CancerCompass message board discussion started by jbinga on 2/28/2008 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,21449,0.htm Sat, 30 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT Sat, 30 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ Hi. My dear, dear cousin was just last night diagnosed with this disease that I am not even sure we understand what it is.  She started with a very annoying itch all over her body.  She has no rash or skin emulsions but is disturbingly itchy.  Her doctor recommended she go to the emergency room for faster lab results and of course they admitted her once they realized how jaundiced she is.  She had a CT scan and that determined a blockage.  Next they did a scope of some kind but were unable to get the "wire" through to relieve some of the backed up bile, nor could they get any scrapings for any pathology.  They determined that the characteristics of the blockage and all her symptoms lead them straight to the conclusion that she has Cholangiocarsinoma.  Today they tried and were unable to get a tube to the site of the tumor to drain some of this bile which, of course, is only to eliminate the symptoms.  She is now waiting transfer to Emory University Hospital from Emory Eastside, which is a small satelite location.  Once they get her to Emory, they are planning to do a Whipple, scary stuff from what we can gather by Googling.  Does anyone have anything positive to offer about this apparently very rare and scary disease and the procedure?  Is it classified as liver, pancreas, or bile duct cancer?  It seems they will remove parts of all of these organs including a portion of her stomach.  What does all this mean for her?  We are all trying to stay positive,but are obviously scared and ignorant to these facts. jbinga Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT