Possible Tumor found in Liver

Today I received the results of my 4th cat scan since my surgery in December of 2010. All of my scans have been clear up to now, but this last scan showed a 1 inch circular shaded are in my liver and I am obviously flipping out. after going through radiation and chemo followed by surgery and a year of clean scans I was starting to believe that I might be one of the lucky ones but now, who knows. I am having a Pet scan on 1/26 and will find out the results on 1/30. Since I had adenocarcinoma where the stomach met the esophagus, my study when I got the cancer was directed towards that.

I know nothing about the liver except that from what I have read, it appears to be really bad news. Today they told me that if it is a cancerous tumor, they can treat it with chemo and in some instances surgery. The Oncologist did not seem that cheerful in breaking the news, so I am concerned that the adenocarcinoma has spread.

I'd appreciate any information anyone has on treatments for the liver since I'd like to educate myself to begin my next fight.

Thanks in advance,

Jim aka gatoraid

Comments

  • This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • birdiequeen
    birdiequeen Member Posts: 319
    This roller coaster ride continues
    Jim,

    I'm so sorry to read your latest discovery. My husbands surgery was December of 2010 too, so we are right there.....thinking "is he one of the lucky ones"

    Hopefully you will find that the scan was a false positive. There have been some reports of that here on the board. So try to stay positive until you know more.

    Lee Ann
  • llamp0922
    llamp0922 Member Posts: 40

    This roller coaster ride continues
    Jim,

    I'm so sorry to read your latest discovery. My husbands surgery was December of 2010 too, so we are right there.....thinking "is he one of the lucky ones"

    Hopefully you will find that the scan was a false positive. There have been some reports of that here on the board. So try to stay positive until you know more.

    Lee Ann

    Stress!
    Hi Jim,

    Sorry to hear your stressful news! I hope that you get good news from your PET scan and all of this is nothing more than extended scanxiety.

    Peace, Love and Positive Thoughts,
    Lisa
  • sandy1943
    sandy1943 Member Posts: 824
    When waiting for further
    When waiting for further testing and results, Jan. 30th will seem like it's a long way off.
    Praying time will fly by and the test will be clear.
    Sandra
  • unclaw2002
    unclaw2002 Member Posts: 599
    Jim,
    So sorry to hear this

    Jim,

    So sorry to hear this news. Make sure when they do the biopsy that they determine if it is liver cancer or esophageal cancer that has spread to the liver. That will make a big difference on how it can be treated. Will keep you in my prayers and thoughts as you begin the difficult waiting game. And keep the faith you might still be able to beat this.

    Hugs,
    Cindy
  • paul61
    paul61 Member Posts: 1,392 Member
    I am very sorry to hear these results
    Jim,

    This has certainly been a grim week for news in our little EC family. All of us who have had surgery and chemo and been given a "in remission" status know that we live from scan to scan. Each time we go in we wait for the results with scanxiety. It is so disappointing to hear this news. Hopefully the PET will show that other areas are clear and as others here have posted there are a number of approaches to dealing with liver mets.

    We will be waiting with hope along with you for the results of the PET on the 30th.

    Prayers and positive thoughts until then,


    Best Regards,

    Paul Adams
    McCormick, South Carolina

    DX 10/22/2009 T2N1M0 Stage IIB
    12/03/2009 Ivor Lewis
    2/8 through 6/14/2010 Adjuvant Chemo Cisplatin, Epirubicin, 5 FU
    Two year survivor

    Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance!
  • Im pulling for you Jim
    Jim ..... I am so sorry. Sometimes... I know.... it's hard.... but try to stay positive.
    You are in my thoughts. I'm
    pulling for you!
    With prayers
    Sal
  • fredswilma
    fredswilma Member Posts: 185
    Jim
    I have nothing to add other than you are in my thoughts and prayers.
    Ann
  • JimsBrother
    JimsBrother Member Posts: 94
    Hey Brother
    I had a couple really stupendous paragraphs for you, all really very nicely mushy stuff. You know, I love you, and we can fight this together, and you're my best big brother I've ever known, you know what I mean.

