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  • Carol1220
    Carol1220 Member Posts: 402
    edited October 2007

    Kim, So sorry to hear about your father in law. It's terribly shocking news no matter who receives it. Prayers coming your way for him and your family. Carol

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  • lkc
    lkc Member Posts: 1,203
    edited October 2007

    Kim, I have added your FIL to my prayers.

    Please try not to worry, have faith

    Wait until there is a definitive dx.

    Take care and let us know.

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  • kimf
    kimf Member Posts: 334
    edited October 2007

    Well, the Oncologist appt yesterday for my FIL didn't go so well. He has a large mass encompassing his gall bladder and bile duct, involving the liver as well, that is suffocating the common bile duct. The mass is most likely malignant, either originating in the gall bladder, but more likely a very rare cancer that starts in the bile duct called Cholangiocarcinoma. There will be a biopsy to confirm this. He has a fever and infection, so they want to treat him right away and admitted him into the hospital yesterday afternoon. The Resident Surgeon that I met last night said they will most likely put a stint into the bile duct to open the passageway to help the bile move. He is very jaundice right now and we know that his liver function isn't great. All his symptoms, weight loss, fatigue, jaundice, a sense of fullness...he has them all. The worst ...they found a spot on his liver that appears to be a metastasis. Ugh! I can't believe this.

    Keep the pos vibes and prayers coming. We need them!

    Thanks for your encouraging words.

    Kim

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  • Bugs
    Bugs Member Posts: 1,719
    edited October 2007

    So sorry to hear this latest news on your FIL.  I will keep him in my prayers.

    Take care,

    Bugs

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  • Carol1220
    Carol1220 Member Posts: 402
    edited October 2007

    Kim, I am so sorry to hear this news. I will continue to keep all of you in my prayers. Carol

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  • kimf
    kimf Member Posts: 334
    edited October 2007

    Yesterday was okay with my FIL. He had another CT scan (they wanted their own..you know how hospitals are). They are doing the biopsy this morning. It will be a fine needle biopsy - hoping for the pathology by Monday. On Monday they will put the stint in, too. I've been reading a lot and trying to learn as much as I can as quickly as possible to help them through this. They are not great with computers. I'm printing articles from Memorial Sloan Kettering and Hopkins hoping the information is valid. Generally, if the tumor is inoperable, it might not go well. Yesterday, the surgeon told my FIL it was inoperable. So... you know.  I had to tell him yesterday that they found a spot on his liver that might be a metastasis. He didn't know that. Do you think that is possible? They didn't tell him? Or that he just didn't understand it when the Onc explained the MRI results? This is frustrating.

     I'll let you know more when I know.

    Thanks for the prayers.

    Kim

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  • lkc
    lkc Member Posts: 1,203
    edited October 2007

    Hi KIm,

    Just wanted to give you some info. my mom had placement of a stent for an obstruction of her bile duct.

    She was very jaundiced and her abdomen was very very large due to a build up of fluid called ascites.

    Anyway, the proceedure does not take too  take long, I would advise that your FIL be put under anesthesia as it is a painful procedure. Often times they do not anesthetize patients, as the procedue is done in the radiology lab. But I would insist for his comfort that he be put out.

    After the proceedure, my mom improved very quickly, and was discharged within a week.

    She was back to her old self

    She had mutiple mets in her liver. She did pass away but the procedure enormously helped in making her more comfortable.

    God Bless  Kim.

    I will keep you and your family in my prayers.

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  • kimf
    kimf Member Posts: 334
    edited October 2007

    Thanks VV, it is hard being the dil and not knowing how much I should say, or not say. Linda, I will be in touch! You are going to be an excellent source of info, I can tell. Thank you for your thoughts!

    I am very outspoken and usually try to say it politically correct, but still, this is hard. The latest....they did the biopsy on Friday and sent my fil home. He wasn't resting well in the hospital so they sent him home to await the biopsy results. I thought they would do the stint by Monday, but they said they are waiting for the biopsy results. Why? The stint is necessary no matter what, so why wait? I'm worried they will determine that it has progressed too far already and that they aren't going to insert the stint. Instead, they are suggesting draining the fluid to relieve him a bit. I think that is crap. They should be putting the stint in for long term relief.

    His care coordinator happens to be a family friend, the only one at the cancer center, so she will be honest with me, I believe. My MIL doesn't get it. She said, "if it was serious" a few times and I wanted to strangle her. WTF does it have to be to be classified as serious to her????

