Cholangiocarcinoma

Greetings!

Anybody here know anything about cholangiocarcinoma? -- that's a cancer
of the bile duct.

earle
*

Earle Jones wrote:

> Greetings!
>
> Anybody here know anything about cholangiocarcinoma? -- that's a cancer
> of the bile duct.

Yes, Earle, several here know about cholangiocarcinoma.
How may we be of help to you?
J

In article <48A24530.271B9312@execulink.com>, J <xewsnswex@nalid;"no>
wrote:

> Earle Jones wrote:
>
> > Greetings!
> >
> > Anybody here know anything about cholangiocarcinoma? -- that's a cancer
> > of the bile duct.
>
> Yes, Earle, several here know about cholangiocarcinoma.
> How may we be of help to you?
> J

*
Thanks!

My wife was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma back in January. She was
judged "not a candidate for surgery" for several reasons. She has been
on chemotherapy since early June. The drug is gemcitabine HCl (trade
name Gemzar). She tolerates it pretty well -- no hair loss, very little
nausea -- the chief side effect is fatigue.

She is seeing the best oncologist at the Stanford University Hospital /
Cancer Center. I feel she is in good hands.

Cholangiocarcinoma is pretty rare in the US. (Much more common in Japan
and the Middle East.)

What do we have to look forward to?

Thanks!

earle
*

"Earle Jones" <earle.jones@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:earle.jones-BD7F1F.21195712082008@netnews.comcast.net...
> In article <48A24530.271B9312@execulink.com>, J <xewsnswex@nalid;"no>
> wrote:
>
>> Earle Jones wrote:
>>
>> > Greetings!
>> >
>> > Anybody here know anything about cholangiocarcinoma? -- that's a cancer
>> > of the bile duct.
>>
>> Yes, Earle, several here know about cholangiocarcinoma.
>> How may we be of help to you?
>> J
>
> *
> Thanks!
>
> My wife was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma back in January. She was
> judged "not a candidate for surgery" for several reasons. She has been
> on chemotherapy since early June. The drug is gemcitabine HCl (trade
> name Gemzar). She tolerates it pretty well -- no hair loss, very little
> nausea -- the chief side effect is fatigue.
>
> She is seeing the best oncologist at the Stanford University Hospital /
> Cancer Center. I feel she is in good hands.
>
> Cholangiocarcinoma is pretty rare in the US. (Much more common in Japan
> and the Middle East.)
>
> What do we have to look forward to?
>
> Thanks!
>
> earle
> *

Don't you think that's a question for the "best oncologist at the Stanford
University Hospital /
Cancer Center"?

Earle Jones wrote:

> In article <48A24530.271B9312@execulink.com>, J <xewsnswex@nalid;"no>
> wrote:
>
> > Earle Jones wrote:
> >
> > > Greetings!
> > >
> > > Anybody here know anything about cholangiocarcinoma? -- that's a cancer
> > > of the bile duct.
> >
> > Yes, Earle, several here know about cholangiocarcinoma.
> > How may we be of help to you?
> > J
>
> *
> Thanks!
>
> My wife was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma back in January. She was
> judged "not a candidate for surgery" for several reasons. She has been
> on chemotherapy since early June. The drug is gemcitabine HCl (trade
> name Gemzar). She tolerates it pretty well -- no hair loss, very little
> nausea -- the chief side effect is fatigue.
>
> She is seeing the best oncologist at the Stanford University Hospital /
> Cancer Center. I feel she is in good hands.
>
> Cholangiocarcinoma is pretty rare in the US. (Much more common in Japan
> and the Middle East.)
>
> What do we have to look forward to?
>
> Thanks!
>
> earle
> *

Hello Earle,

Chemo is very useful for certain types of cancer.
It has limited value for epithelial type cancers, such as your wife's.
The intent would be palliative (ie shrink the size of tumors, and improve her
quality of life, by doing so).
There may be some prolongation of life, as well. I haven't looked at clinical
trial results (recently) for Gemzar but I believe it's the current standard of
care in developed countries due to it's low side effect profile.
Life Steph, I feel it's best to talk with her oncologist, since she/he has the
details of the extent of your wife's cancer.
There may be treatments ((surgery, radiation external or seeds) if she has
surface liver mets or in one lobe, but such should be discussed with the
oncologist. Blockages and/or enlarged lymph nodes can (usually) be addressed
as well.

Please keep us apprised as to how it's going.

Thank you for some of the information you posted, on other topics.
I urge you to use your filters and ignore cross-posters /topics.
If you need assist, please advise your newsreader software. I'll do my best to
assist.

J

In article <48A35EA1.2DCF8B08@execulink.com>, J <xewsnswex@nalid;"no>
wrote:

> Earle Jones wrote:
>
> > In article <48A24530.271B9312@execulink.com>, J <xewsnswex@nalid;"no>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > Earle Jones wrote:
> > >
> > > > Greetings!
> > > >
> > > > Anybody here know anything about cholangiocarcinoma? -- that's a cancer
> > > > of the bile duct.
> > >
> > > Yes, Earle, several here know about cholangiocarcinoma.
> > > How may we be of help to you?
> > > J
> >
> > *
> > Thanks!
> >
> > My wife was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma back in January. She was
> > judged "not a candidate for surgery" for several reasons. She has been
> > on chemotherapy since early June. The drug is gemcitabine HCl (trade
> > name Gemzar). She tolerates it pretty well -- no hair loss, very little
> > nausea -- the chief side effect is fatigue.
> >
> > She is seeing the best oncologist at the Stanford University Hospital /
> > Cancer Center. I feel she is in good hands.
> >
> > Cholangiocarcinoma is pretty rare in the US. (Much more common in Japan
> > and the Middle East.)
> >
> > What do we have to look forward to?
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> > earle
> > *
>
> Hello Earle,
>
> Chemo is very useful for certain types of cancer.
> It has limited value for epithelial type cancers, such as your wife's.
> The intent would be palliative (ie shrink the size of tumors, and improve her
> quality of life, by doing so).
> There may be some prolongation of life, as well. I haven't looked at clinical
> trial results (recently) for Gemzar but I believe it's the current standard of
> care in developed countries due to it's low side effect profile.
> Life Steph, I feel it's best to talk with her oncologist, since she/he has the
> details of the extent of your wife's cancer.
> There may be treatments ((surgery, radiation external or seeds) if she has
> surface liver mets or in one lobe, but such should be discussed with the
> oncologist. Blockages and/or enlarged lymph nodes can (usually) be addressed
> as well.
>
> Please keep us apprised as to how it's going.
>
> Thank you for some of the information you posted, on other topics.
> I urge you to use your filters and ignore cross-posters /topics.
> If you need assist, please advise your newsreader software. I'll do my best to
> assist.
>
> J

*
To Steph and J:

Many thanks for your responses. I have talked to our oncologist many
times about all of these subjects. My wife is tolerating her
chemotherapy (gemcitabine = Gemzar) pretty well. The major side effect
is fatigue. But no hair loss, not much nausea, a fever and chill about
once a week, and twice she has had some anemia (enough to require two
units of blood.)

