liver resection march 10

immbeloved

hi everyone,

i have not kept up with my peeps like i should, am feeling better these days as i am on a chemo break the month of february in preparation for liver resection in march. i have more energy, my nose is starting to feel better after being tender and having bloody snot from the avastin and campostar. my hands are STILL somewhat numb from the 5F#$%U. my hair is almost gone, wearing hats and wigs now. my last ct scan did show that chemo has worked in shrinking my liver tumors to operable size. i am to have a liver resection march 10 at Vanderbilt. They want to do another ct scan two days prior since i have had 2 rounds since the last ct scan, last one without the avastin. i am a liitle worried the tumors may have grown during the off period but am willing to chance it to feel good again. hopefully my hair will start to grow. of course, i will start chemo again post surgery.
i would love any advice, knowledge as to what to expect from this type surgery from those who have had it. also should i request tylenol-free pain meds? most meds contain a lot of it and i want to protect my liver as the left lobe will be removed and the portion of the right lobe that contains the other tumor. any advice welcome.

amber

Buzzard

Amber.......
I am glad that things are working for you...I haven't spoken with sis in a long time "cwork" and hopes that she is doing well as well. Is there anything we can do ? Are you doing your chemo at home town or traveling to Vandy ? Is your onc at Vandy dictating your regimen at your hometown...I am just curious to see the routes you took. Sis and I spoke with each other about somethings and wanted to see what routes you took if you don't mind me asking ....again, good to see you and tell sis I said hello......buzz

immbeloved

Buzzard said:

Amber.......
I am glad that things are working for you...I haven't spoken with sis in a long time "cwork" and hopes that she is doing well as well. Is there anything we can do ? Are you doing your chemo at home town or traveling to Vandy ? Is your onc at Vandy dictating your regimen at your hometown...I am just curious to see the routes you took. Sis and I spoke with each other about somethings and wanted to see what routes you took if you don't mind me asking ....again, good to see you and tell sis I said hello......buzz

chemo at home
i initially saw an onc at vandy, she contacted hometown cancer center and they agreed with protocol, folfiri plus avastin, 5fu pump for 48 hrs at home. i could not travel for chemo. it's enough trouble as it is. surgery not done locally though. dr. beau kelly is to do it, really like him. wish me luck.
amber

Buzzard

immbeloved said:

chemo at home
i initially saw an onc at vandy, she contacted hometown cancer center and they agreed with protocol, folfiri plus avastin, 5fu pump for 48 hrs at home. i could not travel for chemo. it's enough trouble as it is. surgery not done locally though. dr. beau kelly is to do it, really like him. wish me luck.
amber

Your in great hands amber......
continue to believe in yourself...all will be well, and please tell sis I said hello...keep in touch....buzz

Nana b

Buzzard said:

Your in great hands amber......
continue to believe in yourself...all will be well, and please tell sis I said hello...keep in touch....buzz

Amber. I am glad that you
Amber. I am glad that you are getting those mets out of you! You must be enjoying the time off from chemo. I know that I did. You will need some help after that resection. Be sure to rest! Raquel

lisa42

my son's bday
Hi Amber,

You're having your liver resection the same day my son turns 18, so I will be sure to remember that and think of & pray for you on that day. I had my liver resection in May '08 at UCSD in San Diego by Dr. Lowy and he was wonderful. Sounds like Buzzard thinks you're in good hands with who you have at Vanderbilt, so that's a good thing! The first day or so, I thought I'd never be able to sit up on my own again, but it really was amazing how a few more days allowed huge progress in that area. They'll have you up and walking pretty soon. Hopefully you'll get the pain pump- it works pretty well. I was pretty out of it the first few days, but then really anxious to go home after that. Make sure you have plenty of people to help you when you go home again. You'll want to make sure you do get up and about each day at home, though- it will help you heal faster, as long as you don't overdo it.

Take care!
Lisa

HollyID

Amber
I have no experience with liver resections, but I did want to chime in and wish you my very best. I'm glad you've gotten a bit of a break with chemo. They named 5FU just right, didn't they?