    Okay, one piece of good news....most of you know I'm a huge Springsteen fan. I've seen him dozens of times. Friday night, Pete, my brother Dave, and I went into Philly and saw him, which was great. But even better, we went back in town last night for night #2 in Philly and brought my boys!  I was so psyched! They are fans by default..they haven't had the chance to not be! They had a blast. I was tickled to be able to share the night with them.

    Now for the last bit of potentially bad news. God, does it ever end? My brother Dave...who is one of my best friends. We have the same group of friends from high school, we went to college together, we lived together after college...you get the picture. Anyway...he has had two surgeries for diverticulitis and was told he wouldn't have any more problems after the last surgery. Two weeks ago he started having pain, so went for a CT scan immediately. Friday before the concert he went to see is PCP who told him his colon looks clean, but there is a 5 mm "something" on his left lung. Can you freakin believe that? Now he has to have another CT and a chest Xray. He was never a smoke, thank God, so we are really, really hopeful this is nothing. If it is something, I am going to completely lose it. This is just too much. I'm overwhelmed. And I don't like being overwhelmed. Not at all.

    I'm off to visit my fil and have some homemade italian pasta for dinner. Be envious! The one thing my mil can do well is cook some mean spaghetti!

    Thanks for letting me vent.

    Kim

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  • Carol1220
    Carol1220 Member Posts: 402
    edited October 2007

    Kim, This is really too much. I will keep your brother in my prayers and hoping this is nothing. Sometimes it's just hard to believe we can hear any more bad news. I am praying for your strength too.

    I am also a huge Springsteen fan. So glad you got tickets! I wasn't able to get tickets for this last tour but hoping that he will add dates. Hang in there, hope your FIL is resting comfortably.

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  • lkc
    lkc Member Posts: 1,203
    edited October 2007

    KIm,

    It all sucks ( except for the Springsteen bit ) Alot of times family members simply can not cope with what they are confronted with.

    I think that may be the case with your MIL.

    They will not do the stent, if he is medically unsatble,a nd unable to tolerate the procedure,

    or if the they feel due to disease progression it, the procedure will not prolong his life expectancy.

    I can certainly understand you're feelings of wanting them to go forward with the proceedure.

    Take Care,

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  • Fitztwins
    Fitztwins Member Posts: 7,969
    edited October 2007

    Wow, Kim, Coming in late. Haven't visited this thread in a while.

    yeah on your clean scans

    Sorry to hear about FIL

    Janis

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  • nowheregirl
    nowheregirl Member Posts: 894
    edited October 2007

    Hi gals,

    I am sorry if I am intruding but I just wanted to check in on my dear friends although I am not a part of the sisterhood that has been built here. Sadly I don't see you gals as often as I did before and am guessing that you have been talking to one another in your own private group. But please, please do come back here from time to time or else I will have to miss you like crazy.

    Wishing each and everyone the highest good,

    Fumi

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  • kimf
    kimf Member Posts: 334
    edited October 2007

    Fumi,

    You would never be an intruder! How are you? I don't come to the boards much since the change. I find it challenging and really only check in here every now and then. How is everything in Japan? What have been up to? How is your health?

    I just had a recent bone scan and all is clear. See my Onc next month and it will have been the first time I had a six month span between appts. So, all is well with me. I hope the same for you!

    Thanks for checking in....I'll try to check back more often, but really have been so distracted on the new forum that it discourages me! Ugh!

    Kim

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  • Bugs
    Bugs Member Posts: 1,719
    edited November 2007

    Fumi...you are a much loved member on this board...never think you are intruding for checking up on us!!

    I don't have much of an update.  Life is normal and boring (dang, I LOVE saying that).  Oh...here is a new one for me.  I am researching reconstruction.  I have been to BethNY's new site breastreconstruction.org and I LOVE it..very informative.  I am even thinking of making an appt with a PS for a consult.

    Take care,

    Bugs 

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  • kimf
    kimf Member Posts: 334
    edited November 2007

    Hi friends,

    Yeah Bugs for thinking about recon. I never regretted my tram, but I wish I had the guts to have my other breast lifted to match. One day....