She is on a "three weeks on and one week off" regimen of Gemzar. She
has had a total of eight infusions (the most recent today). After the
infusion next Friday, we'll get CT scans, blood work, etc. and meet with
our oncologist again to decide what's next.

My wife is feeling pretty good. Last night we went out to a friend's
house for dinner -- no problems. He appetite is not as good as it could
be but she has lost only a few pounds in the last six months.

She has been *very* active in the past and certainly misses her hiking
group and other physical activities. She's going back to water aerobics
next week. She is now 72 years old.

We have a daughter in Pasadena -- an eight-hour drive from our home in
the San Francisco area. Two grandchildren -- a beautiful girl age three
years and a boy of three months. We have a younger daughter -- a
schoolteacher near here -- she's getting married in November.

I have discussed the idea of a second opinion -- from the point of view
of the possibility of surgery. We will meet in a couple of weeks with a
gastroenterologist/surgeon at a different hospital in San Francisco. I
don't have much hope that he would suggest surgery, but we think it's
worth a try.

I have discussed in detail (with the oncologist) the exact reasons why
my wife was not a candidate for surgery. She has had a long-term lung
infection (mycobacterium avium intracellulare) that requires a pretty
heavy dose of antibiotics (isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol, cipro). She
also tends to have an atrial arrythmia and takes amiodarone for that.

Given these co-morbidities and the extent of her cancer, I don't think
the surgeon will recommend surgery. As you say, the Gemzar is
palliative and seems to be doing the job -- so far.

Thanks again for your response.

BTW, I am experienced with UseNet Newsgroups and aware of the many
juvenile spammers that show up here. Sad.

earle
*

"Earle Jones" <earle.jones@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:earle.jones-9D1D39.17251415082008@netnews.comcast.net...
> In article <48A35EA1.2DCF8B08@execulink.com>, J <xewsnswex@nalid;"no>
> wrote:
>
>> Earle Jones wrote:
>>
>> > In article <48A24530.271B9312@execulink.com>, J <xewsnswex@nalid;"no>
>> > wrote:
>> >
>> > > Earle Jones wrote:
>> > >
>> > > > Greetings!
>> > > >
>> > > > Anybody here know anything about cholangiocarcinoma? -- that's a
>> > > > cancer
>> > > > of the bile duct.
>> > >
>> > > Yes, Earle, several here know about cholangiocarcinoma.
>> > > How may we be of help to you?
>> > > J
>> >
>> > *
>> > Thanks!
>> >
>> > My wife was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma back in January. She was
>> > judged "not a candidate for surgery" for several reasons. She has been
>> > on chemotherapy since early June. The drug is gemcitabine HCl (trade
>> > name Gemzar). She tolerates it pretty well -- no hair loss, very
>> > little
>> > nausea -- the chief side effect is fatigue.
>> >
>> > She is seeing the best oncologist at the Stanford University Hospital /
>> > Cancer Center. I feel she is in good hands.
>> >
>> > Cholangiocarcinoma is pretty rare in the US. (Much more common in
>> > Japan
>> > and the Middle East.)
>> >
>> > What do we have to look forward to?
>> >
>> > Thanks!
>> >
>> > earle
>> > *
>>
>> Hello Earle,
>>
>> Chemo is very useful for certain types of cancer.
>> It has limited value for epithelial type cancers, such as your wife's.
>> The intent would be palliative (ie shrink the size of tumors, and improve
>> her
>> quality of life, by doing so).
>> There may be some prolongation of life, as well. I haven't looked at
>> clinical
>> trial results (recently) for Gemzar but I believe it's the current
>> standard of
>> care in developed countries due to it's low side effect profile.
>> Life Steph, I feel it's best to talk with her oncologist, since she/he
>> has the
>> details of the extent of your wife's cancer.
>> There may be treatments ((surgery, radiation external or seeds) if she
>> has
>> surface liver mets or in one lobe, but such should be discussed with the
>> oncologist. Blockages and/or enlarged lymph nodes can (usually) be
>> addressed
>> as well.
>>
>> Please keep us apprised as to how it's going.
>>
>> Thank you for some of the information you posted, on other topics.
>> I urge you to use your filters and ignore cross-posters /topics.
>> If you need assist, please advise your newsreader software. I'll do my
>> best to
>> assist.
>>
>> J
>
> *
> To Steph and J:
>
> Many thanks for your responses. I have talked to our oncologist many
> times about all of these subjects. My wife is tolerating her
> chemotherapy (gemcitabine = Gemzar) pretty well. The major side effect
> is fatigue. But no hair loss, not much nausea, a fever and chill about
> once a week, and twice she has had some anemia (enough to require two
> units of blood.)
>
> She is on a "three weeks on and one week off" regimen of Gemzar. She
> has had a total of eight infusions (the most recent today). After the
> infusion next Friday, we'll get CT scans, blood work, etc. and meet with
> our oncologist again to decide what's next.
>
> My wife is feeling pretty good. Last night we went out to a friend's
> house for dinner -- no problems. He appetite is not as good as it could
> be but she has lost only a few pounds in the last six months.
>
> She has been *very* active in the past and certainly misses her hiking
> group and other physical activities. She's going back to water aerobics
> next week. She is now 72 years old.
>
> We have a daughter in Pasadena -- an eight-hour drive from our home in
> the San Francisco area. Two grandchildren -- a beautiful girl age three
> years and a boy of three months. We have a younger daughter -- a
> schoolteacher near here -- she's getting married in November.
>
> I have discussed the idea of a second opinion -- from the point of view
> of the possibility of surgery. We will meet in a couple of weeks with a
> gastroenterologist/surgeon at a different hospital in San Francisco. I
> don't have much hope that he would suggest surgery, but we think it's
> worth a try.
>
> I have discussed in detail (with the oncologist) the exact reasons why
> my wife was not a candidate for surgery. She has had a long-term lung
> infection (mycobacterium avium intracellulare) that requires a pretty
> heavy dose of antibiotics (isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol, cipro). She
> also tends to have an atrial arrythmia and takes amiodarone for that.
>
> Given these co-morbidities and the extent of her cancer, I don't think
> the surgeon will recommend surgery. As you say, the Gemzar is
> palliative and seems to be doing the job -- so far.
>
> Thanks again for your response.
>
> BTW, I am experienced with UseNet Newsgroups and aware of the many
> juvenile spammers that show up here. Sad.
>
> earle
> *


Just be clear what the aim of treatment is.
Gemzar is a "nice" druyg in that it tends not to have nasty side-effects

Earle Jones <earle.jones@comcast.net> wrote in
news:earle.jones-9D1D39.17251415082008@netnews.comcast.net:

> In article <48A35EA1.2DCF8B08@execulink.com>, J <xewsnswex@nalid;"no>
> wrote:
>
>> Earle Jones wrote:
>>
>> > In article <48A24530.271B9312@execulink.com>, J
>> > <xewsnswex@nalid;"no> wrote:
>> >
>> > > Earle Jones wrote:
>> > >
>> > > > Greetings!
>> > > >
>> > > > Anybody here know anything about cholangiocarcinoma? -- that's
>> > > > a cancer of the bile duct.
>> > >
>> > > Yes, Earle, several here know about cholangiocarcinoma.
>> > > How may we be of help to you?
>> > > J
>> >
>> > *
>> > Thanks!
>> >
>> > My wife was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma back in January. She
>> > was judged "not a candidate for surgery" for several reasons. She
>> > has been on chemotherapy since early June. The drug is gemcitabine
>> > HCl (trade name Gemzar). She tolerates it pretty well -- no hair
>> > loss, very little nausea -- the chief side effect is fatigue.
>> >
>> > She is seeing the best oncologist at the Stanford University
>> > Hospital / Cancer Center. I feel she is in good hands.
>> >
>> > Cholangiocarcinoma is pretty rare in the US. (Much more common in
>> > Japan and the Middle East.)
>> >
>> > What do we have to look forward to?
>> >
>> > Thanks!
>> >
>> > earle
>> > *
>>
>> Hello Earle,
>>
>> Chemo is very useful for certain types of cancer.
>> It has limited value for epithelial type cancers, such as your
>> wife's. The intent would be palliative (ie shrink the size of tumors,
>> and improve her quality of life, by doing so).
>> There may be some prolongation of life, as well. I haven't looked at
>> clinical trial results (recently) for Gemzar but I believe it's the
>> current standard of care in developed countries due to it's low side
>> effect profile. Life Steph, I feel it's best to talk with her
>> oncologist, since she/he has the details of the extent of your wife's
>> cancer. There may be treatments ((surgery, radiation external or
>> seeds) if she has surface liver mets or in one lobe, but such should
>> be discussed with the oncologist. Blockages and/or enlarged lymph
>> nodes can (usually) be addressed as well.
>>
>> Please keep us apprised as to how it's going.
>>
>> Thank you for some of the information you posted, on other topics.
>> I urge you to use your filters and ignore cross-posters /topics.
>> If you need assist, please advise your newsreader software. I'll do
>> my best to assist.
>>
>> J
>
> *
> To Steph and J:
>
> Many thanks for your responses. I have talked to our oncologist many
> times about all of these subjects. My wife is tolerating her
> chemotherapy (gemcitabine = Gemzar) pretty well. The major side
> effect is fatigue. But no hair loss, not much nausea, a fever and
> chill about once a week, and twice she has had some anemia (enough to
> require two units of blood.)
>
> She is on a "three weeks on and one week off" regimen of Gemzar. She
> has had a total of eight infusions (the most recent today). After the
> infusion next Friday, we'll get CT scans, blood work, etc. and meet
> with our oncologist again to decide what's next.
>
> My wife is feeling pretty good. Last night we went out to a friend's
> house for dinner -- no problems. He appetite is not as good as it
> could be but she has lost only a few pounds in the last six months.
>
> She has been *very* active in the past and certainly misses her hiking
> group and other physical activities. She's going back to water
> aerobics next week. She is now 72 years old.
>
> We have a daughter in Pasadena -- an eight-hour drive from our home in
> the San Francisco area. Two grandchildren -- a beautiful girl age
> three years and a boy of three months. We have a younger daughter --
> a schoolteacher near here -- she's getting married in November.
>
> I have discussed the idea of a second opinion -- from the point of
> view of the possibility of surgery. We will meet in a couple of weeks
> with a gastroenterologist/surgeon at a different hospital in San
> Francisco. I don't have much hope that he would suggest surgery, but
> we think it's worth a try.
>
> I have discussed in detail (with the oncologist) the exact reasons why
> my wife was not a candidate for surgery. She has had a long-term lung
> infection (mycobacterium avium intracellulare) that requires a pretty
> heavy dose of antibiotics (isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol, cipro).
> She also tends to have an atrial arrythmia and takes amiodarone for
> that.
>
> Given these co-morbidities and the extent of her cancer, I don't think
> the surgeon will recommend surgery. As you say, the Gemzar is
> palliative and seems to be doing the job -- so far.
>
> Thanks again for your response.
>
> BTW, I am experienced with UseNet Newsgroups and aware of the many
> juvenile spammers that show up here. Sad.
>
> earle
> *
>
Hi, Earle,

It sounds like you have a wounderful family & I hope that gives both you
& your wife pleasure & enjoyment. And having a wedding to look forward
to is a special blessing too.

We got a second opinion for my husband's treatment, & like you felt his
original doctors were top notch, not doubting them, but at the same time
this is something of critical importance. In our case, the second
opinion by a team at the local medical school/teaching hospital pretty
much ratified what his docs had told us. We did get some new informed
opinions about his having an unusual number of chemo treatments, which
he was doing b/c he was doing so well. We were able to attend the
meeting where a number of different docs & researchers from different
areas all came together to present & evaluate his case. They asked him a
few questions too.

Since your wife has at least 3 different conditions, I wonder if
Stanford offers the same sort of interdisiplanary evaluation. There is
nothing quite like being there & hearing first-hand what top people from
a variety of specialties bring to the table. The presenters at our
evaluation conference were open & questioning, asking for clarification
from others & reevaluating in light of what they heard. We were both
impressed by the scope of the evaluation & the dedication of all
involved. We were glad we did it. It brought us both a measure of
peace.

Please let us know how your wife's second opinion goes.

