Lucked out (hopefully) by early detection
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Hi Neox99,
Welcome to our community and thank you for sharing your good news of early detection and successful surgery. You were indeed lucky that your cancer made itself known so early. Many of our patients have few symptoms until their cancer is much further along.
I did want to suggest a question that you might consider asking your doctor. Cholangiocarcinoma, unfortunately, can recur so patients who have completed surgery are carefully monitored for recurrence. The U.S. NCCN guidelines suggest scans and bloodwork every six months for the first two years, then annually thereafter. A more aggressive surveillance approach is recommended in Europe (ESMO guidelines) and involves quarterly scans and bloodwork during the first two years, every six months year 2-5, then annually thereafter. The experience of U.S.-based patients posting on this board has tended to look more like the ESMO guidelines, namely many of their doctors are recommending more frequent checks in the first two years after surgery. From what you describe, your doctor is recommending less monitoring than even the NCCN standard, so you may wish to ask him or her at the next opportunity for more information on plans for monitoring and follow-up, given your particular case. You can internet search both sets of guidelines if you wish, to have more information on this topic.
Please stay in touch. Take care, regards, Mary
Good for you and GOD bless you. You are extremely blessed and very fortunate to have this disease diagnosed early. I was diagnosed around the same time and now recovering Liver Transplant surgery. Thank you for sharing your story.
77yo male healthy other than the CCA:
During an extended visit with my son in Australia I had the opportunity to have cataract surgery(s). On June 19, 2019, during surgery prep, the anesthesiologist suggestion I may have jaundice and asked if I wanted to be tested. Of course I agreed. A simple blood test resulted in a CBC a week later which resulted in the necessity of finding a primary care physician. July 16th, day before second eye surgery, he phoned with an urgent request I get a CAT scan and an echo. Results = fairly small ‘mass’ blocking my common bile duct, <i>extra hepatic</i>, near the gall bladder.
The following Tue. I arrived back in the USA at Denver. The next morning at 06:00 I arrived at the ER at Anschutz UCHealth facility. The ER Dr. took 10 minutes to look at the records from AU and at the color of my skin and admitted me. 3 days of testing and prep led to an Endoscopy to place a stent which began to immediately ease the jaundice. 3 weeks later a 6 1/2 hour surgery resected the tumor.
I then did 8 rounds of oral Chemo – 3 weeks each. A scan + labs on April 15th, + visits with the surgeon and oncologist, resulted in “CANCER FREE”. I’m now scheduled for a 6 month check followed by the requisite annual cancer patient checks.
On the TNM staging chart my initial diagnosis was T 1 (actually 1.4cm/.55in) – N 0 – M 0.
IMHO early diagnosis + quick and EXCELLENT treatment saved my life.
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