    Well I clicked reply and poof it was all gone. So I have to redo my beautiful words tomorrow. Call me if you need anything.

    Love you,
    Rob
    The handsome brother

    Part 2

    My Brother,

    It's a little less than 24 hours since you gave me the news and even with the divorce and other major conflicts, you have occupied my thoughts since. For me, the news was like a punch in the stomach, I can't begin to even imagine how you felt when getting this news. All I can say is I am with you every step of the way. I told a friend of mine after you told you were having this scan and that I thought you had finally recovered from the miserable process last year. You sounded better, you just seemed to have fought the fight and it was over. I'm so sorry you may have to go through this all again.

    I know this goes without saying, I'm here any time you need me. Day or night, if you want to talk, or just unload, you know you can call me. There are a bunch of people here that wish you the best, and are here to help. Let me know as soon as you hear.

    I love you to infinity and beyond!!

    Your baby bruder,
    Robbie.
  • JimsBrother
    JimsBrother Member Posts: 94

    Hey Brother
    I had a couple really stupendous paragraphs for you, all really very nicely mushy stuff. You know, I love you, and we can fight this together, and you're my best big brother I've ever known, you know what I mean.

    Well I clicked reply and poof it was all gone. So I have to redo my beautiful words tomorrow. Call me if you need anything.

    Love you,
    Rob
    The handsome brother

    Part 2

    My Brother,

    It's a little less than 24 hours since you gave me the news and even with the divorce and other major conflicts, you have occupied my thoughts since. For me, the news was like a punch in the stomach, I can't begin to even imagine how you felt when getting this news. All I can say is I am with you every step of the way. I told a friend of mine after you told you were having this scan and that I thought you had finally recovered from the miserable process last year. You sounded better, you just seemed to have fought the fight and it was over. I'm so sorry you may have to go through this all again.

    I know this goes without saying, I'm here any time you need me. Day or night, if you want to talk, or just unload, you know you can call me. There are a bunch of people here that wish you the best, and are here to help. Let me know as soon as you hear.

    I love you to infinity and beyond!!

    Your baby bruder,
    Robbie.

    Just one more thing.
    Jim,

    I think many here will probably agree with me, especially William. Get another opinion. Make some appointments, call the other surgeon you talked to at the Medical Center. Contact a Liver Oncologist or whoever you think can help you the most. I don't know where you should begin, but you could set some appointments and cancel them later if it turns out benign.

    Love you,
    Rob
  • JimboC
    JimboC Member Posts: 264
    Sad to read, praying for the best news
    Sorry to hear the news. I know what a scary wait it is when you get that questionable scan back until a confirmation. I'm praying for good news. Know though that no matter what it is, we're all here for you.

    Take care!
  • mam132
    mam132 Member Posts: 20
    Be positive and Fight Hard
    I have three friends that I have breakfast with every Saturday. The are stage 4 cancer survivor's and are 10 and 11 years out. I know that they are unusual, however they have been through these kinds of things also. They would tell you to follow all orders and that you have found the tumor very early. Let the Doctors do their jobs and let us pray for you. May God bless the medicine that you receive and the Doctors that will help you get well.


    Mike
  • mam132 said:

    Be positive and Fight Hard
    I have three friends that I have breakfast with every Saturday. The are stage 4 cancer survivor's and are 10 and 11 years out. I know that they are unusual, however they have been through these kinds of things also. They would tell you to follow all orders and that you have found the tumor very early. Let the Doctors do their jobs and let us pray for you. May God bless the medicine that you receive and the Doctors that will help you get well.


    Mike

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • JReed
    JReed Member Posts: 428
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    Sherri:

    I am curious also. I spoke with someone whom I trust and they told me of a stage iv EC survivor who lives in Wisconsin and sees a Dr. Weigle (not sure I spelled that correctly) and this gal is five years out from the esophectomy. They said that she was stage iv and had the surgery - but I was under the impression that stage iv was inoperable. Also, recently it was discovered that this lady now has a tumor on another organ so not sure what treatment will be for her.

