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What can we expect after a diagnosis of gulotta carcinoma?

A fellow caregiver asked...

My boyfriend has just been diagnosed with gulotta carcinoma. He is only 53 years-old. What can we expect?

Expert Answer

Bonnie Bajorek Daneker is author and creator of the The Compassionate Caregiver's Series, which includes "The Compassionate Caregiver's Guide to Caring for Someone with Cancer," "The Journey of Grief," "Handbook on Hospice and Palliative Care," and other titles on cancer diagnosis and end of life. She speaks regularly at cancer research and support functions, including PANCAN and Cancer Survivor's Network. She is a former member of the Executive Committee of the CSN at St. Joseph's Hospital of Atlanta and the Georgia Chapter of the Lymphoma Research Foundation.

Carcinomas affect cells that cover body structures or cells that line the body cavity, internal organs and glands. It is the most common class of cancers, and it includes lung, breast, and colorectal cancers. While I'm unfamiliar with gulotta carcinoma, it's likely that you and your boyfriend will be facing similar situations as others fighting carcinomas. Your first step should be to confirm the diagnosis - get clarification on what you're dealing with: type, stage, and spread.  You should get this information from the pathology report. After you understand this, you should be able to ask specific questions about the normal progression of the disease and treatment options. What you can expect will vary immensely, based on the overall health of your boyfriend and the stage of the disease. If you can write again with more specifics, I would be happy to shape your expectations to help you prepare. You're doing great so far.