Ovarian and Liver

clamryn
clamryn Member Posts: 508
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
Has anyone had a recurrence and it shows up in the liver? I asked my doctor if I now have liver cancer and he said, NO this came from the ovarian cancer. I guess I am not understanding. He says this can happen because everything is procesed through the liver. I have just completed my Doxil chemo infusions and the doctor has put me on Metformin. The Doxil did get 3 other spots but this one in the liver shrunk but didn't go away.

Linda

Comments

  • Tina Brown
    Tina Brown Member Posts: 1,036 Member
    #2
    Hi Linda
    I have PPC but had a "thickening" very near to my liver. I finished my treatment in March and I am experiencing a bit of tenderness where my liver is situated. My last blood test came back normal for my liver but I have been worrying that the cancer has spread to my liver. But you said the liver processes everything so I am now wondering if that is why it is feeling tender? I sure hope so I hope the cancer hasn't gone there.

    Tina
  • Lisa13Q
    Lisa13Q Member Posts: 677
    #3
    To Tina and Linda
    It is very rare for ovarian cancer to spread to the liver, that being said, it is not uncommon to have spots encapsulated around/near or even on the lining of the liver, but that is not the same thing. I think it is VERY important to ask the doctor to clarify exactly where the spot is and ask for an explanation. Ovarian cancer can spread to the liver but then it isn't liver cancer it is a met to the liver. All the scenarios are different and require different levels of observation. When my mother had a spot "on the liver", it took me forever to get a clear answer from the doctors because apparently this is a complex scenario. I hope this helps.
  • Tina Brown
    Tina Brown Member Posts: 1,036 Member
    #4
    Lisa13Q said:

    To Tina and Linda
    It is very rare for ovarian cancer to spread to the liver, that being said, it is not uncommon to have spots encapsulated around/near or even on the lining of the liver, but that is not the same thing. I think it is VERY important to ask the doctor to clarify exactly where the spot is and ask for an explanation. Ovarian cancer can spread to the liver but then it isn't liver cancer it is a met to the liver. All the scenarios are different and require different levels of observation. When my mother had a spot "on the liver", it took me forever to get a clear answer from the doctors because apparently this is a complex scenario. I hope this helps.

    Thanks Lisa 13Q
    Your post has put my mind at rest. I do remember my onc telling me that if ovca & PPC spread it spreads to the bowel.

    Before I was dx I had massive fluid accumulation around both my lungs (asictes) and had 3 chest drains to the right lung (which incidentally sits next to the liver) I am now wondering if my tenderness could be scar tissue due to this procedure? I might start a new discussion to see if anyone else has experienced this?

    Thanks Tina
  • nancy591
    nancy591 Member Posts: 1,027 Member
    #5
    I explain it to people this way. I have ovarian cancer cells growing on my colon. I do not have colon cancer.

    When I was initially diagnosed I too had a spot on my liver and my bladder. They were removed during my debulking and have not returned.
  • clamryn
    clamryn Member Posts: 508
    #6
    nancy591 said:

    I explain it to people this way. I have ovarian cancer cells growing on my colon. I do not have colon cancer.

    When I was initially diagnosed I too had a spot on my liver and my bladder. They were removed during my debulking and have not returned.

    Thank you
    Thank you Nancy. It is so confushing sometimes. First I am trying to understand it myself and then I try to explain it to others. Then they keep questioning me and I don't really know what to say. You have said it in such a way that makes perfect sense.

    Thank you.
    Linda
  • clamryn
    clamryn Member Posts: 508
    #7
    Lisa13Q said:

    To Tina and Linda
    It is very rare for ovarian cancer to spread to the liver, that being said, it is not uncommon to have spots encapsulated around/near or even on the lining of the liver, but that is not the same thing. I think it is VERY important to ask the doctor to clarify exactly where the spot is and ask for an explanation. Ovarian cancer can spread to the liver but then it isn't liver cancer it is a met to the liver. All the scenarios are different and require different levels of observation. When my mother had a spot "on the liver", it took me forever to get a clear answer from the doctors because apparently this is a complex scenario. I hope this helps.

    Check with Doctor
    Thank you Lisa. I am going to ask my doctor on my next office visit. When I went for my last visit, I went by myself. At that visit my doctor did say it was IN my liver. However, my daughter had went with me on a previous visit and she said his words were..."ON the liver". Maybe I was mistaken, but I thought I understood him clearly.

    Linda
  • veggiegal
    veggiegal Member Posts: 14
    #8
    clamryn said:

    Thank you
    Thank you Nancy. It is so confushing sometimes. First I am trying to understand it myself and then I try to explain it to others. Then they keep questioning me and I don't really know what to say. You have said it in such a way that makes perfect sense.

    Thank you.
    Linda

    liver mets
    Just three weeks ago on my last pet scan it showed spots in my liver and on my peritonel cavity. My doctor has started me back on taxol and carboplatin and thinks that these drugs will take care of these areas. I pray that she is right. She also said that it wasn't liver cancer but ovarian that has spread. I am so scared but am following her advice.
  • newhopechurchli
    newhopechurchli Member Posts: 126
    #9
    veggiegal said:

    liver mets
    Just three weeks ago on my last pet scan it showed spots in my liver and on my peritonel cavity. My doctor has started me back on taxol and carboplatin and thinks that these drugs will take care of these areas. I pray that she is right. She also said that it wasn't liver cancer but ovarian that has spread. I am so scared but am following her advice.

    veggiegal
    I am so sorry to hear about your latest pet scan..... I will keep you in prayer :)
  • rockchicksurvivor
    rockchicksurvivor Member Posts: 45
    #10
    ovarian and liver
    I had a petscan that showed "lesions" in my liver and a few other areas lit up as well so now I am back on carbo/taxotere after the Avastin quit working for me!! I hope this works and I can beat this cause I am so worn out and now getting nuelasta shots. I feel like a big mess. :(
  • saundra
    saundra Member Posts: 1,370 Member
    #11
    Liver tumors
    I started with 3 mets to the liver, nonoperatable, 2.5 cms or larger). They burned them out with radio frequency ablation and they have not returned or new ones formed as of the last CT scan. They were ovarian thought. Saundra
  • msfanciful
    msfanciful Member Posts: 559
    #12
    Unless my doctor is not
    Unless my doctor is not telling me, I have never heard of this type of recurrence.

    I will be sure to ask my doctor about it though this month when I see her, because as strange as it sounds it does make sense being that the liver processes everything (even cancer).

    Another good question for me to pose to my doctor.


    Sharon

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