Hi All,
My mother has been diagnosed with Stage IV Gall Bladder Cancer metastatized into Liver and few lymph nodes. Oncologists told me that Palliative Chemo is the only option available which can only improve the quality of life to some extent. The diagnose happened on 17 Oct and dr mentioned 6-8 months with Chemotherapy and around 3-6 months without it. Hence as every other care taker or patient who was shown the ugle face of Cancer, I chose to go ahead with Chemo for my mother. She is 66 years old and not very strong.
It has been 4.5 months and completed 8 Chemo cycles using GEMOX (Gemicitibine and Oxaliplatin). Response has been average as the primary tumor at the wall of gall bladder decreased by 20 mm since the start of the treatment.
Now after the 8th chemo, my mother is having serious troubles like continuous loose motions, high fever and extreme weekness. As per doctor, it is expected and now the response will also not be great as cells becomes resistant to chemo drugs.
So considering the above, I am planning to discontinue Chemo and just take care of my mother for whatever time she has.
Please let me know if you have any information on cancer survival in Stage 4 without Chemo. Are there any ways in which I can prolong her life?
Thanks.
