CancerCompass message board discussion started by racinmason001 on 8/29/2007 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,15726,0.htm Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ My dad was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma about a year ago. He had the tumor removed and followed up with chemo and radiation. Well here it is a year later and the cancer has returned they tried another tumor removal but found his cancer had spread to 50% - 75% of the liver. They let him recoop for about a week and went in to put a stent in. During the surgery his blood pressure dropped, heart rate spiked, and fever spiked. He is in ICU now trying to recover. What happened during this routine surgery? What causes death with this kind of cancer? Is the death really bad? How long does my dad have? Doctors are saying maybe a year but different sites are saying months at this point. Who is right? I know these are tough questions but I am trying to prepare myself. Thanks for any and all help!!! racinmason001 Wed, 29 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT Your best resource would be visiting www.cholangiocarcinoma.org which is a very active discussion board with many patients and loved ones who can probably help answer your questions.My dad was diagnosed in 12/06 and had liver resection.  He just came home from 2 weeks in the hospital for bile duct obstruction within the liver.  They gave him IV antibiotics to help prevent infection, etc. when they just put his "catheters" via PTC procedure in to drain the bile - they have not put stents in at this time.  They also did his in stages because they said his body couldn't handle doing all of it at one time.  They didn't think ERCP was a good option for him right now.  I think there are varying opinions as with anything else.Are they treating your dad with antibiotics?  Did they use metal or plastic stents?  I wish you the best and hope that your dad.  No one knows exactly how much time a person has.  Ask lots of questions to the drs.  Visit the other website and there will be others who will be able to help answer. Gbcdad Thu, 30 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT my dad died 3wks ago 2day. i was his full time nurse, i even slept in the same room with him. so theres not much about this bxxxxxd, cancer that i dont know. its not uncommon 4 things 2 go badly wrong during having the stent placed. my dad went in2 4 organ failiure after his. but still went on 2 live 7months. do u know wot sort of stent they used?  if metal then they cant usually do a repeat stent. but this type does last longer, and lowers the chance of infections. {which still does happen} maitinence dose of antibiotics is wot u shud ask 4. a low dose. so that when infections do happen u can get a high dose. {ciprofloxin} is very good. everyone is very different when death nears, but when ur dad starts to sleep more hrs than hes awake, then u know that his bilirubin and liver count has started 2 become 2 high 2 recover from. keep an eye on his bloods. as tranfusions can often help if the tumor is bleeding. becos of his liver function my dad started to have fits in the last 2wks b4 he died. i wonder if the tumor had got 2 a size that it was putting pressure on his spine which cud have caused this. the last 9months were a real rollercoaster. and theres so much more i cud tell u. my dad died at home with me. and all i can say 2 u is keep an eye on his medications ask lots of questions. and fight his corner. u may not find the cure that i looked and looked 4. but u can def make his time left better. stay away from steroids, buscapan, voltrol. and ask 4 magnesium and calcium blood tests. as they are often missed and this cancer takes both from the body. and if low. can cause big problems. ask 4 kidney function tests aswell. cos it is a big strain on them. just be there as much as u can. its a crap time. but its a time that u will treasure. scrag Wed, 26 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT i shouldnt have said that about steroids. they do often help cancer sufferers. they tried them 4 my dad, 2 try and shrink the liver and help his kidneys function, they did make him more awake 2wards the end. but that was it. they caused other problems 4 him though. but everyone is different.... dont live ur life 4 how long they give ur dad. they gave my dad 24hrs after the stent, 2wks later they told me on his discharge from hospital 8/10 wks. he lived nearly 8months. and from the time of his symptoms he did live a year. he proved everyone wrong. he even played 18 holes of golf on one of his good days, and that was only 4wks b4 he died. he was a real fighter, that loved life, and lived it 2 the full. he set himself goals, things 2 look 4ward 2. i told him that he wasnt aloud 2 die on my birthday. he died 7 days after. peoples will 2 live is more than any medication. make him keep going. give him reasons 2 keep fighting. i really feel 4 u. and if theres anything i can help u with just post me a message.   x scrag Wed, 26 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT