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Gastroenterology (Expert Forum)
Tumor in main bile duct and liver cancer, HELP!!
This forum is for questions regarding Gastroenterology issues such as Acid Reflux (GERD), Barretts Esophagus, Colitis, Colon/Bowel Disorders, Crohn's Disease, Diverticulitis/Diverticulosis, Digestive Disorders, IBS, Stomach Pain.
Tumor in main bile duct and liver cancer, HELP!!
by Qingyun-Xie, Aug 31, 1998 12:00AM
Dear Sir/Madam, I am in an urgent call for your help.
My dear brother-in-law, Chinese, 45 years old, is in very serious
illness in China right now. During this mid July, he began to
feel chest swelling and abdominal distension, less physical
strength and his skin was becoming yellow. He thought it was
just a stomach trouble and continued on working. On August 5,
he had to go to hospital. The jaundice index was over 200 at
that time and it was always changing. Things became worse and
worse. After 15 days, the jaundice index was 480 and he felt
stronger ache in the place of his liver or stomach. The doctors
made their great effort.
On August 26, they made a surgery and was very surprised to find
that there is a big tumor in the bile duct which is like an egg,
and because of this the liver has some tumors too. On the surface
of the liver there are many blisters. He also got a light
pancreatitis. The diagnosis is tumor in main bile duct and
advanced liver cancer. His doctors tried to draw bile from
his liver yesterday afternoon(August 29), but they failed.
They gave up their efforts and said there are at most 15 days
for him. He is in worse condition. His palpitation slowed down and
oxygen therapy is being provided now.
All of us, including my sister, our parents and my brother-in-law
's collegues, can not believe it when we heard this sudden bad
news. This is mostly because of his good health condition
during the past year. We are filled with deep sorrow.
He needs to support the living of his grandfather and parents
(farmers, no retirement pay), his two younger daughters(15 and
11 years old respectively)and his wife(my elder sister, a judge,
didn't work for several years because of illness).
Is there really no method to save his life? How to save his life?
What can we do now? Everybody of us believe there be some methods
over there which can save his life. I sincerely hope you can help
me to find the cure methods.
Any suggestion, advice and help are greatly appreciated.
Qingyun Xie
An international graduate student at UMass Boston
Email: ***@****
Tel: 617-2657791(home)
617-2875287(lab)
__________
Dear Qingyun Xie,
Cancers of the bile duct are very difficult to treat. They often grow slowly and involve vital organs so that they can not be surgically removed once they have been identified. Reading your posting it appears that he has had a rapid downhill course and is now having respiratory compromise.
I am not certain that the Chinese physicians have very many options. Placing a tube in the liver to allow drainage of the bile would improve his sense of well being but will not prolong his life. Ifyour brother-in-law's condition was better and if he did not have liover involvement, one would consider a multi-modality approach with surgery, radiation therapy and possibly chemotherapy. Based on what you write, I doubt that this is an option for him.
This information is presented for educational purposes only. Always consult your personal physician for specific medical questions.
HFHSM.D.-rf
*keywords: bile duct cancer
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