• Registered: Fri, 14 Jan 2011
  • Posts: 7

Topic: Living with jaundice

After a few months of Xeloda, my mom's scans showed no spread and no growth. She was diagnosed last November with cc spread to liver and lymph nodes so this news made us ecstatic. She just became jaundiced about 10 days ago. They went in on Friday to replace her stent and discovered that the duct is completely blocked. They say there is nothing they can do and we should look into hospice.
Does this sound right to you? How long can someone survive if they are jaundiced? The rest of her body is doing fine at this point. Hospice is so scary since it means the end is coming. I just wish we had a better sense of how long.
Thanks for listening!

Cindy

  • Lainy
  • Lainy
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  • From: Phoenix AZ
  • Registered: Fri, 13 Jan 2006
  • Posts: 8,213

Re: Living with jaundice

Dear Cindy, have you sought out a 2nd opinion? Where is Mom being treated?
Are these doctors really experienced in treating CC? Hospice does not mean the end. Many people seek it out for some palliative care and then go off of it when they get better. We NEVER know when the end is coming because we were not born with expirations dates. I know other will chime in here to offer you some more help and please keep us posted.

Teddy ~In our hearts forever~ATTITUDE is EVERYTHING
Any suggestion I offer is intended as friendly advice based solely on my own experience. Please consult your doctor for professional guidance.
  • Registered: Fri, 14 Jan 2011
  • Posts: 7

Re: Living with jaundice

We have not sought a second opinion at this point. She is being treated by the head of oncology at GBMC in Baltimore. She did not want to leave town for treatment. I don

  • Pam
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  • Registered: Fri, 11 Jun 2010
  • Posts: 292

Re: Living with jaundice

Cindy, have the doctors discussed if they can insert an external drain?  Can they do radition or cyberknife to unblock duct enough to insert another stent?  Is the duct blocked with cancer or scar tissue?  There came a time when my dad could not have a stent replacement and he became very jaundice.  He lived a couple of months under hospice care.  He was very sick at this point.  Like Lainy said we don't have expiration dates when we are born.  The most important thing to remember is keeping your mom comfortable.  Seek a second opinion if she is up
to it.  Like you said she seems to be doing fine otherwise.  I'd go with a second opinion.  There has to be something more they can do.  Keep us in touch.

  • Registered: Fri, 14 Jan 2011
  • Posts: 7

Re: Living with jaundice

It's blocked with the cancer apparently. I will have to ask her if she wants a second opinion. Thanks!

  • Registered: Fri, 15 Oct 2010
  • Posts: 1,735

Re: Living with jaundice

Hi,
When was the last CT scan ?
How long she was on Xeloda? Is it 2gm twice a day?
Base on what you said,the tumor situation is stable and that is good news.

Surgical bypass is rare but may be necessary in a jaundiced patient for whom stenting cannot be achieved for technical reasons such as tumor location.
Percutaneous stents (external drain) is another approach for relieving jaundice
if endoscopic approach is not possible.---treatment options for locally advanced CC.--uptodate.com May 2011.
God bless.

Please know that my personal opinion is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. If  provided, information are for educational purposes.Consult doctor is a MUST for changing of treatment plans.
  • Registered: Fri, 12 May 2006
  • Posts: 8,165

Re: Living with jaundice

Worried daughter....I am so sorry to hear the devastating news.  This is one of these situations where scans show stable and yet the cancer has advanced. There are times when we need to put on our boxing gloves.  I agree with the others in that you should search out another opinion with a center treating a high volume of CC patients because, you want to be absolutely sure that intervention of biliary drainage is not achievable. Our Kris would say:  I will continue to fight because I don't like the alternative.
My heart is with you.
All my best wishes,
Marion

THIS INFORMATION IS NOT INTENDED NOR IMPLIED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF YOUR PHYSICIAN OR OTHER QUALIFIED HEALTH CARE PROVIDER
  • Registered: Sat, 17 Apr 2010
  • Posts: 655

Re: Living with jaundice

Dear Worried Daughter,

My Dads tumor blocked his stent, it got to a point where it was impossible for the Doctor to fit a stent as it was too tricky to get to.  They fitted my Dad with an external drain which helped drain the bile. 

We did get second opinions, and whilst they couldn't offer any further help it did put our minds at rest that we had tried every option and hadn't given up.

My best wishes to you and your family

Andrea

Devoted Daughter to the most wonderful Dad a girl could ask for.  Sadly lost his battle on 19.02.11, peacefully in the arms of Mom and I.  As requested by Dad "we will keep on smiling".
  • Gavin
  • Gavin
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  • Registered: Tue, 23 Sep 2008
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Re: Living with jaundice

Dear Cindy,

I am sorry to hear this latest news of your mum. Like Andie's dad, my dads tumour also started to block his stent as well and it couldn't be changed either. Have you managed to seek out another opinion for your mum from another treatment centre? Please remember that we are all here for you right now.

My best wishes to you and your mum,

Gavin