    I mentioned several times that my father in law is really sick. The doctors are thinking he has cholangiocarcinoma, i.e.: bile duct cancer, but they have been unsuccessful in obtaining a biopsy. He did have a drainage tube inserted to drain the bile that had backing up. It was working and his bilirubin level was reducing, but a few days ago he took a bad turn. He wouldn't eat or drink, wanted to only sleep, didn't communicate well. I walked in yesterday and he looked terrible. I used his blood pressure cuff and tried 4 times to get a reading and it wouldn't pick anything up. I rushed him to the hospital and his bp was 77/45. Turns out, he was so severely dehydrated since he was refusing to eat and drink that he went into renal failure. They've been able to stablize him with IV & antibiotics, but his kidneys have not started working (24 hours later) so he might be facing dialysis within the next day. He also is going through a slew of tests to determine what else is wrong. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers this weekend.

    Thanks so much,

    Kim

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  • Carol1220
    Carol1220 Member Posts: 402
    edited November 2007

    Kim, I am so sorry your father in law is suffering.  He is so fortunate to have you there to help. It's such a shame to see our parents go through things like this, I hope he is able to rest comfortably.  Have a good weekend, Carol

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  • janie44
    janie44 Member Posts: 1,460
    edited November 2007

    Kim,

    I am so sorry to hear your FIL is still having so much trouble.  He will be in my prayers.

    Hey Fumi,  good to hear from you!

    I am a little over three and one half years out now and still dancing with NED.  The lymphedema and early onset of Parkinson's caused by treatment are constant daily reminders, but it beats the alternative and the dismal initial prognosis that has since improved greatly.....and I am still functioning in a "normal" everyday life.

    Just wanted to stop in to check on and say hello to my stage 3 sisters.  Hope all is well with each and every one of you.

    Hugs,

    Janie

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  • maryannecb
    maryannecb Member Posts: 1,453
    edited November 2007

    Kim. I hope your FIL turns a corner to recovery.

    Hi Janie, good to hear from you and glad all is well.

    Fists up!

    Mary-Anne 

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  • nowheregirl
    nowheregirl Member Posts: 894
    edited November 2007

    Hi my dear stage III sisters,

    Thank you for the warm welcome. I really appreciate it and am honored to be here with you all.

    Kim: I am sorry about your FIL. I will keep him in my thoughts.

    Thankfully and finally our ultra super long summer seems to be gone. I don't have to deal with the crazy heat anymore when I am hot enough with those stinky hot flashes. These past couple of weeks have been hectic. First one of dear friends I met here called Donna (aka djd) came over here for holidays and we got to see each other in person. How wonderful is that? I still can't believe that we shared so much fun together. I will forever treasure every single moment I shared with her. Oh and congrats on the clean scans!

    Victoria: You never cease to amaze me with your maturity and not only you are a talented artist, but are a special writer. Every single word you say just makes me nod. By the way your new avatar looks fab. It's the best one of you in my opinion. That lovely and beautiful smile just tells us what a sweet person you are.

    Bugs: I am not sure if you know but I set up a message board two years ago at someone's request here and we have veen sharing our bald or reconstruction pictures with one another (not anonymously so you can actually ask questions or share your opinions), just like we share various pictures here on BCO. It's a password protected private board but I can give you access if you want. PM me anytime if you're interested.

    Oops, looks like my time is up. Janie, Janis, Mary-Ann, Carl, SherriG, Kari, Linda, Stephanie or whoever my chemo brain can't recall the names, you are all in my thoughts.

    xo

    Fumi

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  • kimf
    kimf Member Posts: 334
    edited November 2007

    Thanks everyone. Hey Fumi! Cool that Donna came over and you two got to hang out. That's the best isn't it? Wish I was coming to visit!  Next time I'm in Japan I'll let you know, okay?

    My father in law is doing a bit better. He is still on dialysis, but there is improvement with his kidneys. He has stablized enough that the doctors are going to do dialysis tomorrow morning, then do the laproscopic biopsy afterward (not sure what time). It seems like a lot for him since he is really just back to eating and can barely stand he is so weak, but we have to find out what is causing all this so he can be treated. If it is cancer, then chemo can begin. If it isn't, then surgery seems the logical choice. Either way, I'm very worried since he is so weak, but he's a fighter. I can see where my dh gets his drive from that's for sure.

    I'm off to put the kiddies to bed. Take care,

    Kim

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  • kimf
    kimf Member Posts: 334
    edited December 2007

    Just dropping in to say hello and wish everyone a wonderful holiday season. I miss talking with you all! We've been so busy at home but I think of you all the time. I hope this finds everyone feeling well and enjoying this joyous season.

