Help Angie with her journey
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Hello everyone, thank you for clicking on and reading my story.
As some of you know, and all of you will now, I have been very ill since September 2021. It started with liver issues, multiple hospital visits and numerous stent replacements in the bile ducts of my liver. Shortly after, I was diagnosed with a blood clot that caused cirrhosis of my liver and (PSC) Primary sclerosing cholangitis. The doctors told me that I would need a transplant pretty quickly. While waiting for more testing, I continued to get very ill and more and more hospital visits. Since September 27, I am pretty sure that I have spent more time in the hospital than not. In January I became ill again and was told that I would need the stents replaced every 6-8 weeks, and at this point it had been 7 weeks. I have had multiple MRI's and CT scans up until this point, but on this day they saw something concerning in my stomach.
We were told upfront that it looked like it might be cancer but we stayed so positive that it just really wasn't an option. The tests came back positive for cancer in the lining around my organs or the omentum. We were told that the cancer did not start here that it most likely spread here, so they needed to determine where it started. The doctors were upfront with us and let us know that it would most likely be colon cancer or bile duct cancer, bile duct cancer being the worst option. Many biopsies later, and after another stent replacement, the doctors still could not find where it started.
My oncologist had a board meeting with all of the imaging results and found that it was in fact bile duct cancer, or cholangiocarcinoma. It is a very aggressive form of cancer and has spread to my lymph nodes and omentum. So far they have confirmed 7-8 tumors. My insurance denied the full body scan up until this point, but that is now approved and I will be getting that on Tuesday, February 9. I am praying that they do not find more cancer. It is so aggressive that all of the doctors agreed that I needed to start chemo immediately, and I had my first chemo session yesterday.
My oncologist is requesting an appointment with MD Anderson, and I hope to be working with them ASAP. It is not curable, and we hope there is a clinical trial available. We hope the chemo will stop it from spreading further and shrink the existing tumors.
With all of the stress, I have lost a lot of hair and will most likely end up cutting it off. I have also lost 50 lbs and most muscle tone, so I am still weak. I need all of the prayers and good vibes I can get. The bills are piling up, and shortly I may not get my full salary if any salary at all. I will not lose my job, but it will not be paid if I have to go on FMLA. Anything and everything is greatly appreciated. I will keep you updated on my progress. Please be kind to each other and mend old fences. Life is too short.
As some of you know, and all of you will now, I have been very ill since September 2021. It started with liver issues, multiple hospital visits and numerous stent replacements in the bile ducts of my liver. Shortly after, I was diagnosed with a blood clot that caused cirrhosis of my liver and (PSC) Primary sclerosing cholangitis. The doctors told me that I would need a transplant pretty quickly. While waiting for more testing, I continued to get very ill and more and more hospital visits. Since September 27, I am pretty sure that I have spent more time in the hospital than not. In January I became ill again and was told that I would need the stents replaced every 6-8 weeks, and at this point it had been 7 weeks. I have had multiple MRI's and CT scans up until this point, but on this day they saw something concerning in my stomach.
We were told upfront that it looked like it might be cancer but we stayed so positive that it just really wasn't an option. The tests came back positive for cancer in the lining around my organs or the omentum. We were told that the cancer did not start here that it most likely spread here, so they needed to determine where it started. The doctors were upfront with us and let us know that it would most likely be colon cancer or bile duct cancer, bile duct cancer being the worst option. Many biopsies later, and after another stent replacement, the doctors still could not find where it started.
My oncologist had a board meeting with all of the imaging results and found that it was in fact bile duct cancer, or cholangiocarcinoma. It is a very aggressive form of cancer and has spread to my lymph nodes and omentum. So far they have confirmed 7-8 tumors. My insurance denied the full body scan up until this point, but that is now approved and I will be getting that on Tuesday, February 9. I am praying that they do not find more cancer. It is so aggressive that all of the doctors agreed that I needed to start chemo immediately, and I had my first chemo session yesterday.
My oncologist is requesting an appointment with MD Anderson, and I hope to be working with them ASAP. It is not curable, and we hope there is a clinical trial available. We hope the chemo will stop it from spreading further and shrink the existing tumors.
With all of the stress, I have lost a lot of hair and will most likely end up cutting it off. I have also lost 50 lbs and most muscle tone, so I am still weak. I need all of the prayers and good vibes I can get. The bills are piling up, and shortly I may not get my full salary if any salary at all. I will not lose my job, but it will not be paid if I have to go on FMLA. Anything and everything is greatly appreciated. I will keep you updated on my progress. Please be kind to each other and mend old fences. Life is too short.
Organizer
Angie Hager Silva
Organizer
Austin, TX