Love and Hugs,

Holly

pluckey

Amber-
So glad you are able
Amber-

So glad you are able to get a liver resection! I had mine one year ago March 17th..I will be making that my NEW Birthday!

I felt like I was hit by a mack truck the first couple of days. I had 9 tumors - all over the liver,8 resected and one ablated. Removed gallbladder as well.

Just sit up for little bits every day and walk, even if only 1/2 the hallway.....

Best of luck to you!

Peggy

idlehunters

pluckey said:

Amber-
So glad you are able
Amber-

So glad you are able to get a liver resection! I had mine one year ago March 17th..I will be making that my NEW Birthday!

I felt like I was hit by a mack truck the first couple of days. I had 9 tumors - all over the liver,8 resected and one ablated. Removed gallbladder as well.

Just sit up for little bits every day and walk, even if only 1/2 the hallway.....

Best of luck to you!

Peggy

Hey Amber....
Just want to wish you bestest of luck on upcoming surgery. Will be keeping you in my prayers..... Take care.

Jennie

donnare

Hi Amber,
My husband had a
Hi Amber,

My husband had a liver resection this past Friday. His is a 2 stage plan - Friday they did the left lobe, and after some recuperation and scans, he will go back (probably early summer) and have his right lobe removed, if all goes as planned. He was originally told he was inoperable, but after 21 mos of chemo the tumors had shrunk enough to get him to surgery. They are going to give him a break from chemo now. He expressed some concern that the tumors in the right lobe would grow again if he is off chemo, but they said they will be watching him closely.

Surgery took a little over 3 hours and they cut out 4 tumors and ablated one from his left lobe. There were no complications, and he didn't need any blood transfusions, and didn't need to go to ICU (we were told he might have to). He was given an epidural for pain after surgery, which was removed yesterday. He was actually allowed to leave the hospital today -- much sooner than we were originaly told. He has a 10 inch incision just under his rib cage, he is very sore, and very fatigued, but otherwise in great shape. They are keeping him off any opiate meds, so they sent him home with oxycodone without acetaminaphen, and it seems to be working so far.

Good luck with your surgery Amber. He doesn't usually post, but I'm sure he would be glad to answer any questions you have if he can.

Donna

cindy5

Liver resection
Amber,

My 23-year-old son just had a liver resection at MD Anderson Cancer Center on Jan. 27. The doctors removed the right lobe of his liver to get the three tumors there. The surgery took three hours and went beautifully. He was on IV pain meds for the week he was in the hospital and then was switched to Tramadol (pill form), which he was on for the next week-and-a-half. Immediately after surgery, he was on oxygen for two days (and then at night for a few more days because his respiratory rate kept dropping). He had a catheter for four days. He was up walking the day after surgery and faithfully did his breathing exercises every hour to keep his lungs clear. Make sure you walk, walk, walk, and breathe, breathe, breathe, too! It helps your recovery go so much better.

David still has the primary rectal tumor, and the doctors were worried about an intestinal blockage, especially while he was on the pain meds. He was kept on a liquid diet for two weeks, but is now back to his regular diet. He has lost about 40 pounds since his diagnosis in October 2010, with most of the weight loss occurring after surgery.

I, too was worried about my son being off chemo for so long (about 7 weeks) before surgery. He had another CT scan right before surgery, because he, too, had two more chemo treatments after the last scan. The tumors had shrunk by another 33% for a total of 50% since beginning treatment. So, don't worry; the tumors did not progress while he was off treatment :-) Good luck to you on March 10 -- you will be in my prayers. The surgery proved to be a miracle for my son. The onc in our hometown basically gave David a death sentence, telling him that his cancer could not be cured and that he'd ultimately lose the battle. The doctors at MD Anderson think he has a good chance at a cure. All the stars have aligned: flawless liver resection, good response to chemo (the liver tumors showed NO active cancer cells upon biopsy), and a colon resection that is now possible.

My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Cindy