Latest Ampullary Cancer Discussions http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/cancers/ampullary-cancer/1,0,119,147.htm Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ A tumor was found in my mom's ampulla by pure accident in october.  The biopsy showed no cancer, just a benign tumor.  The doctors lagged on getting her treated and recently she had an ampullectomy and got the ampulla removed.  It had just been 6 months and that tumor showed to be cancer.  My mom had no symptoms, pain, nothing whatsoever.  They did a CT scan to see if the cancer had spread and it shows no sign of cancer anywhere.  Yet, the surgeon insists on doing the Whipple procedure "just in case" she has cancer.  My question is before doing that, isn't there a way to determine if in fact she still has some cancer left.  Since, in my opinion, it was determine on time because she didn't have any symptoms at all, wouldn't it be possible that the cancer was completely contained in the ampulla and now has been removed.  Are there other less invasive procedures besides the Whipple that can be done? http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,24011,0.htm mcbcagirl Wed, 14 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hi there,I am a 54 year old woman from New Zealand. On 25th March this year I was diagnosed with an Ampullary tumour after two years of pushing to find out why my liver functions were 'deranged'. Up to December 2007 I had virtually no symptoms at all then I began to get episodes of Biliary itching, tiredness and nasty fevers. The tumour was only discovered during an E.R.C.P. after ultrasound, MRI and a HIDA scan failed to find anything. Biopsies were done during the ERCP and I have since had an endoscopic ultrasound, another endoscopy for more biopsies and am going for a CT scan tomorrow. I am booked for a Whipples Procedure on 28th May. My surgeon is being very cautious about the status of the tumour. Pathology has been reluctant to declare malignancy so far. I will find out more next week with biopsy and CT results. More decisions will be made then.I feel very comfortable with my surgeon but can't help being worried about all the advice given in everything I've read stating that this procedure needs to be done in centres that specialise in it. I am finding it difficult to access information about specialisation in N.Z. and about my surgeon who comes highly recommended by my Gastroenterologist. I would appreciate any advice on how to go about getting the info I want and I would love to contact anyone in N.Z. who has been through this ordeal.I will get through this. My time is not up yet. I have four beautiful grandchildren and I've promised the youngest (six weeks old) I'm going to be here for him growing up.   http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,23838,0.htm NZfemale Thu, 08 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hey there, I'm an ampullary cancer survivor of 9 months so far. I just completed chemo but was wondering for those of you "further along," have you changed your diet, been given any tips on diet, supplements or anything to try and prolong a reoccurrence? I mean I feel great but don't want to just wait for something to pop up if there's something I can do.The other question I had was so far I have learned of one ampullary cancer patient that survived 9 years. I keep hearing about percentages but would like to hear some GOOD NEWS about survival. Do you all have any?Thanks so much for being there to listen!Mary http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,22997,0.htm TNmom3 Sat, 12 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT I am 47 yrs old and was diagnosed with stage 2 ampullary cancer in Jan 2008, I had the whipple procedure done on Feb 8 by a fine Dr at Oschners in New Orleans. I was in the hospital for 13 days and was sent home with 5 tubes in me including the feeding tube, I was off the feeding tube after 1 week home and went back to New Orleans yesterday for my 6 wk checkup.They removed the rest of the drainage tubes but when they went to removed the feeding tube,they had to break the stitch from the inside.My stomach feels like Im wearing it on the outside now it is so painful and sore. Is this normal? Im suppose to start radiation and chemo next week but have a rash around one of the incisions from a drainage tube, I will be taking xeloda(3 in morning and 2 at night) the entire time of radiation for 6 weeks. Ive heard people say they have taken xeloda for 14 days then a week rest. Is it normal for me to take it 5 days a week for 6 weeks?I also had stage 3 colon cancer 4 yrs ago and am in remission still thank god, Actually thats how they found the ampullary cancer when I did the ct scan to make sure the colon was still in remission..The Drs seem to think I was lucky that they caught it because I didnt have any symptons at all. Any feedback will be great. Ive read many stories on here and I feel at home here when Im reading. I know Im not alone. God Bless You All! http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,22343,0.htm Wanda47 Wed, 26 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT My husband was diagnosed with Ampullary Cancer on 1-4-08 and had the whipple procedure done at IU Medical Center by Dr. Thomas Howard.  The surgery was a success but the three lymph nodes they pulled returned positive for cancer and John is in Stage 4, he has an open wound do to infection and so chemo/radiation is on hold until the wound heals.  It would be great to hear from others on what they are doing for therapy.  As I am sure most of you hear with this prognosis is a 40% chance of a 5 year life span.  We have an 8 year old and John has three boys from a previous marriage 17, 19 and 25,  This has hit us like a ton of bricks and any information would be great on what others have experienced in chemo/radiation that has some encouraging outcome.Thanks, Kristi   http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,21126,0.htm eggbert Tue, 19 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT I was diagnosed with ampullary cancer June 27 of 07.  I underwent  whipple surgery July 12 at UI hosptials in Indianapolis.  The Doctor who performed my surgery was trained at Johns Hopkins and performs whipples several times a week.  Based on the information we researched - it was best to get someone who has done hundreds of these operations because of the high risk of complications associated with this surgery.  40%.  I was an unlucky 40% and was in the hospital, in and out of the ICU three times and ended up in rehabilitative care to learn to walk, dress, and eat again.  Over nine weeks total hospitalization. As a result I had to wait until healing was complete for adjuvant chemoradiotherapy.  