An introduction and a thank you
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Jill, I am so happy to read your post about how healthy you look and feel. I am totally sold on natural remedies. I look for modern medicine chemo to knock down the amount of cancer in my body but I am totally depending on other natural treatments, healthy eating, etc to help my body rid itself of the cancer. Keep up the faith and keep doing all you can to improve your body’s ability to heal itself.
Our move to the new house went well and Jim is on the improve thankfully. Any stress or anxiety affects him badly at the moment but it is so hard to avoid it when moving. Thanks again to this board for lifting my spirits when I was down.
Jilly49 – Jill, as Lainy said start a new thread to introduce yourself and more users will read it. The people on this site have helped me enormously. It’s not easy getting info on CC in Australia and this site was like a lifeline to me when i needed it. I wouldn’t wish this disease on anyone, but it’s such a comfort knowing that Jim and I are not alone. Gem/cis chemo seems to be working for Jim but perhaps your situation is different, although I don’t understand why your doctor doesn’t think it worthwhile to try. However, I do know from experience that it is expensive for us Australians because it’s not an approved treatment for CC here yet! It sounds like you are doing well via the natural route and I am a little jealous. Jim wont have a bar of it. We asked his doctors should he watch his diet, should he cut out alcohol and the answer was: Eat what you want; Drink what you want!! So Jim does…… Good luck in you fight, your attitude sounds fantastic. And keep enjoying the shopping.
All the best
ElsieHi Elsie:
My prayers are with you and Jim. My grandmother was diagnosed two weeks ago and is undergoing her second treatment of chemo today, the chemo has wiped her energy completely.
Don’t ever loose hope. Fight this battle with him…
-Elsy
Dear Jill,
My husband was diagnosed over three years ago with Stage IV intrahepatic CC. He is on his third regimen of chemo cocktails. We had hoped to get him in a clinical trial but the last chemo he was on did something to his kidney and the doctor said we needed to get the levels back up before he would qualify. So, for now, he is taking Xeloda plus Avastin to try to hold things stable. So, don’t give up; try to stay positive because attitude plays a big role in fighting this cancer. My prayers are with you, PeggyP
Dear Jill, welcome to our wonderful family of courageous and caring people from all over the world….just like you! I suspect your Doctor is pretty sure of things from what you say. With that said, we do not believe in time frames and you are already proving that! We have had others on our Board who have been told the same thing and some are already 2 and 3 years beyond their predictions. It also seems to be true that only surgery gets rid of the CC. I would say that for you, you are doing all the right things. Our Margaret calls it, “kicking butt”. Keep doing whatever you are doing especially if you are keeping it at bay and don’t be a stranger here, we expect to get updates from you often. You are a good example of great attitude and that is the best RX.
P.S. Jilly, can you post your introduction on a new thread under introductions? This is a longer thread and I surely don’t want you getting lost on here.
Hello All,
I’m Jill and newly diagnosed with CC 8 weeks ago.
I live in Qld Australia. I also like Elsie searched the net to find help with this C. No help from any Drs, in OZ. Thank god for American sites like this!!The left handside of my liver is none exsistent all dried up, the right handside had a blocked bile duct and CC around it & in it. I have a metal stent in and am doing well with it. Dr said go home and get Palliative care and can’t tell me how long I have?? Could be 1 yr some people 5 yrs. Also offered me Palliative Chemo, Dr said that it really doesn’t help with CC.
Not sure about this????I am doing the natural thing, lots of pills & potions from my naturopath no carbs, no dairy and no fats. I have no more pain in the liver, lost 13 kilos (which I needed to do) . The POSITIVE thing in all this is I have gone down 4 sizes in clothes & its great shopping for clothes. All my friends say I look healthy and well, so something must be working? My Dr said my bilirubin which was 485 would not come below 100 as my liver was so bad last reading was 33 and it should be normal this next blood test. I would think its because of the healthy lifestyle I have embarked on.
I am looking forward to reading the posts and learning about CC from you all.
Cheers for now Jill
Thanks for being here Lainy. Jim’s pain medication is slow release oxycontin 20mg twice a day, plus oxycodone hydrochloride (endone) 5mg for breakthrough pain. Also dexmethsone 4mg 1/2 a tab once a day, Zoton (iansoprazole) 30mg once a day but he can take another if needed, and Karvea (irbesartan) 300mg once a day for blood pressure. Also Flixotide inhaler twice a day and ventolin inhaler to help with his breathing.
