Teacher diagnosed with liver, bile duct cancer: Friends are ‘Angela’s Army’

She felt a lump and pain in her abdomen that wouldn’t go away. It turned into a cancer diagnosis.

By TJ Banes, IU Health Senior Journalist, tfender1@iuhealth.org

During her 17-year-old son’s winter showcase, high school band members in Angela “Angie” Basinger’s community displayed a sign: “We love Angie.” Her son performed a saxophone solo for the crowd.

It was one of many signs of support for Basinger, 49, who was diagnosed with bile duct and liver cancer in 2020. She has been married for 26 years and is also the mother to a daughter, 22, who is getting married in July. She has one older brother and a younger brother and sister.

During a recent visit to IU Health Simon Cancer Center, Basinger was accompanied by her mother, Tonda Vance.

“She’s never had any health issues. She was always strong-willed and known for her personality – how kind she is, and her belief in God,” said Vance.

Some who know her the best are her fifth-grade students at Orleans Elementary (Orleans, Ind.) where she has taught for 23 years. She has also taught special education.

“I love fifth grade. They’re a good age – independent enough to take care of themselves,” said Basinger. Parents, teachers, and members of the community have provided meals, prayers and notes of encouragement since Basinger’s diagnosis. There have been t-shirts made with the message, “Angela’s Army: Friends don’t let friends fight alone.” Throughout the diagnosis and treatments, Basinger has barely missed a day of school. She says it’s what keeps her going.

Basinger was drying off after a shower when she discovered a lump in her abdomen. It didn’t go away after a few days, so she went to her family doctor. An ultrasound and a CT scan uncovered a mass. In September 2020 Basinger came to IU Health where she is in the care of Dr. Anita Turk.

“Dr. Turk said she’d never had a patient who had a combination of both bile duct and liver cancer,” said Basinger. “We are proud to share the successful treatment Angie has been through thus far,” said Dr. Turk. “She is diagnosed with undifferentiated liver cancer, a rare and aggressive disease. Her remarkable progress reflects the strength of our multidisciplinary approach—bringing together interventional radiology, surgical oncology, and precision genomics to deliver timely, personalized care. Thanks to this collaboration, she is thriving and continuing to defy the odds.”

In August 2021 Basinger had surgery under the care of Dr. Michael House, to remove 60 percent of her liver, gallbladder, and lymph nodes in the area. “I was good for almost a year then it showed up in my lungs,” said Basinger. Chemotherapy followed and then a mass was discovered in the abdominal muscle. Recently, scans showed the cancer was back in her liver and she again underwent chemotherapy. “Dr. Turk says we’ll keep doing this and then go from here.”

For now, Basinger is taking one day at a time. Her hope is found in the faces of her students and her family members.

“My daughter was going to be married in 2026, but they decided to move it to this year and my son will graduate next year and is on track to become Valedictorian. I want to focus on that.”