81yr old Dad

Hi all,

I haven’t posted about my Dad in awhile, but have been following what’s been going on with others… I have a few things to fill you in on now.

Just over two weeks ago my dad had the last plastic stent removed and fitted with a more permanent metal one, due to that they feel that surgery is not an option for him. So far so good with the stent, the jaundice is almost completely gone, where the plastic stent never seemed to totally clear the bile before blocking up again, keeping that just slightly tanned look. We also had a follow-up CT scan about a week after the stent to see if there was any changes.

Today was the follow-up appointment for the CT with the Chemo Dr. H, he told us that the tumour increased in size, from 2.7 x 2.1 to 5.7 x 4.1cm since the end of February. So, now he’s somewhat concerned that it could be growing faster than they had hoped, but that this could have just been a spurt of growth. Either way the decision now is to have chemo or not.

---

This is what the report from the CT states:

Findings:

There is a persistent diffuse intrahepatic biliary duct dilation. CBD stent in-situ is noted. There is interval progression of the tumour infiltration in segment 4a/4b and segment 5. Segment 4a/b mass now measures 5.7 x 4.1cm (2.7 x 2.1 on previous). Gallbladder again appears infiltrated by tumour extending to involve segment 5. There is loss of the separating fat plane between the gall bladder and the duodenum though no gastric outlet obstruction is identified.

Pancreas, spleen, both adrenal glands appear unremarkable . Two simple cysts in the upper pole of the left kidney and a further simple cyst in the lower pole are noted. The kidneys otherwise appear unremarkable.

No significant abdomenopelvic lymphadenopathy.

There is slight interval increase in size of nodule posterior to the IVC measuring 8mm short axis (6mm on previous). Degenerative changes through out the lumbar spine noted. No significant bony abnormality and the lung bases are clear.

Impression:

Interval progression of disease with increase in size of infiltrating liver masses as described above.

---

Dr. H feels that Gemictabine is all that he would want to give my Dad, first due to his age (since the Cisplatin is the main culprit of side effects) and that even though recent German studies have shown that it’s better to use both, he doesn’t agree with it, based on what he has seen.

My Dad is willing to try chemo, but wants to make one last trip to Hungary (place of birth) before he starts treatment.

Who would ever have thought that a volcano may stop us!

Any comments or suggestions is much appreciated.

Thanks to all, Dianne