jemima

Hi Alison

Sorry to hear about your father/father in law. My mum was 77 when she was diagnosed (Feb 2010) and although we have gone through some highs and some lows we are still hanging in there !
We are in the UK too (Wales) and Mum has been deemed inoperable by 2 different surgeons. She then decided on chemo which she had for a few months. She tolerated this very well with only minor and manageable side-effects. She is now on a chemo-break until March when she will start again.

When she was first jaundiced and ill she was very itchy and nauseous but all these things are treatable with drugs. With the new stent in it will take a while for the jaundice to disappear and the symptoms too. However as Marion says they really should be trying to identify the cause of the infection.

The things I have learnt from all this it is to be as informed as possible, ask for things to be done if they haven’t been and you think they should, and go for second/third/fourth opinion if you feel you need to.

Which hospital is your father/fil in ? There a few in the UK which have experience in CC and it really is worth going to see someone who knows about it.

best wishes to you and your family and I hope that they manage to get the fever under control

Jemima

Hi Andy

I know that alot of people (especially in the US) have their plastic stents changed routinely at 2-3 months, but we are in the UK so of course things happen differently !
My mum had her last stent change on the 1st of June last year and so far it is still going strong…. Her first stent did only last 3 months but they only changed it because she got an infection and was ill. They will do the same with this one too. So far so good but of course it has been so long now I keep expecting her to get ill with it any day. At first I thought it would be better for them just to change it routinely but seeing that doing it this way has saved her a couple of ERCP day admissions (and the risk of infection) then maybe it has been worth it.
But, just to say that the plastic stents can last longer, and since you are cancer free then maybe that will be the case with you.
best wishes

Jemima

Thanks for this post. My mum has a Klatskin tumour which they have said is inoperable. She is having chemo instead which seems to have slowed the growth so we are pleased with that.
It’s great that you have had three years and I hope that the whipple goes well and gives your husband and your family plenty more time together.
best wishes
Jemima

I am praying for you and hope that you get to have a fantastic meal and celebration.
best wishes
Jemima

Andrea that’s great news that it has been done. I hope that it works well now and that it all starts flowing again.
Keep us posted…
Jemima

Dear Askthiru
I am sorry to hear about your dad and the battle he had to go through. My condolences to you and your family.
warmest wishes
Jemima

Andrea
I am glad that your Dad still has his appetite even with all these problems. Good old NHS…….. I know that things do happen differently here but still, surely flushing his drain will help prevent him getting sicker and then probably needing even more care.
I hope that he gets it done soon and that things improve.
Thinking of you
Jemima