more info on Dad

Thanks a bunch, Ashley for moving the postings. All is well with your Mom and that is great news.
Best,
Marion

Marion – I just created a little library – I re-posted my posting as well as one from Wayne and Raye under ” New Developments”. Thanks!

On a side note, my mom had her 4 month post transplant appt this week back at the Mayo clinic. After 2 days of solid testing ( kidney/liver/ct scan/etc)she met with the doctor today and she is STILL cancer free and they are very pleased with her progress. She was diagnosed with a 3cm Klatskin tumor June 2009 and spent 4 months in the transplant protocol along with my brother ( her donor). Here we are almost a year later and aside from slightly swolen ankles and a dozen or more pills she will now take daily for the rest of her life, it amazes me that she is pretty much back to normal. We are so very thankful that she was able to be sucessfully transplanted.

I just want everyone to be aware that this MAY be an option.
Ashley

Great news!
I do have advice for you… After my own families ordeal I stay on this website to try to educate on the transplant option. ( thank you Wayne Parsons and Raye Field from this board for telling me about this option) Please consider looking further to see IF transplant could also be an option. You want to have as many options as possible! Usually once surgery is done transplant is no longer an option so you need to know all your options up front. I am advising you mainly because it sounds like transplant qualifications for your dad are met initially based on the info provided ( under 3M and no mets). However, you have not mentioned your dad’s age or medical conditions outside of this cancer. Just something to think about. Also remember your new Doc may know little about transplant only because it is not offered at his hospital. Mayo, U of Neb, U of Utah and others offer transplant. I have to correct Marion ( sorry!) but resection is NOT the only chance for a cure. Statistically speaking transplant is the best cure IF you can make it through. ( reoccurence is always possible but less likely with transplant vs. resection). Again, only a small percentage can qualify for transplant so please look into this option.

For my mother, a NYC surgeon thought she was resectable when Yale did not. Then we sent her to the Mayo and they said she could do the transplant. I hope your dad may potentially have two options.

Here is an interesting excerpt from the NYC surgeon in an email he sent me last summer:

” It is a long road to transplant. The ones who make it through the entire process- chemo, radiation, waiting, the transplant procedure- have proven themselves through trial by ordeal, and it is indeed true that that group does well; when you figure in all those that drop out along the way, resection starts to look a lot better. It is really a case of rolling the dice- going for the big jackpot knowing that the odds are less that you will hit, or doing a resection that, while somewhat less-likely to be curative than a transplant, is considerably more likely to actually happen since it is just scheduled and done. I’m not sure what I would do. The trouble is that you have to make a choice and live with it- once you commit to one path, it is rarely possible to turn around and head in another direction”

so – I am thrilled to hear the resection news but just wanted you to be informed that transplant may also be an option.
Keep us posted!
ashley

Bob!

What wonderful news! I will keep you, your family and your Dad in my thoughts and prayers! Stay strong and please keep us informed!

Hugs,
Pam

Hi Bob,

Great news indeed and I hope that this plan can be implemented. Good luck with your visit with Dr House, I will keep everything crossed for you.

Best wishes,

Gavin