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Irene, I read your post and just felt so sad and sorry. I remember the day my sister’s resection was aborted and the frustration and disappointment that we felt. Be strong. Recover from this and then regroup. It was hard to do that refocusing; when you’re so programmed in one direction to redirect in another. We’ll be cheering you on and hoping to hear good things from you. Thinking of you, Belle
Dear Irene,
I know you must be disappointed about no surgery. When Joe was diagnosed two years ago he didn’t have surgery as an option and thought chemo would just take away his quality of life so he did nothing for about 8 months, then went with alternative therapy which was prohibitively expensive and then in April we started conventional therapy. I was surprised to find out that the regular chemo was not nearly as bad as we feared. He usually continues to function quite well except for a really bad spell last week. Take a little time to process all that has gone on but keep reading this site and listen to others experiences with chemo and othe treatments. This site has a lot of great info on it. We will be praying for you during your grieving and hope you will find comfort in your decisions, whatever they are. God Bless. Mary AnneIrene
I’m so sorry that they weren’t able to do the surgery. You really do need time to get yourself together…given all that you’ve been going through. I think you’ve shown amazing strength through all of this. I am a bit puzzled why they didn’t have information about the fatty liver…why they didn’t note this on a prior CT. It does show up on scans, but evidently not always, given your circumstance. Know that you’re in my thoughts and am wishing you strength and peace in whatever decisions you may make.Jean
Irene,
Prayers and best wishes for you. You all are such heroes in my eyes and I wish you all could know how much each and every one of you mean to me.Hi Everyone:
Thank you again for hte good thoughts. I cannot get myself together at all. They did beat me up prettygood before deciding to end the surgery — four or five surgical incisions around the abdomen which are still pretty uncomfortable.
Sophie — they did not call it cirrhosis, bur interestingly, the first biopsy of the tumor (I got to have two of those) was useless because they got “only” scar tissue and not tissue from tumor itself. This seems to tell me that cirhossis or fatty liver or ecarring or whatever was a huge possibility, and I am quite angry that there was no distinct biopsy of the liver itself (and not just an effort to get tumor tissue) prior to surgery. If I’d known months ago surgery was not an option, I think things might have proceeded differently.
Also I do have the intrahepatic kind and it is very cvlose to the hepatic vein so transplant not an option.
I see the doc again end of the month. In the mean time I have no symptoms whatsoever and my plan is to accept no treatment whatsoever until, at least, the time when symptoms occur. I don’t see a strong enough argument to do things any other way.
Strength to us all,
(or as Dickens said, Bless Us, Everyone.)
IreneDear Irene, so sorry about the aborted surgery. Take some time to gather your thoughts. I just wanted to tell you that here in Phoenix at St. Joseph Hospital is a fabulous liver transplant surgeon, in fact he is director of liver transplants. We met him as he took care of Teddy when we came back from his having the Whipple surgery 3 years ago and he just saw us in June as a courtesy call when we were deciding what to do about the return of the cancer. His name is Dr. James Cashman. And I would be here for you as well! I promise.
I would like to add to Sophie’s posting: Cedars Sinai – Dr. Calhoun. We had met with him once and I know of him being familiar with cholanciocarcinoma and that he is an excellent liver surgeon.
Oh Irene, I hardly know what to say except I know that exact feeling when you find out the surgery was aborted….too fatty liver, huh? Thank God, the first 2 or 3 days after you are mildly drugged so it doesn’t set it as horrific. Did he ever call it cirrhosis?
Irene, my surgeon from City of Hope called me just to see how I was doing and told me in just a matter of conversation that the Cedars Sinai Hospital here in Southern California does transplants. When I asked him why I wouldn’t be a candidate since I not only had cirrhosis but cholangiocarcinoma, he said that I had intrahepatic cholangio. If I had extrahepatic and with my fatty liver, I’d be at the top of the list. This is just what he told me. It may be something for some of you folks to check into.
My prayers for you, Irene.
SophieIrene,
You are strong, we know this because we have felt your strength in the kind words you offered when we needed it and I hope you can now draw strength from us.
Patty
Irene,
I cant add anything but echo the words of Joyce, Jeff, and Marion. I will continue to keep you in my thoughts and prayers.Kris
Dear Irene….I would like to follow Jeff and Joyce in expressing my disappointment in re: to the aborted surgery. Please, give yourself some time to heal emotionally and physically then you will have a clearer picture as to which way to go. As mentioned by Joyce and Jeff we are behind you all the way whichever way you chose to address your decisions for future treatments.
Tons of cyberhugs coming your way,
MarionOh Irene, I am so sorry the surgery was unsuccessful! I know you must be feeling so low right now. You know your own mind and body better than anyone, so whatever you choose is right for you. You probably need some time to grieve for your mother and absorb events before you embark on any treatment plan (if any).
Best wishes and warm thoughts going out to you-
Joyce MIrene, I am so sorry surgery was aborted. We were all ready for you to have a successful one. Did anyone mention possibility of transplant protocol? Irene ,we are here to support you, in what ever you decide. Take time to recover and heal emotionally and physically and we’ll chat with you soon. Your in our hearts for sure !
God Bless,
Jeff G.Hi everyone:
Just to let you all know surgery was a no go. Surgeon found my liver was not viable (fatty and also greatly excessive bleeding) so things were stopped. Do not think I will accept chemo or any treatment at all at this point.
IreneIrene, I pray that your surgeons are successful in removing you cancer and that you recover quickly. I pray that people come into your life that will help you through this difficult time My heart breaks for you. There is a wonderful book I just picked up called “Anti-cancer A new way of Life” I think it’s worth reading.
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