On 4/15/2008 Bayla wrote:
Does anyone have any experience with pinpoint radiation for bile duct tumors? What is its effectiveness in prolonging life? What are the side effects? My sister has a pretty severe klatskins and is not really a candidate for chemo. Thanks for your listening eyes.
Hello Bayla,
Chemo or radiation are not options for Klatskin cancer. That is, because the cancer is not a sort of tumor IN the bile ducts, but it is a diffuse cancer in the walls of the bile duct. That is why scans hardly ever show the severety of this cancer.
My husband was diagnosed a year ago with Klatskin. Only when they tried surgery they saw how far it had allready gone. He went home with a prediction of 2-3 months. But as you can read, he is still with me. He eats well (thanks to the stents) and still works and plays squash. However, we just discovered a lymfe gland in his neck that is bigger than normal, so we know the cancer is spreading.
I know how hard this is for patient AND caregivers. I wish you all the strength you need and my thoughts are with you and your family.
Iris.