Best to you both,
Fig

In article <Xns9AFBD495545BBagent01413mydejacom@216.168.3.44> ,
Figgertoes <agent01413@my-deja.com> wrote:

> Earle Jones <earle.jones@comcast.net> wrote in
> news:earle.jones-9D1D39.17251415082008@netnews.comcast.net:
>
> > In article <48A35EA1.2DCF8B08@execulink.com>, J <xewsnswex@nalid;"no>
> > wrote:
> >
> >> Earle Jones wrote:
> >>
> >> > In article <48A24530.271B9312@execulink.com>, J
> >> > <xewsnswex@nalid;"no> wrote:
> >> >
> >> > > Earle Jones wrote:
> >> > >
> >> > > > Greetings!
> >> > > >
> >> > > > Anybody here know anything about cholangiocarcinoma? -- that's
> >> > > > a cancer of the bile duct.
> >> > >
> >> > > Yes, Earle, several here know about cholangiocarcinoma.
> >> > > How may we be of help to you?
> >> > > J
> >> >
> >> > *
> >> > Thanks!
> >> >
> >> > My wife was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma back in January. She
> >> > was judged "not a candidate for surgery" for several reasons. She
> >> > has been on chemotherapy since early June. The drug is gemcitabine
> >> > HCl (trade name Gemzar). She tolerates it pretty well -- no hair
> >> > loss, very little nausea -- the chief side effect is fatigue.
> >> >
> >> > She is seeing the best oncologist at the Stanford University
> >> > Hospital / Cancer Center. I feel she is in good hands.
> >> >
> >> > Cholangiocarcinoma is pretty rare in the US. (Much more common in
> >> > Japan and the Middle East.)
> >> >
> >> > What do we have to look forward to?
> >> >
> >> > Thanks!
> >> >
> >> > earle
> >> > *
> >>
> >> Hello Earle,
> >>
> >> Chemo is very useful for certain types of cancer.
> >> It has limited value for epithelial type cancers, such as your
> >> wife's. The intent would be palliative (ie shrink the size of tumors,
> >> and improve her quality of life, by doing so).
> >> There may be some prolongation of life, as well. I haven't looked at
> >> clinical trial results (recently) for Gemzar but I believe it's the
> >> current standard of care in developed countries due to it's low side
> >> effect profile. Life Steph, I feel it's best to talk with her
> >> oncologist, since she/he has the details of the extent of your wife's
> >> cancer. There may be treatments ((surgery, radiation external or
> >> seeds) if she has surface liver mets or in one lobe, but such should
> >> be discussed with the oncologist. Blockages and/or enlarged lymph
> >> nodes can (usually) be addressed as well.
> >>
> >> Please keep us apprised as to how it's going.
> >>
> >> Thank you for some of the information you posted, on other topics.
> >> I urge you to use your filters and ignore cross-posters /topics.
> >> If you need assist, please advise your newsreader software. I'll do
> >> my best to assist.
> >>
> >> J
> >
> > *
> > To Steph and J:
> >
> > Many thanks for your responses. I have talked to our oncologist many
> > times about all of these subjects. My wife is tolerating her
> > chemotherapy (gemcitabine = Gemzar) pretty well. The major side
> > effect is fatigue. But no hair loss, not much nausea, a fever and
> > chill about once a week, and twice she has had some anemia (enough to
> > require two units of blood.)
> >
> > She is on a "three weeks on and one week off" regimen of Gemzar. She
> > has had a total of eight infusions (the most recent today). After the
> > infusion next Friday, we'll get CT scans, blood work, etc. and meet
> > with our oncologist again to decide what's next.
> >
> > My wife is feeling pretty good. Last night we went out to a friend's
> > house for dinner -- no problems. He appetite is not as good as it
> > could be but she has lost only a few pounds in the last six months.
> >
> > She has been *very* active in the past and certainly misses her hiking
> > group and other physical activities. She's going back to water
> > aerobics next week. She is now 72 years old.
> >
> > We have a daughter in Pasadena -- an eight-hour drive from our home in
> > the San Francisco area. Two grandchildren -- a beautiful girl age
> > three years and a boy of three months. We have a younger daughter --
> > a schoolteacher near here -- she's getting married in November.
> >
> > I have discussed the idea of a second opinion -- from the point of
> > view of the possibility of surgery. We will meet in a couple of weeks
> > with a gastroenterologist/surgeon at a different hospital in San
> > Francisco. I don't have much hope that he would suggest surgery, but
> > we think it's worth a try.
> >
> > I have discussed in detail (with the oncologist) the exact reasons why
> > my wife was not a candidate for surgery. She has had a long-term lung
> > infection (mycobacterium avium intracellulare) that requires a pretty
> > heavy dose of antibiotics (isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol, cipro).
> > She also tends to have an atrial arrythmia and takes amiodarone for
> > that.
> >
> > Given these co-morbidities and the extent of her cancer, I don't think
> > the surgeon will recommend surgery. As you say, the Gemzar is
> > palliative and seems to be doing the job -- so far.
> >
> > Thanks again for your response.
> >
> > BTW, I am experienced with UseNet Newsgroups and aware of the many
> > juvenile spammers that show up here. Sad.
> >
> > earle
> > *
> >
> Hi, Earle,
>
> It sounds like you have a wounderful family & I hope that gives both you
> & your wife pleasure & enjoyment. And having a wedding to look forward
> to is a special blessing too.
>
> We got a second opinion for my husband's treatment, & like you felt his
> original doctors were top notch, not doubting them, but at the same time
> this is something of critical importance. In our case, the second
> opinion by a team at the local medical school/teaching hospital pretty
> much ratified what his docs had told us. We did get some new informed
> opinions about his having an unusual number of chemo treatments, which
> he was doing b/c he was doing so well. We were able to attend the
> meeting where a number of different docs & researchers from different
> areas all came together to present & evaluate his case. They asked him a
> few questions too.
>
> Since your wife has at least 3 different conditions, I wonder if
> Stanford offers the same sort of interdisiplanary evaluation. There is
> nothing quite like being there & hearing first-hand what top people from
> a variety of specialties bring to the table. The presenters at our
> evaluation conference were open & questioning, asking for clarification
> from others & reevaluating in light of what they heard. We were both
> impressed by the scope of the evaluation & the dedication of all
> involved. We were glad we did it. It brought us both a measure of
> peace.
>
> Please let us know how your wife's second opinion goes.
>
> Best to you both,
> Fig

*
Thanks, Fig!

I dropped my wife off this morning at 10:00 at the Stanford Cancer
Clinic. She gets some blood tests before the chemo infusion -- this
time her red cell count was low and they ordered two units of blood.

The Gemzar infusion began around noon (it only takes about 45 minutes)
but they allow two hours for each unit of blood. I picked her up at
7:00 PM -- nine hours in the clinic!

The next big steps will be the CT Scan following her chemo next week and
then the second opinion, which is coming from a surgeon at UCSF.

Stanford does have a strong multidisciplinary team. My wife's primary
care physician is a pulmonologist that first diagnosed her lung
infection about 15 years ago. The gastroenterologist who did the
endoscopic stent placement, a cardiologist (atrial arrythmia), and the
oncologist team make up the group. The medical residents have been real
heroes. I do feel that we are in good hands.

