What I have been diagnosed with is a rare and aggressive type of cancer.
Selfie outside the Precision Cancer building at the UCSF Mission Bay campus
It has scared the crap out of me, and I am just starting to call it out by name in order to face it directly.
Cholangiocarcinoma. AKA Biliary Tract carcinoma. Or just bile duct cancer. Its specific location earns another label, a Klatskin tumor.
It’s a nasty cancer. The general prognosis is dismal.
But it looks like I could be among the few who are candidates for “curative” surgery, the only way to beat this thing. Tests done this past week at the University of California San Francisco Precision Cancer Building in San Francisco’s Mission Bay appear to have found no evidence the cancer has spread beyond the original location. That would seem to make a surgical approach in my case more viable.
i’m awaiting the “official” assessment of the surgical oncology option, which I expect to get soon.
Ths is, of course, only a very short version of what has been happening over the past seven weeks as the process of diagnosing and devising a treatment plan has been underway, initially in Hawaii and then in San Francisco.
The selfie was taken early Monday morning, April 13, as I waited for the building at UCSF to open so that I could check in for another CT Scan. I was probably looking more beaten up by the end of the week.
Please keep those positive vibes coming!
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ALoha Ian,
Yes, face it on. It?s a word that is difficult to pronounce. That?s for sure. It?s just a word. Keep it that way. There are many, thousands, millions more thoughts, breathes, and kind words still available for you to choose from. May I suggest mediation to stop the possible thoughts, and worries that may intrude into your mind? I have dear friends who have gone through numerous brain surgeries and are still kicking and having lunch with loved ones – and yes, with minds still intact and sharp. My friend who has had lupus since she was 18 (she?s now 65) has done her homework and knows more than her doctors. She was her dad?s caregiver while managing her symptoms, and is know flying to SFO to care for her sister after her surgery. Keep us posted with your surgery dates. With you all the way. You?ve always been a fighter, so I?m not going to tell you to fight, but I will tell you that I?m sending you positive and healing energy on a daily basis. ke aloha.
Stay strong; stay aggressively positive!
Your enlightening have always been useful and/or entertaining; mahalo.
Positive vibes are multitudinous!
We are, and always will be here for you and Meda.
Sending love, prayers and positive vibes your way.
Hope you don’t have to wait too long before you know if surgery is a viable option.
My older brother died of jaundice because of a defective bile duct. He was 18 months old. My mother was pregnant with me. Probably had a bad prenatal environment. No wonder I am so high strung. But, I turned 80 in January.
Good luck, Ian.
After reading your columns throughout the years, if there’s anyone that can tackle your cancer, and be victorious – it’s you, my friend.
Be well , stay strong, envelop yourself in the healing prayers of your readers, and especially Meda.
We are cheering for you and your medical team, Ian! Thanks for sharing what’s happening in your life and your commitment to kick cancer in the ass! It’s folks like you who are ready to fight that help medical folks be able to pursue new curative surgeries & develop new modalities to give more hope to others. I hope you will receive confirmation that you’re a surgical candidate, and that the procedure can be scheduled as promptly as possible .We are sending lots of positive vibes your way
Ellen Carson & Bob Godbey
Big hug to you both! Thank you.
Chin up, Ian. Rooting for your selection for the special treatment. You have a loyal community rooting for your recovery.
We are not ever promised a future with predictable outcomes! Be grateful you have had so much history of success with your life so far! You just have to. find your Why you want to survive!
Thinking of you Ian and hoping for the best. Take care.
Whether it’s a deep dive, life commentary type, or cat tax of the day-It’s a joy to see your acedotes pop up in my inbox.
Sending you lots of healing Ian, hope you are getting lots of R&R between appointments
Aloha Ian,
I’m not a regular subscriber to your blog (maybe I should be) but had the link passed on by a couple of other classmates. I’m sorry to hear about your cancer diagnosis but encouraged to hear that there is a surgical procedure that sounds promising.
I believe in a God who is in the business of making things right although I confess I often struggle with his seeming slowness in getting the job done. So, my way of extending positivity is to pray for your healing, your medical team’s wisdom and skill and for your wife who is there besides you.
I’m looking forward to eating one of your concoctions at the next class reunion.
We’ve never met. but I’m a near-contemporary and have enjoyed your blog over the years and have always respected you as a voice worth listening to. Stay strong, and keep on fighting. I can’t claim to be a friend, but I am one of many wishing you well.
Praying for you and hopeful that all the good you’ve done through your work and efforts will return in ways that heal you. Looking forward to learning even more about resilience from you. Positive vibes always.
If anyone can conquer it, you can.