank you so much for your concern.  Sadly I have to report that my mother passed away on 8-10-2008.  It was horrible to watch her die..three days in hospice praying for her to stay but praying too for God to take her because we did not want her to suffer anymore.  Today we celebrated a birthday for my sister and her 18 year old daughter.  Every year we would have a party for my sister, her daughter and my mother because their birthdays were so close together: sept 18, 19 and 24 (the 24th was my mothers)  tonight was very bittersweet... My sister and I cried alot but cherished our memories and each other, and naturally our dad and brother.  I have one question... I have struggled all of my life over the thought of life after death.  It has never been more important to me than now.  I guess I was more the type to believe in evolution, but now I want to believe there is something else.  I want to know that my  sweet beloved mother is happy, free of pain and not afraid.  Can anyone reassure me that this is so?  Every day, every night, every moment she is on my mind.   I am so sorry if the report that I give today of my mother's demise disturbs anyone but one thing I have learned through this whole experience is that everyone suffers.  Before my mother died, there were other friends going through this same exact agony, and I had no idea how horrible they felt.  I have become a more compassionate friend and I have learned many valuable lessons.  I have decided to use my mothers death as a building block for my child, my sisters children, my father, my brother and every person who has touched my life.  I will never take them for granted ever again.  I wish that I had seen this before.  I would like to say that every day gets easier, but I guess I would be lying.  It is mostly about acceptance.  My mother is dead only a little over a month.  Life has moved on but life has also stopped.  I am sure that some of you understand what I mean.  Being knowledgeable about the computer, I was well aware of the outcome many months ago.  I was in the hospital and hospice with my mother and my family was there.  I took one special day and spent it alone with my mother.  I did her nails, washed her feet and gave her a pedicure.  I cried, she never did.  I told her how much I loved her and I told her that I did not want her to go.   She told me several things that, to this day, still puzzle me.  When I figure them out I will tell you.  I know It was the closest I have ever been to her and I will cherish that moment forever.  Yes ... this cancer will eventually take your loved one away from you.  Yes your heart will be broken,  but yes, you must go on and fulfill the dreams and aspirations that person had for you.  To do anything less would be a discredit and a disgrace to that person.  I vow to live the rest of my life honoring my mother and making her proud of me.  Please, don't give up.  If you love someone...tell them, hold them, cherish them, live your life with no regrets.  I am always thinking of you. 

Dearest Azur...I am so sorry to hear about your lovely mother...words cannot express....Yes as my mother states often now-a-days..."life is like a circle"...we all go around to an end.  She made me smile yesterday cause she stated something to the fact that...heaven must be a wonderful place because nobody comes back once there...lol.  I have always believed in heaven...infact right now I'm reading a book by John Edward who is a medium who communicates with people who have "crossed over,"  entitled after life.  You may find it interesting. 

May God Bless you and look after you and your family during this trying time.