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Hi Gavin,
I am new to this site, but so glad I found it. My father was diagnosed with CC July 07, and we were lucky enough that the tumor in his bile duct was operable. He did have 5 out of 7 lymphnodes and unfortunately a year later several nodules have been found on his lungs. He did chemo(gemzar last October-through March) but, as I am learning, chemo doesn’t work on my fathers type of cancer and location.
You touched on a topic with your father that my family has struggled with and finally come to a conclusion about. My father sits in on almost all of the discussions with the Drs- Oncologist and Pulminologists, and for some reason he doesn’t really listen. At first I thought it was an act, that he really heard what they said but doesn’t want to talk about it, but then I realized he only hears what he wants. He doesn’t want to hear a death sentance, and so he doesn’t hear it. I think everybody deals with illiness and their destiny differently. Some people want to be prepared, and maybe they go out and live their life to the fullest, and some people find out they may not live much longer and they get depressed, close up and live out the rest of their life in an unhappy state. The latter would be my father, he needs to think he is going to beat this cancer, that is what gets him up in the morning. He still reads the paper, watches the news, looks at his stock report, makes the schedule for his employees(he owns a plumbing company) sometimes goes on job estimates, he tries really hard to eat the right foods(I am kind of tyrant in that department) we take long walks, atlest a mile everyday. In our case, if he tought he was not going to beat this cancer, and any treatment he was doing now was palliative, he wouldnt have any fight in him. So we chose to take the approach as a family, that we are fighting this cancer to win! It seems your father may have the same mentality as mine, I dont think a discussion is necessary about his prognosis. Maybe his venture out yesterday(I hope it went well) was possible b/c he has hope…..Anyway sorry to ramble.
By the way, about your mom, I have a personal training liscense, and I don’t know many older people(how hold is your mother exactly?) that can walk 12 minutes on a treadmill especially if they have health issues. I suspect if she keeps it up and keeps up her spirit(mental attutude obviously so important) she will be up to 25 minutes in no time.
You seem like an amazing son, your parents are lucky to have you. Prayers and positive thoughts going out to your family for the 23!
Barbara

Hi,
I am relatively new to the site, but not so new to the cancer. My father was diagnosed with CC July 07. We were fortunate enough that he was operable and had the tumor removed. The Whipple wasnt
easy, and he is still suffering side effects, but he is alive and he accepts that he alternative would be much worse. Now “suspicious” nodules have been found in his lungs(3- 2 in left and 1 in the right)They were small mm, but they changed over two months, and enlarged, and our Oncologist and Pulminologist are fairly certain it is the Cancer that has returned. The nodules at the end of August were too small to Biaopsy, we go to a different hospital this Thursday(CTCA) for a second opinion. Since my fathers Whipple surgury, I have been giving him fresh vegetable juices everyday, usually carrot(up until recently, now they make him sick, he has even vomited after dirinking) I also give him 500 mg Vitamin B 17, (Has anyone read World Without Cancer?) the book talks about how all our bodies are missing this vitamin and it contains cyanide that can ward off cancer. I was giving my dad 1500 miligrams a day, but he thought it was bothering his stomach. He drinks a cup of green tea everyday with honey. I wish would drink a couple, but my dad is set in his ways, and this is the best he will do for me. He also eats tons and tons of fruit, and fish atleast twice a week. I have heard good and bad about Vitamin C. I personally think it strange when Drs. say “they don’t want the patient taking anything homeopathic when the patient is doing chemo”. If it is all natural, how can it effect the outcome of chemo, whiy wouldn’t they think it would if anything help and boost the immune system. I haven’t been doing this cancer as long as others, but I have learned allready to not always listen to the our Drs.
Barbara

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Im so sorry about your aunt Peg. I am an aunt to 4 neices and one nephew. I have one son (9) and am divorced with split custody, meaning i dont have my son with me 160 days a year. This would be absolutely heartbrearking for me if I didn’t have the company of my neices and nephew. They live a block away from me, and one or all of them are with me daily, this has especially helped me through my own fathers battle with the awful CC disease. I am certain, Aunt Peg loved the neices and nephews as much as they loved her. Sorry again for your loss, now your aunt is singing with the angels.
Barbara