willow

Thank you, Cathy. I feel a bit foolish forgetting that the “strangers” were your organ donors. I forgot that you did not have two resections, you had transplants!! They truly did give you the gift of life and everyone can feel your joy and gratitude. Yes, I am definitely pro organ donation!!

Notdoneyet, I feel the same way…. afraid to share too much as I want to protect and respect my sisters privacy. Meanwhile, I’ve found it extremely helpful to read and research on this site. The discussion boards are especially helpful emotionally AND practically. I am so sorry that you’ve had such a rough time.

Gavin, Thank you for sharing your experience with your Dad. It’s helpful beyond measure to know that you understand the fear of “knowing too much” and comforting to hear that there is no right way or wrong way of dealing with such a daunting diagnosis.

Thanks, Percy.
I did get much from that link that you sent…. though it really does open so many more questions about why the incidence is increasing even in western countries. I wonder what causes Primary Scelrosing Cholangitis, ulcerative colitis and other predisposing conditions. Seems chronic inflammation regardless of cause can lead to CCA.
I am just beside myself with worry and grief that this has happened to my barely 50 year old sister, mother of a young child. It’s only been 2.5 months since she was diagnosed and she has a few more weeks of chemo treatments before we find out if she will qualify for resection.
BTW: I found Dr Sonnenday’s interview on liver transplant very helpful and hope that my sister will qualify for this relatively rare treatment if she is unresectable. It’s possible, since her tumor seems localized in the liver, though it’s involving portal vein and a rightt branch of hepatic artery.

Thank you. I’ve wondered about the liver fluke/sushi connection myself. Do they test for that when you are diagnosed with CC and have no other risk factors? Maybe it’s a moot point but you’d think they could reduce recurrences if so.
The hepatobilary surgeon has great experience and definitely wants to do everything possible to make it to resection. He said it technically could be done, but he preferred to do chemo first to kill potential seed cells on “good” side of liver and to shrink main tumor out of left side of blood vessel branch (it’s mainly on right side). I feel my sister is so close to being operable if this chemo does the trick.