cholangiocarcinoma (Page 2 of 2)

Hi Carolann,

There are many sites that explain the use of stents.  UCLA Medical Center has a real good discription of the differences.  Basically plastic stents are a little narrower than metal ones and less expensive.  Plastic stents are also easier and more often replaced about every three months.  Metal stents are used for a more extended period of time usually. Also there are different types of metal stents to include what they call expandable ones.  Just think of a drinking straw and something is blocking the flow of juice or milk if you prefer and you cut the straw where the blockage is and insert a smaller straw in to both ends so that you have free flowing juice or milk again.  In your case it will allow your Mom's bile to flow.  The decesion on what type to use comes down to location of blockage and condition of the bile duct itself.  Also if the surgeon suspects possible blockage recurrence they'll most likely go plastic. Hope this paints a clearer picture  for you.  I wish you and your Mom the best during this trying time.  A prayer is coming your way!    P.S.  Just type Stents in your search and you'll gets sites with actual pictures.

Jeff G.

my mum had her stent put in yesturday ( plastic)  she says shes feeling really well ang got a really good apetite, can any one gave me any kind of diets that wud help, im feeling mre positive now than i did b4 although my dads not been so strong feel like hes already given uo hope 4 her.:)

Hi Carolann,
This is a frightening disease and I remember clearly the way I felt when I heard.  It is hard, and it is lonely, and you and your mother have my prayers.  But, keep hope!!  My husband was diagnosed in October 06 and they were unable to place a stint because they couldn't get it past the tumor, however they did drain his bile ducts externally.  Without that we would have lost him then and there.  He has been treated with Gemzar, and now Tarceva, and his markers are coming down and last week they removed the external drain because they were able to get past the blockages!  His color is good, his energy is up, and his tumor markers are way down! (Even tho our insurance won't cover the tests for the markers - the dirty dogs have made our lives much more difficult lately, but as I understand it you don't have to deal with that, and thank your stars!)

What they are doing will make your Mom feel much better, and although there is no known cure for this right now, that doesn't mean that it's not out there.  It's just not known yet.