Usually the endone works but yesterday it didn’t seem to and he needed to take 3 over the course of the day (he can have up to 4 a day I believe). The house we’re living in is on the side of a hill and has external and internal steps which really knock him about. The new house will be much easier for him. Frankly, I have no chance of him accepting a walker yet! But I will suggest it. I truely hope it is the stress of the last week that has caused this. As well as the move his sisters went home to England last Monday after a 6 week stay and it was emotional as it is more than likely they’ll never see each other again. Money and distance probably wont allow it. This last weeks just been a shocker and we’ve been surprised because of his good scan results.
thanks againElsie, who wouldn’t be stressed with what you have going on, give Elsie a break as tomorrow will be better. Just a suggestion about helping Jim along and that would be to rent him a walker for his rough days. What a difference it makes and he will be more balanced. It is just there to use if he needs it. May I ask what kind of pain meds he is on and how much his doses are? Remember we are all here for you and if you need to vent, complain or discuss this is the place
as we all have broad shoulders. I hope that after you are settled you will just be able to concentrate on Jim and get some rest here and there. If I was there I would be helping you!Thank you all for the information, it’s very helpful. We’re moving house tomorrow so it has been a very stressful week and Jim is not coping very well with all the activity. I just don’t understand how this cancer works. One day he is quite well and the next he is struggling to get a breath and we need to up his pain medication but it still doesn’t totally work. Yesterday was the worse day he has had and he had to ask to lean on me to walk from the lounge to the bedroom. He’s watching me pack up and move things and it’s breaking him that he can’t help. Sorry, I’m feeling down this morning and I just needed to tell someone. I’m hoping that next week when we’re in the new house that is single level (yay!) he will feel better.
Like you Margaret, he has a very special grandson and I know that he hopes to be around for the arrival of more grandchildren. Thank you for sharing your story. My heart goes out to everyone who is fighting this horrid disease. I had never realised how hard it is for people because it’s not just watching your loved one being ill, it is dealing with all the different medical people, it’s trying to cope with all the paperwork and bills and still tring to deal with normal life.
I’m sure things will be better tomorrow. Thanks for listening.
ElsieElsie: Yes, Tom was diagnosed with CC in March ’08. In June ’08 he had a resection (they took 70% of his liver). In Nov ’09 he presented with Jaundice and his then oncologist told him to go home and get his affairs in order – I suggested chemo/radiation and he said it would not do any good.
We did not listen to that and sought 2nd, 3rd, and 4th opinoins. He has been to Marshfield and to Mayo clinic. But is doing treatment here in Green Bay. He had 28 radiation treatments and oral and IV chemo. We just celebrated the 2 years anniversary from the time the doc gave him 6 months.
He just recently (3 weeks ago) started back on chemo 5-FU and it’s really taking a toll on him. Have I mentioned that I HATE chemo and what it does to my husband? The 2nd day after chemo is usually the toughest on him which happens to be today (Sunday as he has chemo on Friday) So today was a really rough day for him. He’s trying to stay positive, cause we have a brand new grandbaby on the way (April 2nd, 2012) and our 12th Wedding Anniversary (Feb. 11, 2012) and we JUST found out that Tom’s first born grand daughter is expecting sometime in July 2012. We are all hoping that he will still be here to be able to meet his very first great grandchild!
He does have one very special grandson. My daughter Brianne had a premature baby on July 3, 2009 and she named him Thomas (after his Papa) and he is Tom’s lil sidekick! He was only 2 lbs 9 ozs at birth and has come a long way! He is all boy and is such a lovable little guy. He love Ama (me) and papa and loves to sit by papa and eat snacks with him.
We have learned to take the good with the bad. To enjoy the good days and tolerate the bad days. Luckily we have good health insurance and our deductible and out of pocket are just about met, so until the end of June 2013 all Tom’s medical w/be covered at 100%. He can go on Medicare Feb. 1st as he will be 65 in Feb (on our anniversary) then we’ll start him on Medicare Part B (supplement plan) and PCP plan (drug Plan) when my work policy ends in 2013. I will take him off my work insurance which will be cheaper for me and between medicare part a and a supplemental plan for part b 100% of his medical costs will be covered after that! And if that does not work out then I will put him back on my medical the following year. (see, I’m being optimistic that he will still be here! Positive thoughts!