I am an engineer and the former Director of the Stanford Research
Bioengineering Lab. I have worked with many physicians from all over
the US.

Thanks for your interest -- we'll keep you posted.

earle
*

In article <v4rpk.7125$hx.2271@pd7urf3no>,
"Steph" <steph@vancouvers.island> wrote:

> "Earle Jones" <earle.jones@comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:earle.jones-9D1D39.17251415082008@netnews.comcast.net...
> > In article <48A35EA1.2DCF8B08@execulink.com>, J <xewsnswex@nalid;"no>
> > wrote:
> >
> >> Earle Jones wrote:
> >>
> >> > In article <48A24530.271B9312@execulink.com>, J <xewsnswex@nalid;"no>
> >> > wrote:
> >> >
> >> > > Earle Jones wrote:
> >> > >
> >> > > > Greetings!
> >> > > >
> >> > > > Anybody here know anything about cholangiocarcinoma? -- that's a
> >> > > > cancer
> >> > > > of the bile duct.
> >> > >
> >> > > Yes, Earle, several here know about cholangiocarcinoma.
> >> > > How may we be of help to you?
> >> > > J
> >> >
> >> > *
> >> > Thanks!
> >> >
> >> > My wife was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma back in January. She was
> >> > judged "not a candidate for surgery" for several reasons. She has been
> >> > on chemotherapy since early June. The drug is gemcitabine HCl (trade
> >> > name Gemzar). She tolerates it pretty well -- no hair loss, very
> >> > little
> >> > nausea -- the chief side effect is fatigue.
> >> >
> >> > She is seeing the best oncologist at the Stanford University Hospital /
> >> > Cancer Center. I feel she is in good hands.
> >> >
> >> > Cholangiocarcinoma is pretty rare in the US. (Much more common in
> >> > Japan
> >> > and the Middle East.)
> >> >
> >> > What do we have to look forward to?
> >> >
> >> > Thanks!
> >> >
> >> > earle
> >> > *
> >>
> >> Hello Earle,
> >>
> >> Chemo is very useful for certain types of cancer.
> >> It has limited value for epithelial type cancers, such as your wife's.
> >> The intent would be palliative (ie shrink the size of tumors, and improve
> >> her
> >> quality of life, by doing so).
> >> There may be some prolongation of life, as well. I haven't looked at
> >> clinical
> >> trial results (recently) for Gemzar but I believe it's the current
> >> standard of
> >> care in developed countries due to it's low side effect profile.
> >> Life Steph, I feel it's best to talk with her oncologist, since she/he
> >> has the
> >> details of the extent of your wife's cancer.
> >> There may be treatments ((surgery, radiation external or seeds) if she
> >> has
> >> surface liver mets or in one lobe, but such should be discussed with the
> >> oncologist. Blockages and/or enlarged lymph nodes can (usually) be
> >> addressed
> >> as well.
> >>
> >> Please keep us apprised as to how it's going.
> >>
> >> Thank you for some of the information you posted, on other topics.
> >> I urge you to use your filters and ignore cross-posters /topics.
> >> If you need assist, please advise your newsreader software. I'll do my
> >> best to
> >> assist.
> >>
> >> J
> >
> > *
> > To Steph and J:
> >
> > Many thanks for your responses. I have talked to our oncologist many
> > times about all of these subjects. My wife is tolerating her
> > chemotherapy (gemcitabine = Gemzar) pretty well. The major side effect
> > is fatigue. But no hair loss, not much nausea, a fever and chill about
> > once a week, and twice she has had some anemia (enough to require two
> > units of blood.)
> >
> > She is on a "three weeks on and one week off" regimen of Gemzar. She
> > has had a total of eight infusions (the most recent today). After the
> > infusion next Friday, we'll get CT scans, blood work, etc. and meet with
> > our oncologist again to decide what's next.
> >
> > My wife is feeling pretty good. Last night we went out to a friend's
> > house for dinner -- no problems. He appetite is not as good as it could
> > be but she has lost only a few pounds in the last six months.
> >
> > She has been *very* active in the past and certainly misses her hiking
> > group and other physical activities. She's going back to water aerobics
> > next week. She is now 72 years old.
> >
> > We have a daughter in Pasadena -- an eight-hour drive from our home in
> > the San Francisco area. Two grandchildren -- a beautiful girl age three
> > years and a boy of three months. We have a younger daughter -- a
> > schoolteacher near here -- she's getting married in November.
> >
> > I have discussed the idea of a second opinion -- from the point of view
> > of the possibility of surgery. We will meet in a couple of weeks with a
> > gastroenterologist/surgeon at a different hospital in San Francisco. I
> > don't have much hope that he would suggest surgery, but we think it's
> > worth a try.
> >
> > I have discussed in detail (with the oncologist) the exact reasons why
> > my wife was not a candidate for surgery. She has had a long-term lung
> > infection (mycobacterium avium intracellulare) that requires a pretty
> > heavy dose of antibiotics (isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol, cipro). She
> > also tends to have an atrial arrythmia and takes amiodarone for that.
> >
> > Given these co-morbidities and the extent of her cancer, I don't think
> > the surgeon will recommend surgery. As you say, the Gemzar is
> > palliative and seems to be doing the job -- so far.
> >
> > Thanks again for your response.
> >
> > BTW, I am experienced with UseNet Newsgroups and aware of the many
> > juvenile spammers that show up here. Sad.
> >
> > earle
> > *
>
>
> Just be clear what the aim of treatment is.
> Gemzar is a "nice" druyg in that it tends not to have nasty side-effects

*
Steph: Thanks! Please read my response to Fig.

