mbachini

Chris and Laura,

The 12 people that have been treated are not all cholangiocarcinoma patients, there is a mix of solid cancers being treated. What I know for sure is that one of the three is a colon cancer patient, she just received her official partial response a few weeks ago and we stay in touch by email quite frequently. She is doing great. I believe, but am not certain that one was an esophageal cancer patient and am not sure they officially hit the partial response. There is Lori Whiting, who is happy for me to share her story, she is a fellow cholangio patient. She has done the treatment twice, being the first to add the immunotherapy drug, pembrolizumab to her second treatment. She has had a mixed response. Just this past month her liver and lung tumors continue to shrink, but they found 4 mets to her brain. They are using radiation to the brain and feel quite confident they can get them with that and are continuing to treat her on the trial with the pembrolizumab.

With the addition of the pembrolizumab, I am hoping to see more responses. They are also working on using the receptors from the t-cells and putting them on young, healthy cells in the lab and then treating with those. ……(more complicated than that, but I am not capable of description!) My point is there are continuing to improve the immunotherapy treatment all the time!

Dr. Javle is highly regarded when it comes to dealing with cholangiocarcinoma and I know several of his patients. You would definitely be in good hands there.

It seems to me you are doing everything you can to have a plan B, that is what is important, always striving for the next best treatment and hanging in there until we find a CURE!

I very much felt fatigued during and after chemo. I really didn’t beat the fatigue until after I was treated at NIH. Then I was able to start walking and exercising again which helped.

I would also love for you guys to introduce yourselves in the introduction section so others can see this post and welcome you to the discussion board. I am so glad you are here, you will find much support from everyone on this board. I am happy that the TACE is doing good…..progress is good no matter what!! Take care and I am sending hugs and prayers your way!

Melinda