It's official I'm stage 4

Easyflip

Hey everybody,

Its been confirmed that the spot in my liver is a 1.6 cm met. It's discouraging because there was a small chance it was something else. I prepared myself for it though and I'm ready for this next step. Compared to what others have been through and what they're facing I can certainly handle this. My daughter is home from college and she's going with me to see the docs and I'm glad about that. It's the only one and it's resectable. I'm not quite sure what the plan is going to be, I see the docs at UCSF Wednesday morning. Any advice? Anything I should ask? For those of you that have had liver resection, how was the recovery? 

Thanks ahead of time, 

Easyflip/Richard

UncleBuddy

Richard

I'm sorry to hear this, but if it's resectable, it sounds like good news. Bringing your daughter is a good idea. I'd also sit down now and write down any questions you want to ask. When you get there, you'll end up forgetting.

My brother is going Wednesday to see if anything can be done to his liver tumor, but I'm not sure since he has so many nodules in the lungs. 

Some questions I would ask for my brother: who is doing the actual surgery, how long is the surgery (family get nervous if you're in there too long), how long is recuperation, will I need chemo or radiation afterward, will there be any side effects, how much of my liver do you need to remove, how long will my hospital stay be?

Anyway, I'm sure other who have been through it can help you with better questions, but this is what I'd ask.

Good luck. I hope you kick cancer's butt!!

Lin

Nana b

UncleBuddy said:

Richard

I'm sorry to hear this, but if it's resectable, it sounds like good news. Bringing your daughter is a good idea. I'd also sit down now and write down any questions you want to ask. When you get there, you'll end up forgetting.

My brother is going Wednesday to see if anything can be done to his liver tumor, but I'm not sure since he has so many nodules in the lungs. 

Some questions I would ask for my brother: who is doing the actual surgery, how long is the surgery (family get nervous if you're in there too long), how long is recuperation, will I need chemo or radiation afterward, will there be any side effects, how much of my liver do you need to remove, how long will my hospital stay be?

Anyway, I'm sure other who have been through it can help you with better questions, but this is what I'd ask.

Good luck. I hope you kick cancer's butt!!

Lin

Sorry to hear that. Ask about

Sorry to hear that. Ask about chemoemobilization.   On YouTube search chemoemolization and Stanford. They have a great video. 

Trubrit

Ablation - Resection

I too had one liver met, and my Onc wanted it to be resected, but my Liver Surgeon opted for a Thermal Microwave Ablation. He then watched my CEA (good indicator for me) for three months and then a CT Scan, and decided to hold off on any more Chemo.

Be sure and ask your Oncologist and Liver Surgeon about both surgeries and research your options (I know you will, just had to have my say). 

The recovery from the Ablation was a doddle compared to a Resection. 

I am so very sorry that you are in this situation. It sucks! It's not fair, but now that its a fact, just move on forward and do all that you can do to keep healthy and strong. 

You know we're here for you. 

SUE - TRUBRIT

annalexandria

I'm so sorry to hear this

I know from my own experience how frustratig and scary it is when the cancer pops back up.

But there is still plenty of cause for hope!

There's a specific name for a single met like this, and of course I can't remember it off the top of my head, but the prognosis for people in this situation is way better.  In fact, cure through surgery is still a distinct possibility.  There's a woman on the Colon Club who I believe has hit her 5 year mark cancer-free after being in a situation like yours.

The one thing I would do is plan to take cimetidine/Tagamet for a week before and after surgery.   There is a fair bit of evidence that it helps reduce the chance of surgical seeding of the cancer.  And it's OTC so not usually a big deal to get the surgeon's approval.

I had four recurrences and five surgeries, only using cimetidine on the last one.  No way to know if it helped or not, but it def fell in the "can't hurt, might help" category imo.  And that was my last surgery, NED for going on 3 years.

Big hugs~AA

 

Phil64

Liver resection

Richard,

The  epidural I received for pain management worked amazingly well. I was out of the hospital in a week and up and about within a couple weeks. Wishing you best for your surgery.

Phil

 

tanstaafl

celecoxib

You might also inquire which NSAIDs that your doctors use.   Although I was afraid of Celebrex the first three years for my wife, both sets of surgeons used Celebrex postoperatively for about two weeks.   Now that she adds celecoxib regularly to chemo, to suppress CEA and CA19-9, we thin her her blood nutritionally, and watch her INR for coagulation tendency to thin accordingly.

janderson1964

I am sorry to hear that but I

I am sorry to hear that but I am glad you prepared yourself for it and most importantly you are resectable.

Helen321

Wow Richard, really sorry to

Wow Richard, really sorry to hear that.  Let's just get it out and keep it out.  There are quite a few people who have done it, good that you caught it early and that you can plan accordingly.  It must be a bit scary.  

Helen321

And yes the Tagamet!  So wish

And yes the Tagamet!  So wish I had done that before my surgeries!!!!

Cathleen Mary

Helen321 said:

And yes the Tagamet!  So wish

And yes the Tagamet!  So wish I had done that before my surgeries!!!!

Richard,  
So sorry you have

Richard,  

So sorry you have this road to travel. But travel you will. You have a great attitude and the news that it is resectable. I have not been down that path but others here have and can help you. Be assured of my prayer and hang on to hope.

CM

impactzone

Sorry about that. I am now 8

Sorry about that. I am now 8 year stage 4 survivor. I have had 4 thoracic surgeries, 10 months of chemo, liver and colon surgery. Mine was done with Dr Soo at Stanford. I went originally to UCSF and loved it there but I was driving from Santa Barbara and I know it sounds stupid but the parking was easier at Stanford. Liver resection was not too bad. 1 day of pain and about 5 days in the hospital gradually getting better. The more you walk, the faster you get out. The liver surgery was harder to come back fromthan the lung resections as you use the abdomen more but I was back teaching in a week. I have never had a liver recurrance and it has almost all grown back so have them take as much as they want! Lungs are tougher as they do not grow back. All my best

 

Chip

Yolllmbs

impactzone said:

Sorry about that. I am now 8

Sorry about that. I am now 8 year stage 4 survivor. I have had 4 thoracic surgeries, 10 months of chemo, liver and colon surgery. Mine was done with Dr Soo at Stanford. I went originally to UCSF and loved it there but I was driving from Santa Barbara and I know it sounds stupid but the parking was easier at Stanford. Liver resection was not too bad. 1 day of pain and about 5 days in the hospital gradually getting better. The more you walk, the faster you get out. The liver surgery was harder to come back fromthan the lung resections as you use the abdomen more but I was back teaching in a week. I have never had a liver recurrance and it has almost all grown back so have them take as much as they want! Lungs are tougher as they do not grow back. All my best

 

Chip

Hugs and good wishes

I don't hasn't any experience as Im not finished with my first round of chemo. I haven't had any more tests after my resection. I'm praying and putting in the universe that your problem will resolve itself quickly and give you one more topic to paint. In our wild days we did burning man but much more bohemian than they do now!  Hope you feel the cyber hugs and spirit boosters. 

Yolanda

traci43

Good luck

Richard - Sounds like you're fairly okay with things, which is good.  Positive vibes always help.  It also sounds like some of the members have really good info for you.  I hope you get the answers you need today and that they take that sucker out!  Traci