Stage Iv Bile Duct Ca With Mets To The Liver

My 74 year old aunt was diagnosed with this cancer this past September. Surgery is not an option and her doctors do not feel that she should put herself through any treatment. She has been given 3 to 6 months to live. I am her caregiver along with her husband. I would like to hear from anyone who is familiar with this cancer. I really need some emotional support. My aunt is like a mother to me and I am really struggling with her diagnosis. She had an ileostomy done over 30 years ago and they feel this is why she was prone to this cancer. Other than that surgery, she has been healthy. This came on suddenly and the doctors thought that she had gallstones. By the time they finished all the testing she was already a stage IV. Please give me some advice.

Sincerely,
Dawn

Hello Dawn,

I totally understand how you feel and what you are going through. My mother who just turned 70 was just diagnosed with this type of cancer. So far we don't know a lot other than it is advanced and the doctors feel she will be go in less than a year. We are looking at many and ANY options. I don't plan to loose my mom if I can help it.
One of the things we are looking at is a Dr. in Reno who has had a lot of positive success treating cancer. He treated the wife of someone in my office and between that and prayer, she is still alive 12 years later.

If you can do me a favor, as you run across information about this condition that you think I may find useful, please let me know.

Thank you and I'll say a prayer for your Aunt.

Take care.

My husband also had the same cancer as your aunt. He passed away on January 31st of this year. He did have a successful surgery to help him live for eight months. Unfortunately the survivors are none from Cholangiocarcinoma. It is not possible to reverse in stage IV or even stage II. I ultimately hope you will find peace and transformation from this experience. I am only 29 years old and a widow. If I can get through this and past this, you can too! I wish you much peace and wisdom and hope for a long life for your aunt. Lyra

I just read your posting. I am sorry for your loss. I am glad you have found peace. I am looking for answers on end stage and what to expect. My mother was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma about 5 years ago. She had the whipple procedure done. Very breif history: my sister and I are her only family and we do not live locally to her, and she is VERY private.

She was doing well for a while, but this past Thanksgiving, seems as though she has been getting progressivley worse. She has had 2 pathological hip breaks, she can no longer speak, refuses to eat, has had episodes of vomiting bile, needs O2 and sleeps quite a bit, has short term memory loss and has lost some cognitive skills (most of this info is from a family friend who is also a social worker). It has been confirmed that her cancer is back and she is in the end stages. We were able to get a visit about a week ago, I'm not confident that she even remembers we were there.

Doc of course, can't release info to our friend. With us living out of town, it is hard. How long will my mom go through this "end stage"? On our visit, we had to change mothers status to DNR, because she put down she wanted full-code, but not to be intubated or xfrd to hospital.

I am strong in my faith and I am conident we did the right thing by changing her status. We looked at what her quality of life would have been if she were resicitated, I can't picture her getting worse and staying that way for prolong period of time.

It is really wonderful to get your message because it is still very touching to see and remember the bravery and strength that we as caregivers and caretakers to our sick families put forth. You are doing a wonderful job and it sounds like you are making very sound and logical decisions for your mothers care.
Although my experience was quite a bit different than yours, my husband did not encounter much of what you spoke about in your letter towards the end of his life. The end stage is different for everyone. In our case he was up and walking on Friday and died two days later on Sunday. Some signs were increased fatigue, he went to sleep for two days and never woke up. He was also vomiting blood and the doctors let us know his kidneys were beginning to shut down.
Your mother sounds like she has had many, many very difficult episodes related to and separate from the cancer. She will have such a tremendous peace when she leaves. It is very obvious if and when you see her die, how amazingly calm and natural it looks. Very disheartening, but also very graceful and calm.
It sounds like you have made very heartfelt decisions for her care. They say the end is the hardest, but truly that is only for the survivors not the person leaving. Take care and many blessing to you and your family. Much love, Lyra J. F.

My wife and I were told she had issue with her gallbladder. Just before the birth of our son 2-05 (born early 3-5-05) we did a procedure which told was she had a tumor in the bile duct. Cholangiocarcinoma no clue what is was. So We had him and we discovered that surgery was out. So we began Chemo. SHe is still strong and postive. Lost body weight but we are eating as much as we can.
What are so things as her caregiver and new father must be aware of.

I just found this site today. My Dad who turned 78 on April 8 was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma diffuse on Mar 17,05. His surgery was 3-22-05. He was schedueled for the Whipple but after 5 hrs into surgery the surgeon realized it was diffuse. He is home now. He is getting weaker and weaker. He is having severe diarrhea that started last night. He is unable to eat and/or drink. He is refusing medical intervention such as IV fluids to hydrate him. Is this end stage? The surgeon mntioned chemo and radiation after he recovers from surgery. He is 4 weeks post op. Do we push for medical intervention? Does this sound like end stage? Do we just opt for comfort measures? I
am praying without ceasing. What do you think?

Hello,
My dad was diagnosed in October of 2005. We went to Northwestern Memorial in Chicago. The tumors had spread into his liver, one of his ribs and one of his vertabrae. They began him on gemcitobine and xoloda in November. He handled them both very well. We found out in January that the cancer was growing. He went up to Mayo Clinic in February and they didn't have anything different to give him for treatment. They were concerned about the tumor in his vertabrae, more than his liver. In February, the began him on doxil. It made him sick and he had lots of pain in his back. On March 24th, he woke up and couldn't move his legs. The tumor has grown out and wrapped around his spinal cord. He is now paralyzed from the waist down. He is in a rehab center downtown Chicago. Hopefully, he will be home and using a wheelchair before May 15th.

As you all know, it is a horrible cancer. It is hard to find any good news out there. I know that Walter Payton had this same kind of cancer, so I am thinking of doing some fundraising for the Walter Payton Cancer Fund. Unfortunately, you cannot specify the funding go to Bile Duct Cancer, but I feel I need to do something to help.

I am praying hard for a miracle. My dad is one of my best friends. He is 63.

Praying for everyone,
JenRose

I am 33 and a new father that is going through the same situation you did. My wife is 34 and in good spirts. It is very hard for me to deal with all of this. I cant believe what is going on in our life. The worst part is the fact that there is nobody who is going through this situation at our age. Very scary.
She is still able to function, talk, eat, walk. Some complications with infections but we can get by that. Just a loving husband and father who is very angry.

I know this message is old........but how did you deal with everyday. I am 33 and a new father. My wife is 34 and in a bad situation. Cancer has spread. I'm not sure what to think, expect, or handle. Any thoughts that would help me?