Update on my dad!

Viewing 15 posts - 31 through 45 (of 46 total)
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  • #67919
    nikki4470
    Spectator

    Surgery is scheduled for 3/26. Pre-op PET scan shows no mets. He passed the cardiac stress test. We are on our way! Any advice for post-op is welcomed! We are nervous and excited! Hoping his recovery is speedy one so we can get back home. Might have to spend Easter in the hospital, but it will all be worth it!

    #67918
    jathy1125
    Spectator

    Nikki-CONGRATS!! I am so excited for your dad and all of you!!
    Exciting about NY Med show, this will be the second time they will film Dr. Kato doing surgery on a CC patient . Tell your dad we will alway an autographed pic of him and Dr. Kato!!
    Lots of prayers and HOPE-Cathy

    #67917
    gavin
    Moderator

    Thanks for that Nikki, looking forward to seeing this!

    #67916
    nikki4470
    Spectator

    Thanks Marion and Gavin! Gavin – the episodes can be viewed online…hopefully you can watch them here! http://abc.go.com/watch/ny-med/SH55214626

    #67915
    gavin
    Moderator

    Hi Nikki,

    This is great news for you all and I am so chuffed for your dad!! Please let us know how it goes and my fingers are crossed for you all! And that is great about the ABC piece as well, hopefully I’ll get to see it over here as well.

    Hugs,

    Gavin

    #67914
    marions
    Moderator

    Nikki….This is fantastic news- so excited for you and your family.
    Hugs
    Marion

    #67913
    lainy
    Spectator

    A big THANK you little Grasshopper, you have learned your lessons well! We most excitedly await all the news!

    #67912
    nikki4470
    Spectator

    I will definately let you all know what date we schedule the surgery for! NY Med is on ABC. Since they have to film the surgery and then edit the footage, it won’t be aired for some time, but I will be SURE to post a new topic to this site to let everyone here know exactly when to watch. During my interview, I will be sure to give a shout out to this board as it has helped so many including my family and I. I made sure to tell Dr. Kato that I found him because of this site!

    Thank you Pam and Lainy for your kind words as always :)

    #67911
    lainy
    Spectator

    Oh, Nikki, I am doing cartwheels, well in my mind, anyway, YIPPEE What a fantastic appointment you had. Please let us know when the surgery is to be and can someone tell us what Channel NY MED is on and when? Are we something? We now have celebrities! Oh, I am so very happy for you and your family!

    #67910
    pamela
    Spectator

    Hi Nikki,

    That is such great news about your Dad!! When is his surgery date? I am a huge fan of the NY Med show. That is so awesome that you were filmed to be a part of that show!! Please keep us informed as to when it will air. I am hoping and praying your Dad will have a very positive outcome. Way to get the word out about CC!!!!

    Love and hugs,
    -Pam

    #67909
    nikki4470
    Spectator

    My dad and I met with Dr. Kato on Friday. Before our appointment, he had an MRI which showed no mets and about a 50% reduction in only 5 rounds of gem/cis! Dr. Kato is absolutely amazing…so much so that I had to give him a hug! He spent over a hour with us, showing us the images and explaining the surgery. Because the MRI was right before our appointment, radiology did not have time to read the MRI, so Dr. Kato is not positive as to whether my dad will either have his entire right side of his liver (including the artery) removed or if he will just cut the artery and sew it back together (as they do in liver transplants). If the tumor is still branching up into the liver, then the right side of the liver will be removed. My dad’s gallbladder will also be removed which is nice because he will no longer have to have the external drain. Dr. Kato feels like right now is the best time to do the surgery because my dad is showing such great progress with chemo, has no mets and is in good health. He did remind us of the high recurrence rate which we are aware of, but he said that my dad is having such a great response to chemo, that it might just keep the cancer from ever returning! To top it off, ABC was there to film our story for their hit show, NY Med! Our visits and my dad’s surgery will be featured on an upcoming episode…hoping to raise awareness for cholangiocarcinoma! I cannot say enough good things about Dr. Kato!

    #67907
    lainy
    Spectator

    Nikki, Teddy used to get a “blood” infection 2 X a year. I knew when the fever and chills came it was time for the ER> They would put him on a Levaquin IV and he was fine every time in a few days. Oh, a blood culture always neded to verify. My Teddy used to say, “now we know what the problem is, lets fix it”. Your Dad sounds much the same way and that makes for a good attitude.

    #67906
    32coupe
    Spectator

    Hi Nikki,
    Just to add my ‘two cents’ to the conversation, surgery is the only path to cure for this hideous disease. The risk is significant and the recovery can be awful (personal experience). So it is a risk/reward situation. But I would recommend serious consideration of surgery – it appears to be the only hope. Praying that God will give you guidance and the doctors divine insight.

    bob

    #67905
    nikki4470
    Spectator

    Thanks Lainy! That is great advice. If you listen to your gut then you can’t regret any decisions you make. Every doctor is going to have their own opinion, so we just have to do what WE feel is right. We want this tumor OUT! IF it grows back, we fight it again :) I will tell my dad that many other CC fighters have also had infections, so he is not alone!

    #67908
    lainy
    Spectator

    Nikki, a big YIPPEE and please, please….do as you are and listen to your own gut, it will NOT steer you wrong! I should not say this BUT I would listen to Dr. Kato before Dana Farber, My husband had a Whipple and 5 ONCs said NO to chemo that it would not help him. We never regretted our decision. Yea for Dr. Kato, I am so excited for you and yur news. BTW, infections unfortunately just go with the territory. You are doing everything right, keep up the great job and welcome to GUT 101! Can’t wait to hear more.

Viewing 15 posts - 31 through 45 (of 46 total)
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