Hi, What a wonderful tool this site is, and populated with wonderful brave people!
I was diagnosed with bladder cancer in November and was treated via cystoscopy. Am down to annual cystoscopies to check for cancer. So far I’m clear
Then in June 2025 after a hip replacement I was diagnosed with jaundice, treatment of which revealed I had a growth in the bile duct blocking the bile flow, hence the jaundice. A stent was fitted and I was labelled as unfit for surgery (the Whipple procedure), despite joining the NHS Prehab group (which is fantastic!). Chemotherapy began November 2025 and ended early July 2026. It took so long as I was hospitalised twice with infections, and also because of staff shortages. I’m now awaiting radiotherapy but my oncologist called me to tell me there was no one qualified in Nottingham to carry this out and I would need to go to Oxford. I’m having a CT scan on 15 September then phone consult with the oncologist on 30 September to discuss the way forward.
I have no idea of the dangers and side effects of radiotherapy, so cannot at this stage make an informed decision whether to have this radiotherapy. Can anybody share their experiences?
Hi Tikka and welcome to Macmillan and the Bile Duct Cancer forum.
What a lot you’ve already been through-I was sorry to read your post.
I have been through treatment including radiotherapy, but for a different cancer, so don’t have relevant experience about what radiotherapy might mean in your case. I do live in Nottinghamshire and was surprised to read you are unable to have treatment in Nottingham. Mine was actually done in Sheffield, but it seems a long way to travel to Oxford.
I had a blocked bile duct myself which was an awful experience, and my partner is currently going through the same and has had a second stent fitted. They have an inverted ampulla of vater (essentially it’s the wrong way round) which has made things more complicated. However, they have not been diagnosed with cancer.
I hope you’ll hear from other members who have had radiotherapy, but also wanted to draw your attention to this website which is the only UK charity for this type of cancer. It might be helpful for you to have a read through as there are a lot of resources there and trusted information.
I hope you can find out some answers soon which allow you to decide on your treatment going forward.
Sarah xx
