David Rubin David Rubin Health News

Welcome to my CaringBridge site.   The site will be used to keep friends and family updated.   Janet and I very much appreciate your support during this time!  Late March after eating a hamburger I thought I was having problems with gallstones.  Because the pain did not subside, I went to the ER where they did an ultrasound and CT scan of my abdomen.  Although gallstones were present, they also found spots on my liver that turned out to be liver cancer (cholangiocarcinoma).   Thus far, it is a Low Grade Cancer (not aggressive) but is in the liver lobes and not operable for now.  The immediate goal is to get chemo treatment at the Community Cancer Center in Normal, IL to reduce the tumors so that a liver resection or transplant can occur. 

Luckily, I was able to see oncologists/surgeons at Barnes-Jewish in St Louis.  The immediate goal is to find the primary source of the cancer from the biopsy that will not only determine the source but also identify tumor markers for the appropriate treatment (Immunotherapy, Chemo, etc.). Periodic updates will be available.  

While I’m still feeling somewhat OK and before any surgeries, I’m attempting to finish up some things in my lab (papers and helping students complete their degrees) and make life less burdensome for Janet who will schlep me from St Louis to Bloomington.  My kids (Sam and Ethan) are dealing with this and will be watched by friends in the area.