• Registered: Sun, 30 Sep 2007
  • Posts: 17

Topic: My husband died of cholangiocarcinoma

I just found this site and I am so thankful I did. My husband was only 52 when he died on April 8, 2007 - Easter Sunday. We were married for 33 years.
He was diagnosed on January 4, 2007. He only lived three months. Those three months were like living hell on earth.
He had a double lumin in his arm to be fed, he had a metal stent in his bile duct, he had two tubes draining from each side of the liver. In those three months he had every test available, and we were told he was a candidate for the whipple surgery. They said it had not spread. The surgery was to be 8 hours long. After an hour they came out and said it had gotten to his hepatic vein and aorta. Needless to say,  my kids and I were devastated. He died five weeks later. Shortly before he died he was hospitalized because he couldn't breath. The cancer had gotten into his chest lymph nodes and were pressing on his lungs. I brought him home to die, that's what he wanted.
I am so lost, I don't know what to do or where to turn. This man was my best friend for 34 years, and I am so overwhelmed with grief.
Hopefully reading some of these messages will help me through and help me cope.
Every story on this board is so devastating, and my heart goes out to each and everyone of you who has lost someone to this vicious cancer. We aren't alone, although it feels that way sometimes.
I would love to hear anyone's story, if only to vent or talk.
Thank you for listening to my story.
Sandy Blake

  • teresa
  • Senior Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: Tue, 23 May 2006
  • Posts: 123

Re: My husband died of cholangiocarcinoma

Hya Sandy
My tears still flow, especially when I read something like this.
Those three months will live with you for ever, and you will go over
and over this time again and again. You are right we aren't alone but feel so very lonely most of the time.
Rant away. You have come to the right place. I know no other like this.
I feel it is a very sacred and special place that we share as our stories unfold, for we do understand how it is and how it often suddenly races to a climax. I am thinking of you and send my love  Alans mom teresa XXXXXXXX

U.K.Member
  • Registered: Sat, 09 Dec 2006
  • Posts: 514

Re: My husband died of cholangiocarcinoma

Dear Sandy,
Though the loved one I lost was my mother, I can empathize with your pain at losing your husband of so many years. Feel free to vent and rant, as I do all the time here - the pain won't diminish but at least you won't feel so alone. We're all in this together and in this time of grief that means so much.

My mother died within 2-3 months of diagnosis, too, so it's like losing someone in a car accident - though you have a little more time to prepare, it's still very sudden and I find myself in denial all the time - it's so surreal, this can't be happening.

I wish you some measure of peace to help you with your suffering. My heart goes out to you.
-Joyce

  • From: Westwood
  • Registered: Sun, 30 Sep 2007
  • Posts: 18

Re: My husband died of cholangiocarcinoma

Dear Sandy,
I am so very sorry. 
Lynda

  • Registered: Sun, 30 Sep 2007
  • Posts: 17

Re: My husband died of cholangiocarcinoma

Thank you so much! I feel like I found a new friend. Cholangiocarcinoma is so rare, I don't know anyone other than my husband, who has died from it. My heart also goes out to each and every one of you who has lost someone you love from this vicious cancer.
Sandy