earle
*

"Earle Jones" <earle.jones@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:earle.jones-04A99F.22142815082008@netnews.comcast.net...
> In article <v4rpk.7125$hx.2271@pd7urf3no>,
> "Steph" <steph@vancouvers.island> wrote:
>
>> "Earle Jones" <earle.jones@comcast.net> wrote in message
>> news:earle.jones-9D1D39.17251415082008@netnews.comcast.net...
>> > In article <48A35EA1.2DCF8B08@execulink.com>, J <xewsnswex@nalid;"no>
>> > wrote:
>> >
>> >> Earle Jones wrote:
>> >>
>> >> > In article <48A24530.271B9312@execulink.com>, J
>> >> > <xewsnswex@nalid;"no>
>> >> > wrote:
>> >> >
>> >> > > Earle Jones wrote:
>> >> > >
>> >> > > > Greetings!
>> >> > > >
>> >> > > > Anybody here know anything about cholangiocarcinoma? -- that's a
>> >> > > > cancer
>> >> > > > of the bile duct.
>> >> > >
>> >> > > Yes, Earle, several here know about cholangiocarcinoma.
>> >> > > How may we be of help to you?
>> >> > > J
>> >> >
>> >> > *
>> >> > Thanks!
>> >> >
>> >> > My wife was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma back in January. She
>> >> > was
>> >> > judged "not a candidate for surgery" for several reasons. She has
>> >> > been
>> >> > on chemotherapy since early June. The drug is gemcitabine HCl
>> >> > (trade
>> >> > name Gemzar). She tolerates it pretty well -- no hair loss, very
>> >> > little
>> >> > nausea -- the chief side effect is fatigue.
>> >> >
>> >> > She is seeing the best oncologist at the Stanford University
>> >> > Hospital /
>> >> > Cancer Center. I feel she is in good hands.
>> >> >
>> >> > Cholangiocarcinoma is pretty rare in the US. (Much more common in
>> >> > Japan
>> >> > and the Middle East.)
>> >> >
>> >> > What do we have to look forward to?
>> >> >
>> >> > Thanks!
>> >> >
>> >> > earle
>> >> > *
>> >>
>> >> Hello Earle,
>> >>
>> >> Chemo is very useful for certain types of cancer.
>> >> It has limited value for epithelial type cancers, such as your wife's.
>> >> The intent would be palliative (ie shrink the size of tumors, and
>> >> improve
>> >> her
>> >> quality of life, by doing so).
>> >> There may be some prolongation of life, as well. I haven't looked at
>> >> clinical
>> >> trial results (recently) for Gemzar but I believe it's the current
>> >> standard of
>> >> care in developed countries due to it's low side effect profile.
>> >> Life Steph, I feel it's best to talk with her oncologist, since she/he
>> >> has the
>> >> details of the extent of your wife's cancer.
>> >> There may be treatments ((surgery, radiation external or seeds) if she
>> >> has
>> >> surface liver mets or in one lobe, but such should be discussed with
>> >> the
>> >> oncologist. Blockages and/or enlarged lymph nodes can (usually) be
>> >> addressed
>> >> as well.
>> >>
>> >> Please keep us apprised as to how it's going.
>> >>
>> >> Thank you for some of the information you posted, on other topics.
>> >> I urge you to use your filters and ignore cross-posters /topics.
>> >> If you need assist, please advise your newsreader software. I'll do my
>> >> best to
>> >> assist.
>> >>
>> >> J
>> >
>> > *
>> > To Steph and J:
>> >
>> > Many thanks for your responses. I have talked to our oncologist many
>> > times about all of these subjects. My wife is tolerating her
>> > chemotherapy (gemcitabine = Gemzar) pretty well. The major side effect
>> > is fatigue. But no hair loss, not much nausea, a fever and chill about
>> > once a week, and twice she has had some anemia (enough to require two
>> > units of blood.)
>> >
>> > She is on a "three weeks on and one week off" regimen of Gemzar. She
>> > has had a total of eight infusions (the most recent today). After the
>> > infusion next Friday, we'll get CT scans, blood work, etc. and meet
>> > with
>> > our oncologist again to decide what's next.
>> >
>> > My wife is feeling pretty good. Last night we went out to a friend's
>> > house for dinner -- no problems. He appetite is not as good as it
>> > could
>> > be but she has lost only a few pounds in the last six months.
>> >
>> > She has been *very* active in the past and certainly misses her hiking
>> > group and other physical activities. She's going back to water
>> > aerobics
>> > next week. She is now 72 years old.
>> >
>> > We have a daughter in Pasadena -- an eight-hour drive from our home in
>> > the San Francisco area. Two grandchildren -- a beautiful girl age
>> > three
>> > years and a boy of three months. We have a younger daughter -- a
>> > schoolteacher near here -- she's getting married in November.
>> >
>> > I have discussed the idea of a second opinion -- from the point of view
>> > of the possibility of surgery. We will meet in a couple of weeks with
>> > a
>> > gastroenterologist/surgeon at a different hospital in San Francisco. I
>> > don't have much hope that he would suggest surgery, but we think it's
>> > worth a try.
>> >
>> > I have discussed in detail (with the oncologist) the exact reasons why
>> > my wife was not a candidate for surgery. She has had a long-term lung
>> > infection (mycobacterium avium intracellulare) that requires a pretty
>> > heavy dose of antibiotics (isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol, cipro).
>> > She
>> > also tends to have an atrial arrythmia and takes amiodarone for that.
>> >
>> > Given these co-morbidities and the extent of her cancer, I don't think
>> > the surgeon will recommend surgery. As you say, the Gemzar is
>> > palliative and seems to be doing the job -- so far.
>> >
>> > Thanks again for your response.
>> >
>> > BTW, I am experienced with UseNet Newsgroups and aware of the many
>> > juvenile spammers that show up here. Sad.
>> >
>> > earle
>> > *
>>
>>
>> Just be clear what the aim of treatment is.
>> Gemzar is a "nice" druyg in that it tends not to have nasty side-effects
>
> *
> Steph: Thanks! Please read my response to Fig.
>
> earle
> *

There are nly 3 reasons to take treatment:
1 Is there a realistic chance of cure?
2) If not cure, is there a realistic chance of increased life expectancy?
3 ) If not, is there a realistic chance of improvement of quality of life?

Which are you expecting?

Earle Jones <earle.jones@comcast.net> wrote in
news:earle.jones-CA8510.22115415082008@netnews.comcast.net:

