“They Left No Stone Unturned:” Laura Andrews-Clark’s Fight Against Liver Cancer at East Jefferson General Hospital

For Laura Andrews-Clark of Abita Springs, what began as routine surgery to remove her gallbladder turned into an unexpected and life-altering medical journey.

The 60-year-old nurse and electronic medical records analyst had experienced stomach issues in late 2024 and was scheduled for a gallbladder removal in January 2025. But when complications were discovered during the procedure, everything changed.

“I had gallstones stuck in my bile duct,” she recalled. “They couldn’t remove them during the laparoscopic gallbladder surgery, so they planned a separate procedure.”

But within 10 days of her initial surgery, Laura was readmitted to the hospital with jaundice, a sign that the stones were still blocking the bile duct. Blood tests revealed high bilirubin and a significant infection. Then, in the process of addressing those concerns, imaging revealed something more serious: a spot on her liver. A biopsy confirmed it was cholangiocarcinoma, a rare and aggressive bile duct cancer.

“My first thought was, ‘How long do I have to live?’” Laura said. “They told me I might need surgery and chemo, and I thought I’d be fine. But the cancer wasn’t resectable. That’s when everything shifted.”

Laura requested a referral to East Jefferson General Hospital in Metairie, La., part of LCMC Health. From her first visit on February 17 with oncologist David Morrison, MD, she said she felt an immediate sense of confidence and relief. “I said, ‘Please find me a doctor at East Jefferson.’ And they did. I felt relieved right away.”

She described Dr. Morrison as a physician with both deep expertise and compassion. “He has a great sense of humor and knows how to put you at ease,” she said. “But when it’s time to be serious, he is fully focused. Any time I’m with him, I never feel rushed. He gave me his full attention every single time.”

A Collaborative, Comprehensive Approach to Cutting-Edge Cancer Care

At East Jefferson, which is accredited by the Commission on Cancer, Laura’s care was coordinated by a multidisciplinary team, including Dr. Morrison and transplant surgeon Kiara Tulla, MD. Initially, there was hope the tumor could be surgically removed. But advanced imaging showed it was located between the right and left portal veins and near the inferior vena cava.

“Dr. Tulla was incredibly knowledgeable,” said Laura. “If surgery had been an option, I would’ve felt completely comfortable with her doing it. But she said, because of the size and location of the tumor, surgery to remove the mass would not be possible.”

Dr. Morrison recommended systemic chemotherapy and immunotherapy, a combination of three medications, hoping to stop the cancer’s progression and possibly shrink the tumor. He also wanted her to have every possible advantage. That’s when the oncology care team at East Jefferson offered the option of an advanced treatment option: the hepatic artery infusion pump (HAIP). This device delivers chemotherapy directly to the liver.

Kristen Limbach, MD, a surgical oncologist with significant prior experience in placing pumps, met with Laura to discuss the option.

“She was so warm and inviting. She made sure I understood everything, answered all my questions, and never made me feel rushed. I knew I was in great hands,” Laura said. “In fact, everyone at East Jefferson has been focused on finding the best treatment options for me. It’s truly a meeting of the minds. They leave no stone unturned.”

While the HAIP is not considered experimental, to date, it has not been widely used either. In fact, Laura is the first patient to have a HAIP surgically implanted at East Jefferson. The HAIP runs continuously and is filled every two weeks. Half the month it delivers chemo medication and the other two weeks it is filled with saline to keep it clean and functioning properly.

“Determining the best treatment approach for Laura—including the decision to use the HAIP pump—was an East Jefferson, Tulane University School of Medicine, and LSU combined collaboration. A real team effort,” said Dr. Morrison.

Laura had the pump implanted on March 26 and was discharged on March 30. “I learned that the HAIP delivers localized chemotherapy to the liver while minimizing exposure to the rest of my body,” Laura added. Then, Laura started treatment in April, with infusions spaced over multiple weeks.

Each session is “long and intense,” she said, noting she has a few more sessions to go. Laura remains hopeful that the chemo will shrink the tumor and she will be able to have it completely removed.

“The infusion center staff are amazing,” she said. “So kind, so knowledgeable. You can tell they’re very experienced. It made a difficult process so much easier.”

“Everyone at East Jefferson has been focused on finding the best treatment options for me,” Laura said. “It’s truly a meeting of the minds. They leave no stone unturned.”

Finding Hope—and Support—Close to Home

Laura’s journey hasn’t been easy. She developed a bile duct infection after her first round of chemo and is still managing her original gallstones with medication. But recent imaging showed a slight reduction in her tumor, giving her renewed hope.

“Maybe there’s a cure in my future,” she said. “Dr. Morrison continues to encourage me to feel hopeful.”

Her treatment continues, with new imaging scheduled after several rounds of chemotherapy. She hopes that in time, the tumor will shrink enough to make surgery possible. If not, she remains optimistic about controlling the cancer and maintaining her quality of life.

Throughout it all, Laura has leaned on her close-knit family—her husband Chris, their three children, and six grandchildren, all of whom live nearby. She’s also been on leave from work since late January to focus on treatment.

She finds joy these days in the small things. “I love doing puzzles of all kinds and I find peace in drawing when I can.”

Looking back on the whirlwind of tests, procedures, and emotions over the last few months, Laura said one thing stands out: the care she’s received at East Jefferson. “I wasn’t afraid, because I know East Jefferson’s reputation. They’re cutting-edge. I knew I was in the right place.”

For more information about cancer treatment at East Jefferson General Hospital Cancer Center in Metairie, La., please visit: https://www.lcmchealth.org/east-jefferson-general-hospital/our-services/cancer-care/cancer-programs-and-treatments/rare-cancer-program/