CancerCompass message board discussion started by Jmar8 on 3/23/2005 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,1761,0.htm Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ I'm wondering how many people with Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma (Bile Duct Cancer) served in the Viet Nam War? Would like to hear from them. J Jmar8 Wed, 23 Mar 2005 00:00:00 GMT My brother has just been diagnosed with Bile Duct Cancer..he was in Okanawa, Japan during the Vietnam War and did serve in Iraq in the first Desert Storm..Marine Colonel Tank Division.. Barlow Tue, 05 Apr 2005 00:00:00 GMT Hello, thanks for the reply. I wish your brother well. Every case is different since it depends on many factors. My husband had adenocarcinoma type and it was Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma. (the part of the duct inside the liver). His was in the advanced stage when diagnosed and had already spread to his liver and bones. But I know of a woman that had some type of "seed" placed in the duct and she is doing great now, a few years later. I think she was out west. I am hoping to speak with her soon. If you'd like, I'll pass things on to you. It's a rare cancer. I have heard from a few family members of veterans that have it. Do you know what your brother was exposed towhile in service? I have been researching many chemicals that may cause it. Has he been seeing a VA Dr? We had our own. Military used many deadly chemicals. My husband was in 69-70. Jmar8 Tue, 05 Apr 2005 00:00:00 GMT Thanks so much for replying so rapidly, we are inurgent need of information since this is news that is a week old and we are all taken by surprise. If you receive any information on this from the woman in CA about this "seed" please forward it would be helpful. My brother is 56, which is relatively young we have been told. Thanks Again Barlow Tue, 05 Apr 2005 00:00:00 GMT I will try to get info on that in the A.M. I know what it's like to hear that and want things moving. I just heard about this the other day. My sister in-law knows her. She is going to tell her to contact me by phone,, maybe we can learn something. I will see if she can talk right away. My husband was 56 also. Do you have any idea where this came from? Jmar8 Tue, 05 Apr 2005 00:00:00 GMT Thanks for getting back so quickly...We have no way of knowing how he ended up with this cancer...many facors could apply, exposure to chemicals during the his service in Iraq for the first war could be a factor yet we could not say for sure... His cancer first presented itself in rash form , which his doctors could not control, next symtom was jaundice...then they brought him in expecting to do a whipple procedure..when in surgery they realized it had spread to just a localized area of his liver...the doctor took out his gallbladder and performed a roux-en-y..he is recovering now and looking at options at Mayo, Johns Hopkins, Sloan kettering etc...and will be talking to specialists this week... Again I appreciate your info and am so sorry for your loss....we feel we have a 50-50 chance and are praying for success... Maria Barlow Wed, 06 Apr 2005 00:00:00 GMT Maria, The woman I told you about was ready to go out but she said she will call me tonight and give all the details. Her Dr. sent her to Jefferson Hospital in Phila. She mentioned a Dr. in Indiana, also had chemo and radiation. She is doing well now. I will send you a message after I speak with her tonight. She will explain the "seed". Jmar8 Wed, 06 Apr 2005 00:00:00 GMT My 40 year husband was diagnosed in Sept 2004, had surgery in October, did chemo and radiation in Jan and Feb 2005. Unfortunately, the cancer has spread to another site near his intestines. As I was reading this message page, I was struck by the number of military or former military who seem to have this disease. My husband is still on active duty in the Army. He was not in Viet Nam or Desert Storm. His only combat experience was in Panama. He was diagnosed while we were living in Okinawa, although we had only lived there for a few months. It would be really interesting to see if this is a widespread problem with members of the military. Does anyone have any thoughts or information on this? I am also very interested to hear about the "seed" as we are looking at any and all treatment options. Susan i Sat, 09 Apr 2005 00:00:00 GMT There are other vets with this that served in Okinawa. I haven't gotten back to the info of the "seed" because we had a death in the family. But I will sometime tomorrow. I am researching the chemicals our vets were exposed to and so many of them can cause BDC. Also, it is more prevalent in S.E. Asia because of liver flukes. What type does your husband have? Jmar8 Sat, 09 Apr 2005 00:00:00 GMT My husband has intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (Klatskin's Tumor). They checked to see if it could have been caused by liver flukes and don't believe it was. They have no idea what caused it. Susan i Sun, 10 Apr 2005 00:00:00 GMT Susan, How did the Dr. check for "liver flukes"? I don't think it's a coincidence that we are seeing more BDC in this country now that enough time has past since the VNW for the symptoms to show. Liver flukes, chemical exposures, bacillus......the list goes on. Jmar8 Sun, 10 Apr 2005 00:00:00 GMT I think they check for liver flukes by looking for evidence on either x-rays, ultrasounds or CT scans. They told us back in September that they would have been able to see them if that is what caused it. I will try to ask his doctor again and get back to you if I find out anything else. Susan i Tue, 12 Apr 2005 00:00:00 GMT Hi: SOrry for the late date on this letter but I have just found this web site. My husband had BDC and had a Whipple Surgery in AUgust. He is still revocering but I found your remarks interesting in that he was in the Korean War. Have you heard anymore about this?? I understand it is rare and that most cases occur in Asia. Saldom Mon, 19 Dec 2005 00:00:00 GMT My husband was diagnosed with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in January, 2006.  He served in Viet Nam in 1968-69.  joni at radiks dot net. Joani Thu, 08 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT