Hepatic Embolization

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Leskay
Leskay Member Posts: 26
edited March 2014 in Liver Cancer #1
My 35 yr old Fiance was diagnosed with Stage IV Parotid Gland cancer (a salvitory cancer) in August 2010. It has spread to his spine (6 tumors- C5, C6, C7, T1, T3, T10) and to his liver (10.6cm tumor).
After a surgery to remove the primary tumor, radiation and two rounds of chemo (taxol and carbo-platin)they have pulled him off conventional chemo and put us on a waiting list for a trial. On the chemo the liver tumor grew 15% in 45 days versus 25% in 20days before we started the chemo. The dr deems that a failure but it seems to have slowed the growth to me.
They have decided to do a hepatic embolization to his liver in an attempt to starve the tumor. Does anyone know anything about this? Does it work? For how long? Any severe side effects?
Any info would help........

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  • pepebcn
    pepebcn Member Posts: 6,331 Member
    #2
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    Lesky I would suggest to ask that to the colorectal
    board too, liver is a great board but colorectal ( unfortunately )is the most active forum concerning to liver mets!
    Hugs!
  • Leskay
    Leskay Member Posts: 26
    #3
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    pepebcn said:

    Lesky I would suggest to ask that to the colorectal
    board too, liver is a great board but colorectal ( unfortunately )is the most active forum concerning to liver mets!
    Hugs!

    Thank u I will try

    Thank u I will try
  • SarahD
    SarahD Member Posts: 139
    #4
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    Leskay said:

    Thank u I will try

    Thank u I will try

    My father had an
    My father had an embolization for a 10 cm tumor all it did was stabalize it until he had surgery to remove it. Can they remover your fiances?
  • Pennymac02
    Pennymac02 Member Posts: 332 Member
    #5
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    2 embolizations
    My husband has had two embolizations since August. They have slowed the cancers growth in the liver somewhat, hoping that his health will hold out for a liver transplant. He is unable to tolerate any chemo, his embolizations have been "bland"; cutting off the blood supply to the tumor only, no chemo beads due to poor liver function. Pretty simple procedure with minimal side effects, but only a temporary fix.
    Penny
  • Leskay
    Leskay Member Posts: 26
    #6
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    Pennymac02 said:

    2 embolizations
    My husband has had two embolizations since August. They have slowed the cancers growth in the liver somewhat, hoping that his health will hold out for a liver transplant. He is unable to tolerate any chemo, his embolizations have been "bland"; cutting off the blood supply to the tumor only, no chemo beads due to poor liver function. Pretty simple procedure with minimal side effects, but only a temporary fix.
    Penny

    Sarah, the dr's at Sloan
    Sarah, the dr's at Sloan said they feel the tumor is to large to remove and it is 10.6. maybe they feel that way because his liver tumor is a met and they have been unable to control the the primary cancer.

    Penny, Why two embolizations? Did the first not work? I believe his embolization is a bland one, not receiving any chemo with it? If you dont mind me asking what size is your husbands tumor? Does he have any Mets or is it his primary?
    They are admitting him into the hospital for 2 to 3 days. Did they do the same for your husband?

    Leslie
  • Pennymac02
    Pennymac02 Member Posts: 332 Member
    #7
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    Leskay said:

    Sarah, the dr's at Sloan
    Sarah, the dr's at Sloan said they feel the tumor is to large to remove and it is 10.6. maybe they feel that way because his liver tumor is a met and they have been unable to control the the primary cancer.

    Penny, Why two embolizations? Did the first not work? I believe his embolization is a bland one, not receiving any chemo with it? If you dont mind me asking what size is your husbands tumor? Does he have any Mets or is it his primary?
    They are admitting him into the hospital for 2 to 3 days. Did they do the same for your husband?

    Leslie

    2 Embos
    Leslie,
    the tumor was diagnosed in July at 3 cm +, in late August the did the first bland embolization, they had originally wanted to do an RFA, but the tumor was deemed too large. My husbands liver is too compromised from Hepatitis C to be able to have any chemo, thats why they went with a bland embolization the first time. Anyway, the follow up CT to check on the cancer showed no change--the tumor didn't get any bigger, neither did it shrink. So they went in again in October to do it again, only that CT showed a 5cm tumor(!?). We're dealing with the VA, so the communication before, durng and after tests is rather spotty. We go back to the oncologist on 7 December, the next CT is scheduled for the 30 of November, so we won't really know whether the cancer is in check until then. Its primary HCC by the way. Both times he was in the hospital for three days; on pain meds after the procedure, with minimal soreness after discharge. He did get some flu like symptoms after both, and had to take a course of antibiotics as a precaution. I'm happy to answer any other questions you may have. I think the not knowing part of this process is the worst, so I'm happy to share any info I have.
    Penny
  • Leskay
    Leskay Member Posts: 26
    #8
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    Pennymac02 said:

    2 Embos
    Leslie,
    the tumor was diagnosed in July at 3 cm +, in late August the did the first bland embolization, they had originally wanted to do an RFA, but the tumor was deemed too large. My husbands liver is too compromised from Hepatitis C to be able to have any chemo, thats why they went with a bland embolization the first time. Anyway, the follow up CT to check on the cancer showed no change--the tumor didn't get any bigger, neither did it shrink. So they went in again in October to do it again, only that CT showed a 5cm tumor(!?). We're dealing with the VA, so the communication before, durng and after tests is rather spotty. We go back to the oncologist on 7 December, the next CT is scheduled for the 30 of November, so we won't really know whether the cancer is in check until then. Its primary HCC by the way. Both times he was in the hospital for three days; on pain meds after the procedure, with minimal soreness after discharge. He did get some flu like symptoms after both, and had to take a course of antibiotics as a precaution. I'm happy to answer any other questions you may have. I think the not knowing part of this process is the worst, so I'm happy to share any info I have.
    Penny

    Hey Penny,
    Well he had the
    Hey Penny,

    Well he had the embolization yesterday (took three hour) and has been admitted into the hospital. He is actually in alot of pain. He is on a constant pain med drip and they just up'd his pain patch to 100mg. They said he is in alot of pain bcs the size of the tumor and they had to cut off 5 vessels which led up to the tumor. We met with the oncologist today who said the embolization took him off the chemo trial waiting list. And they wouldnt put him back on the waiting list for atleast 4 weeks! I am very fearful of what may happen in those 4 weeks.

    Leslie
  • SarahD
    SarahD Member Posts: 139
    #9
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    Leskay said:

    Hey Penny,
    Well he had the
    Hey Penny,

    Well he had the embolization yesterday (took three hour) and has been admitted into the hospital. He is actually in alot of pain. He is on a constant pain med drip and they just up'd his pain patch to 100mg. They said he is in alot of pain bcs the size of the tumor and they had to cut off 5 vessels which led up to the tumor. We met with the oncologist today who said the embolization took him off the chemo trial waiting list. And they wouldnt put him back on the waiting list for atleast 4 weeks! I am very fearful of what may happen in those 4 weeks.

    Leslie

    My father was in alot of
    My father was in alot of pain to and also had a patient controlled anagesia pump. The way his doctor explained it to him was the pain is due to the tissue of the tumor becoming ischemic (deprived of oxygen) and dying. He said its stimilar to what happens during a heart attack, there is a blocked arterty which causes tissue death and that is why it is so painful. Keep your hopes up you are in my prayers.
  • Leskay
    Leskay Member Posts: 26
    #10
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    SarahD said:

    My father was in alot of
    My father was in alot of pain to and also had a patient controlled anagesia pump. The way his doctor explained it to him was the pain is due to the tissue of the tumor becoming ischemic (deprived of oxygen) and dying. He said its stimilar to what happens during a heart attack, there is a blocked arterty which causes tissue death and that is why it is so painful. Keep your hopes up you are in my prayers.

    Sarah,
    The doctor said the
    Sarah,

    The doctor said the same thing to us. He has been running a low grade fever for 2 days. I pray there is no infection. He also lost 15pds in 4days.
    I really hope it worked and thank u for your prayers :)

    Leslie

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