> In article <Xns9AFBD495545BBagent01413mydejacom@216.168.3.44> ,
> Figgertoes <agent01413@my-deja.com> wrote:
>
>> Earle Jones <earle.jones@comcast.net> wrote in
>> news:earle.jones-9D1D39.17251415082008@netnews.comcast.net:
>>
>> > In article <48A35EA1.2DCF8B08@execulink.com>, J
>> > <xewsnswex@nalid;"no> wrote:
>> >
>> >> Earle Jones wrote:
>> >>
>> >> > In article <48A24530.271B9312@execulink.com>, J
>> >> > <xewsnswex@nalid;"no> wrote:
>> >> >
>> >> > > Earle Jones wrote:
>> >> > >
>> >> > > > Greetings!
>> >> > > >
>> >> > > > Anybody here know anything about cholangiocarcinoma? --
>> >> > > > that's a cancer of the bile duct.
>> >> > >
>> >> > > Yes, Earle, several here know about cholangiocarcinoma.
>> >> > > How may we be of help to you?
>> >> > > J
>> >> >
>> >> > *
>> >> > Thanks!
>> >> >
>> >> > My wife was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma back in January.
>> >> > She was judged "not a candidate for surgery" for several
>> >> > reasons. She has been on chemotherapy since early June. The
>> >> > drug is gemcitabine HCl (trade name Gemzar). She tolerates it
>> >> > pretty well -- no hair loss, very little nausea -- the chief
>> >> > side effect is fatigue.
>> >> >
>> >> > She is seeing the best oncologist at the Stanford University
>> >> > Hospital / Cancer Center. I feel she is in good hands.
>> >> >
>> >> > Cholangiocarcinoma is pretty rare in the US. (Much more common
>> >> > in Japan and the Middle East.)
>> >> >
>> >> > What do we have to look forward to?
>> >> >
>> >> > Thanks!
>> >> >
>> >> > earle
>> >> > *
>> >>
>> >> Hello Earle,
>> >>
>> >> Chemo is very useful for certain types of cancer.
>> >> It has limited value for epithelial type cancers, such as your
>> >> wife's. The intent would be palliative (ie shrink the size of
>> >> tumors, and improve her quality of life, by doing so).
>> >> There may be some prolongation of life, as well. I haven't looked
>> >> at clinical trial results (recently) for Gemzar but I believe it's
>> >> the current standard of care in developed countries due to it's
>> >> low side effect profile. Life Steph, I feel it's best to talk with
>> >> her oncologist, since she/he has the details of the extent of your
>> >> wife's cancer. There may be treatments ((surgery, radiation
>> >> external or seeds) if she has surface liver mets or in one lobe,
>> >> but such should be discussed with the oncologist. Blockages
>> >> and/or enlarged lymph nodes can (usually) be addressed as well.
>> >>
>> >> Please keep us apprised as to how it's going.
>> >>
>> >> Thank you for some of the information you posted, on other topics.
>> >> I urge you to use your filters and ignore cross-posters /topics.
>> >> If you need assist, please advise your newsreader software. I'll
>> >> do my best to assist.
>> >>
>> >> J
>> >
>> > *
>> > To Steph and J:
>> >
>> > Many thanks for your responses. I have talked to our oncologist
>> > many times about all of these subjects. My wife is tolerating her
>> > chemotherapy (gemcitabine = Gemzar) pretty well. The major side
>> > effect is fatigue. But no hair loss, not much nausea, a fever and
>> > chill about once a week, and twice she has had some anemia (enough
>> > to require two units of blood.)
>> >
>> > She is on a "three weeks on and one week off" regimen of Gemzar.
>> > She has had a total of eight infusions (the most recent today).
>> > After the infusion next Friday, we'll get CT scans, blood work,
>> > etc. and meet with our oncologist again to decide what's next.
>> >
>> > My wife is feeling pretty good. Last night we went out to a
>> > friend's house for dinner -- no problems. He appetite is not as
>> > good as it could be but she has lost only a few pounds in the last
>> > six months.
>> >
>> > She has been *very* active in the past and certainly misses her
>> > hiking group and other physical activities. She's going back to
>> > water aerobics next week. She is now 72 years old.
>> >
>> > We have a daughter in Pasadena -- an eight-hour drive from our home
>> > in the San Francisco area. Two grandchildren -- a beautiful girl
>> > age three years and a boy of three months. We have a younger
>> > daughter -- a schoolteacher near here -- she's getting married in
>> > November.
>> >
>> > I have discussed the idea of a second opinion -- from the point of
>> > view of the possibility of surgery. We will meet in a couple of
>> > weeks with a gastroenterologist/surgeon at a different hospital in
>> > San Francisco. I don't have much hope that he would suggest
>> > surgery, but we think it's worth a try.
>> >
>> > I have discussed in detail (with the oncologist) the exact reasons
>> > why my wife was not a candidate for surgery. She has had a
>> > long-term lung infection (mycobacterium avium intracellulare) that
>> > requires a pretty heavy dose of antibiotics (isoniazid, rifampin,
>> > ethambutol, cipro). She also tends to have an atrial arrythmia and
>> > takes amiodarone for that.
>> >
>> > Given these co-morbidities and the extent of her cancer, I don't
>> > think the surgeon will recommend surgery. As you say, the Gemzar
>> > is palliative and seems to be doing the job -- so far.
>> >
>> > Thanks again for your response.
>> >
>> > BTW, I am experienced with UseNet Newsgroups and aware of the many
>> > juvenile spammers that show up here. Sad.
>> >
>> > earle
>> > *
>> >
>> Hi, Earle,
>>
>> It sounds like you have a wounderful family & I hope that gives both
>> you & your wife pleasure & enjoyment. And having a wedding to look
>> forward to is a special blessing too.
>>
>> We got a second opinion for my husband's treatment, & like you felt
>> his original doctors were top notch, not doubting them, but at the
>> same time this is something of critical importance. In our case, the
>> second opinion by a team at the local medical school/teaching
>> hospital pretty much ratified what his docs had told us. We did get
>> some new informed opinions about his having an unusual number of
>> chemo treatments, which he was doing b/c he was doing so well. We
>> were able to attend the meeting where a number of different docs &
>> researchers from different areas all came together to present &
>> evaluate his case. They asked him a few questions too.
>>
>> Since your wife has at least 3 different conditions, I wonder if
>> Stanford offers the same sort of interdisiplanary evaluation. There
>> is nothing quite like being there & hearing first-hand what top
>> people from a variety of specialties bring to the table. The
>> presenters at our evaluation conference were open & questioning,
>> asking for clarification from others & reevaluating in light of what
>> they heard. We were both impressed by the scope of the evaluation &
>> the dedication of all involved. We were glad we did it. It brought
>> us both a measure of peace.
>>
>> Please let us know how your wife's second opinion goes.
>>
>> Best to you both,
>> Fig
>
> *
> Thanks, Fig!
>
> I dropped my wife off this morning at 10:00 at the Stanford Cancer
> Clinic. She gets some blood tests before the chemo infusion -- this
> time her red cell count was low and they ordered two units of blood.
>
> The Gemzar infusion began around noon (it only takes about 45 minutes)
> but they allow two hours for each unit of blood. I picked her up at
> 7:00 PM -- nine hours in the clinic!
>
> The next big steps will be the CT Scan following her chemo next week
> and then the second opinion, which is coming from a surgeon at UCSF.
>
> Stanford does have a strong multidisciplinary team. My wife's primary
> care physician is a pulmonologist that first diagnosed her lung
> infection about 15 years ago. The gastroenterologist who did the
> endoscopic stent placement, a cardiologist (atrial arrythmia), and the
> oncologist team make up the group. The medical residents have been
> real heroes. I do feel that we are in good hands.
>
> I am an engineer and the former Director of the Stanford Research
> Bioengineering Lab. I have worked with many physicians from all over
> the US.
>
> Thanks for your interest -- we'll keep you posted.
>
> earle
> *
>

Earle,

I received my MBA from Stanford decades ago & have fond memories! It's
a wonderful school, but I have no first-hand knowledge of the medical
part. Can't imagine anything short of top notch.