Hugs,
MargaretHi Elsie,
My husband was on gem/cis/avastin in hopes of keeping his cancer stable to give him more time. He was diagnosed over three years ago with intrahepatic CC. He just started on Xeloda this week as his oncologist was concerned with the effects the gem/cis was having on his kidney. So far, he hasn’t had any side effects other than the normal fatique. John is a fighter and he makes himself do as much as he can on a daily basis. I hope your Jim has much success with the gem/cis, but like Percy said, there are other options out there. Good luck and God bless, PeggyP
Hi,
“Am I right in saying, when used in cases like Jim’s where the cancer has already spread, gemcis is not a cure but may slow the tumors growth in the hope of providing more time and delaying the inevitable? Does it ever shrink the tumors? Is that unrealistic? The onc was really quite happy with the results and neither Jim nor I wanted to dilute the only positive news we have had since July by asking hard questions yesterday, but now we are wondering….”.Your are right in saying that Gem/cis is not a cure but may slow the progress of tumor growth.The response rate of Gem/cis in one large study(pt. pop.=204) is 26.1% and median progression-free survival is about 8 months. in three other small studies ,the response rate is 37%(30pt.);28%(40 pt) and 35% (29pt.).
and yes, chemo therapy can shrink the tumor(called partial response) and even make it disappeared(call complete response) or no change in tumor size(called stable) and prolong the lives of CCA patients like Jim and me.
But Gem/cis is not the only chemo for biliary CCA; there are many other options including different chemo agents,radiation like RFA,chemoembro or radioembro and the molecularly-targeted therapy agents. So there are still a lot of fire powers left to deal with CCA if one treatment is not working well to satisfaction.
God bless.Dearest Elsie, YIPPEE! We love to hear STABLE. I especially love waking up to this kind of news. Your attitudes are great and planning for Christmas will definitely keep you busy in such a good way. Yikes, I am just getting ready for Thanksgiving! Say, here is a tip for white meat eaters! Don’t buy a whole turkey, too much waste and too heavy! I got 2 turkey breasts last year and they were so good I did the same this year. Maybe I will have my Granddaughter make a couple of paper turkey heads and put them on the breasts? It’s all OK the kids know they have a cwazy Grandma!
At any rate, this is about you not me, sorry I always digress.
Anyway, if the ONCs are so happy who are we to take that away from them. BUT, I know you will get some responses on this Board about your big question.
Thanks for the great news and sending you a ton of hugs and best wishes.Elsie….congratulations; only two cycles of treatment and yet you are already seeing a positive response. Good news indeed.
The Gem/Cis study is the largest study of the disease of Cholangiocarcinoma and it clearly demonstrated survival advantages without major toxicity issues. Responses to the treatment vary however; we have seen significant shrinkage of tumors for some of our members. And, that is what I wish for Jim with the upcoming chemo cycle.
Although, there is no cure for metastasized Cholangiocarcinoma, the numerous treatment options available have significantly impacted disease progression. In some instances this cancer has quite successfully been managed similar to that of a chronic disease. As you see, the glass is still half full.
Like you I believe in making long term plans and your thoughts of enjoying Christmas with Jim is one way of not allowing cancer to stop you from living.
I wish for continued success, good days for both of you and a fantastic scan result coming your way.
All my best wishes,
MarionWell, we had what we consider a win yesterday when we received the results of Jim’s 2 month scan! The oncologist told us he considers the cancer to be in the stable category. The masses in his liver and on his pancreas have only increased marginally, and the ones in his chest have stayed the same size. He does have one new small spot on the tip of his liver, but considering how quickly they were growing prior to him starting on gemcis we think it’s fabulous news and it has given us both a huge boost and the impetus to fight on. So he is scheduled for another 2 cycles of chemo and will then have another scan.
Could someone with more knowledge of gemcis than me check my understanding: Am I right in saying, when used in cases like Jim’s where the cancer has already spread, gemcis is not a cure but may slow the tumors growth in the hope of providing more time and delaying the inevitable? Does it ever shrink the tumors? Is that unrealistic? The onc was really quite happy with the results and neither Jim nor I wanted to dilute the only positive news we have had since July by asking hard questions yesterday, but now we are wondering….
Pamela – I have read your story and my heart goes out to you and your daughter. I’ve never experienced anything like this before and it sure takes courage some days. Your courage and love shines through your posts.
Margaret – Hugs from Wisconsin to Sydney! Wow thank you. In fact I do feel the support from this communtiy and everyone whenever I’m on the board. And it is a relief to be able to tap into it. Have you and Tom been fighting CC for over 3 and a half years? I admire the strength both of you must have and send you hugs back and all my best wishes for Tom. In a way I am thankful that we were warned Jim could only have a few weeks because it sure made us clean up and organise our life. It also made us determined to live life in four week blocks – to enjoy every month as if it’s our last and to see everyone we love more often. I think that worked for us but I know I am thinking further ahead after yesterday because last night I started planning Christmas.
My special thanks to Lainy. I really appreciate your positive and practical advice – not just to me but to all who post. You are brilliant.
Thanks again,
Elsie
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