My Uncle just found out … I think it’s to late..

Hi Tammy,

Welcome to the site. I am sorry to hear that your uncle is experiencing these problems right now regarding digestion of food. My dad had some trouble for a while with digestion and what his specialist said was to try and eat very small amounts but eat more often. He also suggested things like soup and mince, small foods that would be able to be more easily digested. my dad also had the Ensure drinks that Margaret talks and perhaps they might help for your uncle.

As to what everyone else says regarding a second opinion, I agree that that is a good idea. I know hard this is to watch a loved one go through all of this. I watched my dad go through it all and I was his carer during his fight. It’s not easy, but you will find the strength to be there for your uncle. Keep coming back here as you will get so much support from us all, we know what you are going through.

My best wishes to you,

Gavin

Tammy:

Welcome to the best CC site on the internet. I, along with others on this site will try to give you guidance and posts information from our own personal experiences.

My husband Tom has been battling this cancer for the past two years, and if there is one thing that I have learned, this cancer journey has many twists and turns and bumps in the road. Tom has lost a lot of weight after his new tumor presented in Nov 09 and has dropped a lot of weight. His issue is that much of the bile that the liver produces is not getting into his intestional tract, therefore although he is eating his body is not getting any nutrition from the food that he eats. (they are unable to place an internal stent to get the bile to flow where it should be flowing, 5 unsuccessful attempts so far).

Tom is a diabetic and Boost Plus is so far the best thing that we have found to give him the additional calories that he needs when he is unable to tolerate solid foods. There is also a Boost for diabetics, but we have not gotten that one yet. Tom had tried Ensure, but did not care for the taste and would not drink it. He does like the Chocolate Boost Plus and he does drink that. (Boost Plus is for those people that need to gain weight)

Your Uncle may never experience ‘throwing up’ from the Chemo. Tom has had 28 radiation treatments and started on Xleoda two weeks ago. So far he has not had any experience with actual vomiting. A little nausea, but his doc gave him an anti nausea pill that he takes 1/2 hour before taking the chemo pills. So far he has not had any side effects from the chemo other than slight nausea and soft stools and going to the bathroom multiple times a day. (if it gets no worse that that we will be thankful)

Here are my suggestions:
1) Write down any questions you / others think of and ask those questions of his doctors.
2) Get 2nd opinoins as to if the treatments are the correct treatments that your uncle is getting
3) Never take no for an answer.
4) Keep in mind that many doctors have never encountered Cholangiocarcinoma and simply do not have any ideas on what is the correct way to treat it.
5) Do your homework. Search the internet for possible treatments. Read the posts on this website and you will be amazed at the information you will find. And these posts are from real life experiences that people with this cancer have gone through, not just the ‘Textbook’ versions.

I will be watching for other posts from you. Come back and visit often. Remember that no question is ever a dumb question.

Prayers are coming your uncle’s way from Wisconsin.

Go with God and KEEP KICKIN’ THAT cancer

Margaret (“My Husband and Cholangiocarcinoma” is the information about my husband Tom’s journey with CC)