Survivors with RFA

changing

Hi, I'm going to radiologist to discuss possibility of having RFA verses surgery for liver mets. Would like to hear feedback from those who had it done. How long were you NED after the treatment etc? Any side effects?

hopefulone

Hi. I know there are people here who've had great success with RFA. I've also done a lot of research on it myself when we thought a resection was not possible . Also, just a tip from personal experience. If this radiologist should rule it out , get a copy of the ct and have it put on cd and contact other radiologists and ask them to review it. I did that with hubby's via email.Go to hospital websites and you can get email addresses from them in most cases. If you have a choice between surgery and rfa, be sure you research both options. I sincerely hope you will have the option(s). Good luck and God Bless.

sladich

I had a liver RFA in November 2006. Still NED in liver. Unfortunately, I have a spot in my left lung that they are watching. I'm actually going to investigate having a lung RFA done. I had very little side effects from the liver RFA. Nausea right afterwards, no pain really. It beat my liver resection pain! I would recommend it.

Debbie

MarkWalz

Hi,
I have had three RFA's. I think the success of the RFA has so much to do with the size and location of the tumor. I could not have a resection in August of 2005 because of the location of the tumor. Same thing in August of 2006. Now in August 2007 I had it done in a differnt state, differnt surgeon. Better this time. Much better results because of the intensity of the heat. Also I would suggest to try Micro Wave Ablation. Better success rate of recurrance. My doctor in Charolette, NC does it and a doctor in Louiville , KY too. I do not know of others, but this is a much better procedure according to the research I have done. If you want to know more get back to me.
Mark

dash4

My husband had a liver resection and liver ablation surgery in 12/04. Although he does have progression in other areas--the liver is still NED. John's liver surgeon was the one who believed he should go for the "cure". He did not act "hopeless" like some others did when the diagnosis was made for Stage IV colon cancer.
An excellent website that explains all the latest for the liver is http://www.livercancercenter.upmc.com/
This website is from University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in Pittsburgh PA. Even if you cannot go there due to the location - it is a great educational source to understand anything and everything about the liver. Good luck. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Mary Kay

offutt9

Hello!!! I have a very rare type of primary liver cancer called angiosarcoma of the liver. I had 5 tumors ablated by RFA and was NED for 18 months. But my cancer is different from yours and I have talked with people who have had it as much as 8 different times and are still NED... I am not elegiable for surgery or resection or transplant... RFA was so much better than surgery. For me, 23 hours in hospital, cat scan next day and back home. I traveled 525 miles. Just weigh the pro and cons for you and Pray about it. You will make the right decission.... In Gods Love ...Barbara P.S. There were no side effects for me.. and back to work in one week

offutt9

Hello!!! I have a very rare type of primary liver cancer called angiosarcoma of the liver. I had 5 tumors ablated by RFA and was NED for 18 months. But my cancer is different from yours and I have talked with people who have had it as much as 8 different times and are still NED... I am not elegiable for surgery or resection or transplant... RFA was so much better than surgery. For me, 23 hours in hospital, cat scan next day and back home. I traveled 525 miles. Just weigh the pro and cons for you and Pray about it. You will make the right decission.... In Gods Love ...Barbara P.S. There were no side effects for me.. and back to work in one week

83popsong

Howdy - Current thinking (stats) favor resection over ablation. I had two tumors, one in each major lobe of my liver. Resection wasn't an option so I went with RFA on both. Seems to have fried the bastards good, over a year and no sign of trouble (knock wood). I did have a recurrence in my colon, but that's coming out on Wednesday. I requested a morning surgery so I wouldn't miss too much of the start of the world series. It's good to set priorities.

Go for the resection unless there is a high probability for complication.

--Eben

changing

83popsong said:

Howdy - Current thinking (stats) favor resection over ablation. I had two tumors, one in each major lobe of my liver. Resection wasn't an option so I went with RFA on both. Seems to have fried the bastards good, over a year and no sign of trouble (knock wood). I did have a recurrence in my colon, but that's coming out on Wednesday. I requested a morning surgery so I wouldn't miss too much of the start of the world series. It's good to set priorities.

Go for the resection unless there is a high probability for complication.

--Eben

Thanks everyone for the replies! The surgeon says she can do resection but I was thinking RFA would be easier.I'll still need surgery to one lousy node in the pelvis though but if I go with surgery for allof it..then they say it will be a large opening to get between the 2 opposite ones in the liver (left & right) and the lower pelvis:0 Not sure what I'm going to do...supposed to do 4 rounds of chemo first but I just had my first allergic reaction to 5-fu and not sure what direction they'll give me next! Praying for you all as well....Go RED SOX!