Long day, yes. I hope a relaxing evening.

Socks self-injected with Neupogen to bring up his counts, but I think it
was white, not red blood cells that were low. The more chemo
treatments, the longer the recovery time, as a general rule. A couple
of times they delayed the chemo a day ar 2 when blood counts were a tad
too low. Betsy here has had similar as I recall.

I hope your wife is able to resume her physical activity, even on a
limited basis.

Looks like a busy appointment schedule. I hope you find time/energy for
fun thing that take your minds away. It is easy to get caught up in the
medical side of things. Important too to partake of those things that
remind you of all the good life has to offer.

In Sock's case, we soon learned he had one bad day following chemo - 2nd
day after, so we planned around that. We worked in lots of trips,
domestic & foreign. Cruises were easy & the staff very accommodating of
his need to go ashore for pre-arranged bloodwork, even provided a
car/driver (& we booked standard cabins, not the luxury suites). Any
time he needed to nap, he could, & activities were footsteps away when
he woke up. Much easier than things here in town. Great memories!

Fig

*
Last Winter my wife was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma -- a fairly
rare bile-duct cancer. (Estimated incidence in the US is one in
100,000) She was hospitalized at Stanford for tests and treatment and
spent some time in re-hab. She began a series of chemotherapy
treatments (gemcitabine = Gemzar) in June and continued them in July and
August.

We sought a second opinion from a UCSF cancer surgeon who verified that
she was not a candidate for surgery (she had several co-morbidities but
the primary reason was the extent of the disease as shown by CT-scan.)

In early September, she had some pain and a fever. We took her to the
Stanford Cancer Clinic for more tests. Her white-cell count was very
high, indicating the presence of an infection. She was hospitalized for
about a week and given several antibiotics by IV.

The infection was not improving and she chose to come home under hospice
care. We arranged a hospital bed in our family room, which has good
morning light and opens to our deck with trees, flowers, and birds.

The hospice nurses were great -- they took care of her extremely well.
She was having some labored breathing in the afternoon and we gave her
some inhalation and nebulizer treatments. She passed a fitful night --
our daughter and my wife's sister and I gave her oral morphine several
times that night. She died on Friday, Sept. 19 at around 9:30 AM. The
Neptune Society took care of all the proceedings and conducted the
cremation. Just like the hospice group, the Neptune Society were
thoroughly professional.

I was happy that all of our family could be there to support each other.
Both my daughters and two grandchildren were much help to me.

My readings tell me that cholangiocarcinoma is a particularly insidious
disease. More than three-quarters of the cases are inoperable at the
time of diagnosis. Early detection would be ideal, but there is no
convenient way to screen for it. By the time symptoms appear (typically
the jaundice of a blocked bile duct) the disease is extensive.

earle
*

"Earle Jones" <earle.jones@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:earle.jones-46852A.10382809102008@netnews.comcast.net...
| *
| Last Winter my wife was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma -- a fairly
| rare bile-duct cancer. (Estimated incidence in the US is one in
| 100,000) She was hospitalized at Stanford for tests and treatment and
| spent some time in re-hab. She began a series of chemotherapy
| treatments (gemcitabine = Gemzar) in June and continued them in July and
| August.
|

|
| The infection was not improving and she chose to come home under hospice
| care. We arranged a hospital bed in our family room, which has good
| morning light and opens to our deck with trees, flowers, and birds.
|
She passed a fitful night --
| our daughter and my wife's sister and I gave her oral morphine several
| times that night. She died on Friday, Sept. 19 at around 9:30 AM. The
| Neptune Society took care of all the proceedings and conducted the
| cremation. Just like the hospice group, the Neptune Society were
| thoroughly professional.
|
| I was happy that all of our family could be there to support each other.
| Both my daughters and two grandchildren were much help to me.
|
|
| earle




Earle, I'm very sorry to learn of your wife's passing.
Sincere condolences and sympathy to you and your family.
You did all you could : it was good she had here loved ones
around her as she went.

Bill.

Earle Jones wrote:

> Last Winter my wife was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma -- a fairly
> rare bile-duct cancer. (Estimated incidence in the US is one in
> 100,000) She was hospitalized at Stanford for tests and treatment and
> spent some time in re-hab. She began a series of chemotherapy
> treatments (gemcitabine = Gemzar) in June and continued them in July and
> August.
>
> I was happy that all of our family could be there to support each other.
> Both my daughters and two grandchildren were much help to me.
>
> My readings tell me that cholangiocarcinoma is a particularly insidious
> disease. More than three-quarters of the cases are inoperable at the
> time of diagnosis. Early detection would be ideal, but there is no
> convenient way to screen for it. By the time symptoms appear (typically
> the jaundice of a blocked bile duct) the disease is extensive.

Deepest sympathy, Earle.
I'm sure you all did everything possible for your wife, during her
illnesses.
I'm sorry she didn't make it for the wedding.
There'll always be an empty place at family events, but you'll have happier
memories and a growing family to help you through.
J

On Oct 9, 1:44*pm, "Old Bill" <matb...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> "Earle Jones" <earle.jo...@comcast.net> wrote in message
>
> news:earle.jones-46852A.10382809102008@netnews.comcast.net...
> | *
> | Last Winter my wife was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma -- a fairly
> | rare bile-duct cancer. *(Estimated incidence in the US is one in
> | 100,000) She was hospitalized at Stanford for tests and treatment and
> | spent some time in re-hab. *She began a series of chemotherapy
> | treatments (gemcitabine = Gemzar) in June and continued them in July and
> | August.
> |
>
> |
> | The infection was not improving and she chose to come home under hospice
> | care. *We arranged a hospital bed in our family room, which has good
> | morning light and opens to our deck with trees, flowers, and birds.
> |
> * She passed a fitful night --
> | our daughter and my wife's sister and I gave her oral morphine several
> | times that night. *She died on Friday, Sept. 19 at around 9:30 AM. *The
> | Neptune Society took care of all the proceedings and conducted the
> | cremation. *Just like the hospice group, the Neptune Society were
> | thoroughly professional.
> |
> | I was happy that all of our family could be there to support each other..
> | Both my daughters and two grandchildren were much help to me.
> |
> |
> | earle
>
> * * * *Earle, I'm very sorry to learn of your wife's passing.
> * * * *Sincere condolences and sympathy to you and your family.
> * * * *You did all you could : it was good she had here loved ones
> * * * *around her as she went.
>
> * * * Bill.

Earle, I'm very sorry for your loss. You have my deepest sympathy.
Please feel free to continue here at asc, and know you have the
support and condolences of many here.

---
CSM