Dad Has Ampullary Cancer

On 2/16/2008 Denise3278 wrote:

 

On 1/8/2008 edsdaughter wrote:

I am so scared. My Dad who just turned 77 has lost weight (about 20 pounds since summer) No other symptoms. An incidental CT scan for a kidney stone revealed lung nodules. Further testing has showed a tumor on the ampulla. The biopsy came back neither malignant nor benign, "suspicious" is what they call it.  They are doing another one tomorrow when he has a PTC done (He has now turned yellow, but still no pain) The oncologist we saw today believes that the lung nodules are mets from the ampulla tumor. He also said the liver is probably involved because the cancer typically goes ampulla, liver, lungs. This makes him inelligible for surgery. I really need an experienced opinion. Should we try chemo?  Can anyone tell me their story? Should we try a clinical trial? We have not been given the prognosis yet. I am afraid to hear it, yet I want to know. If anyone is willing to advise me I sure would appreciate it.

My mom fought ampullary cancer after having the whipple in November of 2005.  She had small cell cancer in the ampulla, so they treated the small cell cancer, instead of treating ampullary cancer.Small cell cancer is very agressive, but responds well to treatment. She did just pass away, but she lived almost 2 years because of chemo.  Do the chemo, it worked for a while, putting my mom in a full remission for  awhile.  She lived to go to my daughters' wedding, and so we could enjoy her for a while longer.  The chemo that worked for her was called irinotecan.  It is not that bad of a chemo as far as side effects go. I am just telling you because I have just gone through all of this, my mom was only 72, just passed away, I miss her, and thought  I could help someone else. Yes, do the chemo!