    Merry Christmas

    Kimf

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  • Heidi521
    Heidi521 Member Posts: 46
    edited December 2007

    Hi everyone-

    Just checking in to let you know I think of all of you and lurk every now and then

    Kim I am sorry to hear about what your FIL is going through. Thank goodness he has you!

    We have gotten busy, like we didn't say we would get again, but it is so much fun living life!

    Othe rthan fighting off an upper respiratory infection we are doing well. Jeremy will be five in February and starting school next year. It is hard to believe.

    We were in Disney over thanksgiving because my husband's choral group sang in the candlelight processional. It was incredible, very inspiring!

    Hope you all have a wonderful holiday. I still pray for you all every night!

    Heidi

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  • MLizA
    MLizA Member Posts: 33
    edited December 2007

    Ladies,  as a relatively newly diagnosed Stage III, I want you to know how much strength I draw from reading about your stories and your journeys.  You are an inspiration for me as I start my journey!

    Linda

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  • maryannecb
    maryannecb Member Posts: 1,453
    edited December 2007

    Hi all,



    I am doing well too. I just had recon on my mastectomy side last moth so am off for the holidays. My recent check ups went well. I will be visiting my DH family in Switzerland for the holidays. My children will be visiting their Dad in Ohio, I'll msss them. We did an early Xmas on the weekend complete with Santa, gfts and the full dinner. I kind of feel like Christmas is over. LOL.



    It is hard to believe that over two years ago I started on this journey. I am so grateful to have my health and to have continued on with my work.



    I wish you all a Merry Christmas and thank you all for your continued supportas stage Three'ers.



    Fists up!



    Mary-Anne

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  • Annaanne
    Annaanne Member Posts: 190
    edited December 2007

    Wishing everyone a joyful holiday!

    I'm another stage 3er. I discovered this site about 2 years ago, after completing 6 months of neoadjuvant chemo and then surgery. For you newbies -- I had lots of really bad news 2 years ago, and yet here I am, totally healthy and thriving and expecting to stay that way.

    I don't post much, but browse often. Thank you ladies, for sharing your journies and support. And to the new gals -- you can see how many of us have fully regained our health and our peace of mind. You will too.

    Annaanne

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  • Carol1220
    Carol1220 Member Posts: 402
    edited December 2007

    Hi Everyone, Just want to wish you all Happy Holidays. I check here often but don't post as much.   I am so glad to see that you all are doing so well. Carol

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  • lkc
    lkc Member Posts: 1,203
    edited December 2007

    HI ladies,

    just wanted to add my happy holiday's to you all! I rarely come on these boards, but check in occasionially and particualrly think of the sisters who helped me so much when I first found this site and was nutso. For the new ladies: come here often, It's a great forum, where you'll receive accurate information and tons of reassurance.

    God Bless you all !

    Janis: Have a wonderful  holiday  with the boys and your family!

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  • Zzap
    Zzap Member Posts: 77
    edited December 2007

     I'm glad to see everyone here doing well.  I haven't had much time to spend reading and posting with work and school, but I'm trying to catch up while on break between semesters.  I just finished my last Herceptin two weeks ago, and passed my one year mark at the end of October.  I'm starting to think a little bit about reconstruction on my mast side, but I'm finding that there aren't any plastic surgeons in the Lansing, Michigan area known for doing good work on mast/radiated breasts, and nobody does flap procedures, just implants.  So I may need to find a surgeon in Ann Arbor, or Grand Rapids.

    I'm so glad that all of you other stage 3ers are doing so well, you give me hope and inspiration for my own future.

     

    Happy Holidays to everyone, and let's have a fantastic 2008!

      

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  • dancer51
    dancer51 Member Posts: 47
    edited March 2008

    Miss S,

    My first treatment was awful and I was down for most of the time also.  I'm sorry to hear that you are so sick.  They gave me Emend before the treatment and one thing I didn't have was stomach sickness.  They also changed my treatment to AC instead of AC+T.

    I"ll do taxol separately.  3 of AC and 4 of taxol.  I'm so glad I found this.  Someone out there tell me I can do this and get through it.

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  • dancer51
    dancer51 Member Posts: 47
    edited March 2008

    Hi,

     How did you know about the problem with your thyroid?  Did you find it or your Onc? 

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