Cholangio Cell Carcinoma

On 3/16/2009 Janesi wrote:

My father was recently diagnosed with Bile Duct Cancer - Cholangio - Adeno carcinoma.  I had never heard of this type of cancer specifically. I had only heard of liver cancer.  It took them a while to come up with a diagnosis. Originally, he was in the hospital for supposedly lung cancer, but the biopsy showed negative. He was sent home but over the time, he was becoming jaundice. I demanded he got to the hospital. Anyways, he was admitted after more tests were done. He was in the hospital for nearly two weeks or more before they came up with this diagnosis. They put a stent in but now they have to go drain him again. They told us that the stent was not working so they have to try it again. I do not know if it is the inexperience of the doctors or what in ref to placing the stent. They told us if they cant stop the fluids, he is going to die. My dad was so overwhelmed with this news this weekend that we thought he was going to die then. We had all gathered at the hospital, and the doctor came in and basically repeated it. I felt really down, but I begin to read all these posts on the site. We are not giving up. He is going down as I write this, to have the fluid drained. I pray that the stent works this time. The doctor said that the space is becoming smaller. They started chemo last week (Gemzar), and they plan to do radiation for 4 to 6 weeks (5 days/week). I am just wondering if we should get him to another place. I am headed to Sloan Kettering outpatient center in Rockville Center to see if I could get an appointment for him to get a second opinion or something. I am feeling a bit lost and I dont how to proceed.  Right now, my father is at Nassau County University Medical Center in East Meadow, NY in Long Island.

We are all afraid.