Bile Duct Cancer, Any Good News Out There?

I'm a 47 year old female with 3 children. I had a tumor removed from left lobe of my liver Feb. 19, 2003 at Vanderbilt in TN. Path report stated cholangiocarcinoma, primary tumor removed with good margins. Very curative surgery. Went back for 3 month CT June 9 and was told more tumors had shown up in right lobe. Oncologist recommending chemo (5FU and Gemzar with leucovorin). Any miracle stories or some type of good news about this cancer and outcome?

I was diagnosed with Bile Duct Cancer in mid-March, Surgery was recommended, but they were unable to remove the tumor. I started a combination of Gemcitabine (Gemzar) and 5FU about a month ago and so far so good.

My husband had a bile duct and 1/2 of his liver removed in May. We sent to M.D. Anderson for treatment. We were told in Oklahoma that the Margins were clear. The tests were done again at M.D. Anderson and the margins were not clear so we went on three months of chemo once every two weeks. Gemzar and Cisplatin. After three months we redid scans and found no trace but found tumors in head and pancreas that turned out to be Renal Cell that was from the renal cell he had in 2000. We did radiation to the head and shrank the tumor 25%. We have been on Interferon two times a day for three months and today redid our scans. We will know tomorrow if this treatment has done anygood of if they are the same. Will keep you posted.

Betty W.

Hi Betty:
I was just reading your message and was wondering if it was a klatskin tumor your husband had. I had by bile duct removed and 50 percent of my liver also but was told treatment would not affect this type of cancer, I was also told that my chances are 50/50. The margins came back negative and the lymph nodes were not involved which I am very thankful. Its such a scary thing to go thru and there is never a moment that you don't think about it. Hope to hear back from you.

My brother has just gone through a first surgery, the surgeon could not remove his bile duct becuse the liver had a few , microscopic areas of cancer. He did do a procedure which is called hepatico jejunostomy, bypassing the gallbladder.

This was just performed today and we are all in a state of shock. Can you please refer me to doctors that have specialities in this area. We are located in the NE but will travel for good refferals. I am spending my time getting as much info as possible

Thank You

Hi Maria:
I was just reading your message and first let me tell you I am sorry about your brother. I had my bile duct removed and 50% of my liver, the tumor I had was called a Klatskin tumor don't know if that is what your brother has. The margins of my liver came back negative and the lymp nodes were negative, I am from Canada and I feel I had the very best of surgeons, they did a resection where they connected part of my bowel , this was done in December of 2004. Hope everything turns out okay with your brother. If you have any questions don't hestitate to ask.
Jackie S

I noticed that you were in Canada,
Where and who did the surgery?

My friend has jaundice in october. They said that he has a klatskin tumor. The liver was clear so they were able to do the surgery. Unfortunately, before they do it, in Montreal, they had to block a vein that lead to one of his liver lobes. Now mestastasis are spreading all over his liver. We are really angry about this. Due to this, he can't be operated.

Guillaume
Québec, Canada

Hi, I am from Moncton New Brunswick, I had to go to Halifax Nova Scotia to have my operation, Dr. Porter did the surgery, I was told he was the best in Canada, he took out the bile duct and half of my liver, he told me my chances of it coming back are 50/50, I am so frightend of it coming back, I go back down to Halifax in July, before I go down I have to have another ct scan, I just have to keep my fingers crossed. I hope your friend makes out okay. What are they doing for him?

They started to give him gemzar and only gemzar on january 2005. It hasn't worked, the tumor that was at the beginning of october 4 cm in diameter is now at 7. They started last week to give him gemzar and CP11. I don't think that the chemo will cure him. He is 38 years old We're actually reading averything about alternative medecine. Despite of his state, he stay really positive about this and he feels really fine. Metastasis has appeared on is liver as soon has they wanted to do something to him. So I think that if they have been able to operate you and you don't have, as for today, any metastasis, you're ok. Stay positive. Stay away from the statistics these are numbers based on a cancer so rare that they don't mean anything. 50/50 means that they just don't know. You're already on a good path.

Guillaume

Hi Jacqueline,

My mother was diagnosed with Klatskin Tumor. She is 68 years old.
We are from Ecuador (Latin America). Over here doctors do not advice surgery, but we know in Ecuador there is not much experience in theses cases.
Could you let me know the medical center where you had surgery with doctors names and if possible telephones and addresses. We are going to send the scans to different centers.

We would appreciate your help.

Kind Regards,

Victor A.