Hello Everyone!
just stumbled upon this site and was steered to write the story of my wonderful father's journey so far. My father is 73 and starting in July he complained of what doctors stated was gallbladder trouble and scans showed sludge in the gallbladder. My father was instructed to let the doctor know when he was ready to have his gallbladder removed and they would do the surgery. Now my father being of the male species, ( no offense intended) he is a very stubborn man and kept putting the surgery off. Continueing to suffer with occasional pain mid abdomen with heartburn.Also had lost weight continuously which his doctor told us it was due to his diabetes not being in control. Thanksgiving weekend he turned jaundiced and we took him to the ER where he was admitted and had an ERCP. The doctors found a tumor on his billiary tree and scheduled him for surgery December 1st. He had a Whipple procedure and has recovered remarkably from that. Doctors found small lesions on his liver and cancer cells in 6 out of the 22 lymph nodes they biopsied.He has had 3 episodes of violent tremors,temperatures near 103, elevated blood pressure & pulse. Being admitted to the hospital each time and come to find he had septic blood infections and an MRI during his last admission showed he had a stroke. Thank the Lord ,he had no lasting effects from the stroke. He had 1 treatment of IV Gemzar and experienced fatigue and mild hair loss as the only side effects, and then they discontinued this due to the stroke and now want to begin treatment with Tarceva.His oncologist feels his cancer has not grown or spread since his surgery in December which we are very grateful for!! Any prayers or advice will be very welcomed by anyone. Likewise, my prayers go out for EVERYONE whose life is touched by the awful word Cancer!! God Bless you all and keep your hopes up!! Rhonda