Five weeks prior to Christmas, I went to radiation five days a week and in weeks 1, 3, and 5,  I had 5FU for 72 hours.  I tolerated this regimen amazingly well.  I only had some nausea and some loose stools.  No hair loss, appetite loss, mouth sores, or abdominal pain.Now, because I want to throw everything I can it, we are doing a course of gemcitabem (sp?).  This will be 6 months of infusions.  Three weeks on, one week off and start again.  This may cause hair loss.  If my insurance would approve it, I would next throw FOLFOX at it, but they won't.  I was told that with ampullary cancers - 25% are related to pancreatic cancers and 75% are related to intestinal cancers.   My doctor is very aggressive and I appreciate that so we are trying to cover all bases.I will write more later.  My last scan three weeks ago was clear.  So at seven months post surgery I am doing good.  BUT I did have one lymph node involved, perineural invasion and lymphovascular invasion with a poorly differentiated cell.  Those things are not good. I am doing everything in my power to learn about this cancer and what I can do to fight it!Check out www.pubmed.com for the most up to date articles on ampullary cancer (of which there is little). brotzdesart http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,20657,0.htm brotzdesart Tue, 05 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT My father-inlaw had the Whipple operation done in December of 2007. He had the best surgeon around but he said it was one of the worst he has ever done. My father-inlaw came thru the operation and recovered great. The dr's are very impressed. They told him that he still has a tumor and that he has ampullary cancer. He is scheduled to do chemo & radiation 5 days a week for about a month. They do not think they will cure the cancer but hope to slow it down. They said that this is a slow growing rare cancer. My father-inlaw looks better then he did in a long time, I am not sure what to expect in the next couple of months. If anyone has any advise, please let me know. http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,20634,0.htm vroland Mon, 04 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hello:I had a recent ERCP which showed enlarged bile ducts and a growth concerning for malignancy on my ampulla of vater. Multiple biopsies (over a dozen) were negative for cancer, but I was still referred to a surgeon for a Whipple procedure because benign tumors often turn cancerous and also because there is high incidence of false negatives. I am a patient at a university hospital that does a lot of these procedures, and I have a very good surgeon. The Whipple procedure terrifies me like nothing else. I've read everything I can about it, but the one thing I can't find information on is: How long do people live after having this operation, assuming everything goes well and there is no more cancer? I am 48 now. Will I be able to live healthily into my 80's (like the rest of my ancestors) after having this surgery? It seems like this surgery is so drastic that it could shorten your life significantly, but I can find nothing in the literature about this.Also, one of my joys in life is long-distance cycling. In the summer, it's common for me to bicycle 100 miles per week or more. This burns up about 500 calories per hour, and I'm not sure I'll be able to replace all those calories after having a Whipple procedure since you have to eat low fat, frequent small meals. Does anyone have experience with being athletic after having this surgery?  http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,19992,0.htm JanetMichigan Tue, 22 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT I'm 22 years old, and i just had a whipple opeartion 4 month ago. I had ampullary cancer, it sound uncommon, yah my dr's were shocked due to my age, also due to my health, im a healthy men and  i never got sick in my life this is the frist thing  poped up in my life. I had 14 lymp nodes removed none of them were cancers and they were free of tumors. My dr told me that i had a stage 1 ampullary cancer., and i did not need to go for chemo or radiation. Is ampullary cancer the same as pancreatic cancer or not, whats the difference?I was just wondering after this kind of operation  can you be cured, is their any chance of recurrence?  what is the survivale rate after being diagonsed  for stage 1?Please any one who more information about this type of cancer could get me any helpfull infromation on it.                                                          thanks   http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,19906,0.htm gazalymo Sat, 19 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT 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. http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,19515,0.htm edsdaughter Tue, 08 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT My brother age 44 non smoker non drinker was diagnosed with ampullary cancer 2 days before Christmas. He is due for surgery on Jan. 5th at Mass General Hospital. Was wondering what he can expect and what thw family can expect. We are praying it has not spread he has two very small children. Any help would be appreciated.  Thanks http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,19345,0.htm pjpjpj Thu, 03 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT I was just diagnosed with periampullary cancer Nov 15. I had Whipple surgery Nov 20. Pathology showed that the origin of my cancer was in the ampulla itself. Of 21 lymph nodes removed, I had cancerous cells in three. Other than that I showed a wide margin of no cancer. I just saw the oncologist Dec 17 and am scheduled to start chemo with Gemcitabine on Jan 10. for a period of 4-6 months, three weeks on w/one week off. Oncologist wants to do chemo alone with no radiation. Feels that there's a chance of lymphovascular invasion which the chemo would take care of. Says radiation is for localized treatment and since I have very wide clear margins, it's not called for. Radiation treatments may also interfere with chemo treatments which I really need because of the lymph involvement. Does this make sense to anyone? My journey with all of this just started Oct 31 with a belly ache, so I feel like I've been in a whirlwind! I have had a great recovery from my surgery and am actually feeling fairly good. I would appreciate talking to anyone with knowledge or first hand experience with ampullary cancer. Since this is such a rare cancer, it's tough to find good information on it. Thanks in advance for any responses! I am being treated at the James Cancer Clinic at OSU Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.  http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,19000,0.htm london Wed, 19 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT