Liver, biliary & pancreatic cancer
6 articles shown
After a Bile Duct Stent: What to Watch for Once You're Home
A down-to-earth guide to life after coming home with a bile duct stent. It covers how to spot blockage warning signs like jaundice and fever, how to handle fatty foods and alcohol, the difference in follow-up and replacement between plastic and metal stents, and how much of your normal routine you can simply pick back up.
Reading a Liver Panel: Where Do You Even Start?
A plain-language guide to reading liver function test results by grouping the values: AST and ALT (liver cell damage), ALP, GGT and bilirubin (bile flow and jaundice), and albumin and clotting time (how hard the liver is working). A higher number does not automatically mean a worse problem — what matters is the balance between the groups and the trend compared with past results. Includes tips for getting ready before your appointment.
CA19-9 Is Called a Pancreatic Cancer Marker, but How Should You Actually Read It?
CA19-9 is not a test that confirms or rules out pancreatic cancer on its own. It can rise from bile duct disease or inflammation, and some people stay in the normal range even when something is wrong, so a normal result isn't a guarantee. Its real value lies in tracking treatment progress and recurrence after diagnosis, and a mild elevation is best handled by retesting over time and reading it alongside your symptoms.
How to Keep Protein Up During Treatment for Liver, Bile Duct, and Pancreatic Cancer
During treatment for liver, bile duct, or pancreatic cancer, a poor appetite and difficult digestion make it hard to get enough protein. Spread your daily target across every meal, and lean toward low-fat, soft proteins like white fish, egg whites, and soft tofu, steamed or boiled to go easy on the stomach. When food alone isn't enough, protein drinks can help, but the right amount depends on your liver function, so it's safest to decide with your medical team or dietitian.
Stage 2 Pancreatic Cancer, Surgery, and What I Learned Choosing a Hospital
A personal account from a stage 2 pancreatic cancer diagnosis through surgery to remove the head of the pancreas and recovery. It shares why I chose a hospital based on which medical team could see my condition quickly and move me into surgery without delay, rather than insisting on a famous, big-name hospital, along with a plea not to put off getting checked even when symptoms seem vague.
15 Years After a Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosis, and Life Still Goes On
A caregiver quietly records the daily life of a mother who underwent major surgery after a pancreatic cancer diagnosis and has lived more than a decade since. There were frightening moments, like bleeding, but small habits, managing diabetes and taking digestive enzymes, keep each day moving forward.