My father-inlaw has ampullary cancer. He had the Whipple Operation done in Dec 2007 with no complications from the surgery itself. In late Jan 2008 he started with his radiation treatment. He did well and looked good, better than he has looked in a long time. In early April 2008 the Dr's put a port in him to start his chemo treatment. A couple of days later he broke out with merca (unsure of the spelling) infection. It took everything out of him and we did not think he would live through it. They hospitalized him and put him on antibiotic and took out the port. After 1 week in the hospital, they sent him home. He still was very weak and a couple of days later they put in a pick. Several days later he was near death, again with an outbreak of this merca infection. They took the pick out and treated him with antibiotic in the hospital for about 1 week (again). 3 days after getting out of the hospital, the dr's put another pick in him, he went 2 weeks (2 chemo treatments, 1 each week) for chemo the 3 rd week he was so weak from dehydration from not eating or drinking and also from the infection (again). This is the 3rd time with this merca infection. He went into the hospital this past Thursday, they took out the pick and treating him with antibiotic and fluids for the dehydration. His white & red & hemogloblin blood counts are real low. Today they gave 2 blood transfusions and gave a CT scan. We have noticed that when he talks he talks like he had a stroke. He has had a stroke before, a couple of years ago. Also in May the Dr's told my father-inlaw that his cancer has spread to his lungs and they gave him a year to live. It's hard to talk with the Dr's being availbale to gets some answers, it just seems like things are getting bad pretty quick.
I was just looking for someone that has experienced some of the same things that can share any insight on all of this. I would just like to find out if we're closer to the end than the Dr's originally thought. Today when I was in to see him, he just didn't look good at all.
Thanks In advance for any thoughts that you can share with me.