I had intestinal type so got 5FU with radiation and capacetabine (xeloda which turns into 5FU/flouracil ?sp) and if it had spread would have gotten oxaliplatin too. For pancreatic tissue types it is maybe gemzar, more likely folfirinox or other combos sometimes adding egfr inhibitors (for pancreatic but if pancreatic tissue type or combo may consider that). There are trials with more modern combos. ALSO I did a combination of conventional and unconventional. I had massages and reiki and would use accupuncture to stimulate immune system if had money to do so. I also completely altered my diet largely following Anti Cancer diet by Dr. Servan Schreiber, am semi-vegetarian, no meat, no regular milk,... Someone on this was trying large doses of vit C etc, Captain Stoney or some name like that with I believe pancreatic cancer but not sure how he is doing.
IMPORTANT- for especially anyone else getting a new diagnosis of ampullary cancer, THE STATS are often ancient and not adequate. For some, the added treatment MAY make the difference but it is up to each patient though I don't think we can follow the stats. I had an aggressive tumor (either poorly or moderately to poorly differentiated) with perineural invasion, lymphatic invasion though clean nodes, clean margins, and small stage 1B. My tumor board voted against other treatment after surgery but my second opinion said despite stats, his gut feeling was to do it so I did. I am also almost two years along and well. I think exercise may make a difference with intestinal type (studies showed help colon, breast and prostate to significantly lower recurrence). I do not think patients of any peri-ampullary cancer should go back to old habits/lifestyle as something caused it. I think we need to rethink diet, water (using filtered/reverse osmosis), add green tea, some specific spices, avoid dirty dozen vegies, cut some foods out of diet, add others (ex. garlic cloves, onion family...), largely plant based diet, etc. I developed my views based on ACS meeting handout, books,... I think support groups add to chance cure or longevity. I think it is the whole being on many levels but I also believe in least toxic options of conventional unless toxic ones only options... We all develop an opinion based on our beliefs and experiences but I worry about people listening to the ancient hopeless stats. My oncologist warned me the stats were very old. I had noticed the long term survivors (stages 2 and 3) I knew did radiation with at least bookend chemo and some additional radiation so I followed my own study and later my tumor board docs ALL admitted if it was them or their wives they would have done more treatment. I wish for all of us that the stats were more accurate. We are the future stats through boards like this and some who do further treatment will get recurrences but the oddity of ampullary is even stages 0,1, 2,.... about half get recurrences so my attitude is if relatively well what did I or we have to lose by doing more treatment and we were able to use lesser toxic for me. This is such an odd cancer and I think some docs act like won't be possible recurrence if early, the one exception from what I read was stage 1A well-diff, with no high risk features like I had. GOOD LUCK!!!! Maybe read Gerson,... which I do not know if does or doesn't work.