My Dad with Gall Blader cancer suffer from Pain.

My dad was diagnose with GBC last year Nov after he remove his gall blader and CT scan shown the cancer has spread to lymp node only at the age of 61. There are doctor advise for surgery to remove lymp node and part of liver and some doctor said surgery not recommended as it is high risk. We have decided not to go for the surgery and start Chemo this year Jan till June. He has taken (Gemzar) & (Tarceva) & (Xeloda). However, there is not much improvement from the chemo, the lymp node still enlarge with small size.  He stop chemo and proceed with radio therapy for 20 cycle from the doctor advise.  After 3 weeks, completion of radio therapy, he still suffer the abdomen pain from the lymp node but the pain has reduce after the radio therapy.  But lately (this 2 days), the pain seem like increasing. He take very high dose of pain killer and he felt vomitting also. He cant really eat and no energy to walk and talk.  Do anyone have the same suffer? Do you all have the pain? How can we help them? What can it help? Doctor told us that radio therapy is his last try.  Now is depend on himself.  How to help? How to help???

 Hi besthope,

 it's so sad to hear that your dad suffer from pain. My grandma was also diagnosed with GBC last June, and now the cancer has spread to liver,  pancreas and lymp nodes... She also suffer exquisite pain every day and are not able to eat anything...Nothing can help since there is no chance for surgery...Now, she use high does of morphine to kill pain... She is getting yellow and swollen...

On 9/13/2009 besthope wrote:

My dad was diagnose with GBC last year Nov after he remove his gall blader and CT scan shown the cancer has spread to lymp node only at the age of 61. There are doctor advise for surgery to remove lymp node and part of liver and some doctor said surgery not recommended as it is high risk. We have decided not to go for the surgery and start Chemo this year Jan till June. He has taken (Gemzar) & (Tarceva) & (Xeloda). However, there is not much improvement from the chemo, the lymp node still enlarge with small size.  He stop chemo and proceed with radio therapy for 20 cycle from the doctor advise.  After 3 weeks, completion of radio therapy, he still suffer the abdomen pain from the lymp node but the pain has reduce after the radio therapy.  But lately (this 2 days), the pain seem like increasing. He take very high dose of pain killer and he felt vomitting also. He cant really eat and no energy to walk and talk.  Do anyone have the same suffer? Do you all have the pain? How can we help them? What can it help? Doctor told us that radio therapy is his last try.  Now is depend on himself.  How to help? How to help???

 

My dad know has jaundice.  Its a sign that the cancer has spread to Liver from the blood result, he has yellow skin and yellowish eye now.  He did not do another CT scan because there is no other treatment can be given. The last CT Scan he did was 2-3 months ago that shown no spreading with liver.  With the result, he did radio therapy and its just completed about 1.5 months ago, and yet now it seem like spreading to liver from the blood report.  How to clear the yellowish?  Anyone have idea? Anyone have the same situation.  We are really worried about him.  Doctor dont give any further advise, we just looking for alternative like herbs or ...?  Anyone can share their experience?  Really appreciate anyone can share here..Thank you.

Hello "Besthope" - you have written very effectively several times about your father and his struggle with gallbladder cancer. You obviously love him very much. I am so sorry for what you are going through out of love for your dear father. The yellow is from jaundice which occurs when one's "bilirubin" is too high, which happens when the liver is diseased or is failing. A CT or PET scan would show for sure if the cancer is spread there, but it does seem likely. Depending on the extent of the cancer in his liver, surgery is sometimes possible, but your father has his cancer still in other areas, I think I remember, and so he might not be the best candidate for more surgery. I also cannot remember where you are located, but it is certainly worthwhile to investigate options and other opinions from large major cancer centers, particularly because GBC is so rare. The internet is a great help here. I'm sorry I really don't know of any alternative treatments, herb or otherwise. Acupuncture is good for pain relief, I am told, but other than that I am not much help. Except I offer my prayers and best wishes for you and your father.

My dad was peacefully leave us on 19th Oct 2009.

Dear Besthope, it is with great sadness that i read that your dear father has passed.  You say it was peaceful, and that is a blessing.  He also passed knowing how much you loved him and that is also a wonderful thing.  I send my prayers to you and your family, I know your father will continue to live in your hearts.

 

m.

Maudsie, thank you from your concern. We just realise that anything can happen anytime.  My dad got seriously weak in a week or 2 but he still can eat until last 2 days was extreme bad.  No one can explain all this but I just want to encourage all cancer patient that hope is still there.  We need to be in strong mindset.

 I am sorry to hear about your dad.  my father was diagnosed with GBC 2 months ago.  he just started chemo (gemzar and cistplatin) this week. He has a lot of abdominal pain even before the chemo.  I am hoping it can shrink his tumor.  Is this a common thing to have all this abdominal pain?

Hi Daughter 07 -- sorry about your Dad.  And sorry that he is in pain, too.  I would not say that abdominal pain is all that common in GBC per se, but if there is a large tumor or tumors either pressing on or obstructing anything, then yes, I guess pain would be a result.  True for any tumors from any cancers, I would think.  In its early stages, GBC commonly presents with problems such as gas, bloating, vomiting, sort of colicky intermittent discomfort, that sort of thing.    Your father is starting on 2 chemo medicines that are widely used for GBC . While this chemo regimen is no picnic, it is usually pretty well tolerated by many.  Hopefully the chemo will work to shrink his tumor(s) so that the pain is decreased and so perhaps radiation and/or surgery might then be an option.  I guess it just depends.  I am sure his doctors have explained their plan to him.  Also hopefully he is being followed at a major cancer center, since this cancer is rare.

Please do write again and let us know how your father is doing!

M.

Hi Daughter07, my dad also suffer with pain.  The pain is because the tumor has spread to lymp node and the lymp node is near to the stomach.  He control the pain with morphin.  Then, he may suffer with vomitting.  Hope your dad do not have this issue.  He also do take gemzar for his first chemo.  It didnt really shrink the tumor, it may control the tumor to grow faster (maybe).  We doesnt know.  But you all may need to observe him a lot.  My dad once found yellowish was due to his bull duct issue.  Luckily we detach and do something with it, otherwise, my dad may pass away earlier.  You may suggest your dad to control his food intake also.  GBC is a scary cancer and normally they suffer at night.  Many thing cannot be explain. Like my dad, he was pass away just after a week we found him yellowish and we are informed that his liver affected. But, we did a CT scan 2 mths ago, no spreading to other part of his body except existing lymp node.  I always ask WHY and I also do ask myself dont ask why anymore because I will not get the answer.

Whatever is it on the medication, you must give your full support to him.  Show your love to him.  Encourage him.  Dont ever let him give up.  Thing will easily turn bad, when they give up.  "Company him more"..