    These stories are inspiring but like you, I wish they would post here so we can get the scoop. I have seen the name Dr. Weigle before on this site but I'm not sure if the location was Wisconsin.

    I would love for everyone to post their story, diagnosis, etc. so that we can learn more about this cancer.

    Judy
  • lyndez
    lyndez Member Posts: 22
    My husband was diagnosed
    My husband was diagnosed with stage 4 esophageal adenocarcinoma with liver mets in January 2011. He had 10 treatments of radiation and 6 treatments of chemo Cisplatin and 5 FU 96 hrs infusion. When he started chemo, he also started vitamin c iv 85000 mg twice weekly from a naturopathic doctor and then I heard about low dose naltrexone 4.5 mg at bedtime which he started in May 2011. Pet scan in October 2011 showed complete regresssion from the esophagus and liver metastases. He is still feeling very good, he is able to eat anything and has regained all his weight. I would suggest to anyone with any cancer to research vitamin c iv and go to ldninfo.org for more information on low dose naltrexone. I also juice fruits and vegetables everyday and he takes many supplements to keep his immune system up. I would also like to add, while undergoing chemo traetments he continued working. He is now taking vitamin c iv every 2 weeks indefinitely and will also continue on ldn. Stay positive and keep fighting there are survivors out there.
  • Jim,
    So sorry to read your

    Jim,

    So sorry to read your sad news. Let's be hopeful and pray for the best. We are all rooting for you!

    Jennifer
  • mam132
    mam132 Member Posts: 20
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    Stage iv survivors
    Sherri:

    Two of these men are esophageal cancer survivors. No I doubt that these old fella's will post anything on a computer. They both had surgery and one had part of his liver removed with his esophageal tumor and the other had part of his colon removed. This is very confusing to me also because I was told that I could not have surgery. But the interesting thing with these to fella's was the surgeon who performed their surgery also had esophageal cancer and was treated at the Cleveland Clinic by surgery. He as a local surgeon.

    Anyway, When I was first diagnosed,newspaper reporters started calling me because I was not at work and was running for Sheriff. After I found that I was having no effects from the chemo, I informed my Doctor that I wanted to go back to work and that I was going to continue my plans to run for Sheriff. She told me to go ahead. I decided to tell the reporters about my situation because I felt the public should know about me if they were going to vote for me and I used it as an opportunity to teach people about esophageal cancer and the causes. You may google my story at Michael McDonald for Sheriff, Stark County Ohio.

    I started getting calls and letters from all over. Many of the people claim to be stage 4. Are they for sure I don't know. I talk to them to see what makes them tick. No story is alike. For me, I take this one day at a time and try to live the best quality of life that I may have left. I have been blessed so far in that I have not symptoms other than some minor hair loss and an upset stomach now and then. I am going forward like no other until I can't. I also am not to interested in all of the medical details. I leave that to my Doctors. I have two oncologist, one for the eye and one for the esophagas and they both have told me to do as I wish. My tumor in my eye is now gone and I am getting scoped in two weeks to check that tumor. My tumor markers are now down from 800 at the start to 25 so I must stay positive. For your information THERE ARE NOW THREE OF US AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WITH E.C. The other two are younger. Both will have surgery thank God.
  • mam132 said:

    Stage iv survivors
    Sherri:

    Two of these men are esophageal cancer survivors. No I doubt that these old fella's will post anything on a computer. They both had surgery and one had part of his liver removed with his esophageal tumor and the other had part of his colon removed. This is very confusing to me also because I was told that I could not have surgery. But the interesting thing with these to fella's was the surgeon who performed their surgery also had esophageal cancer and was treated at the Cleveland Clinic by surgery. He as a local surgeon.

    Anyway, When I was first diagnosed,newspaper reporters started calling me because I was not at work and was running for Sheriff. After I found that I was having no effects from the chemo, I informed my Doctor that I wanted to go back to work and that I was going to continue my plans to run for Sheriff. She told me to go ahead. I decided to tell the reporters about my situation because I felt the public should know about me if they were going to vote for me and I used it as an opportunity to teach people about esophageal cancer and the causes. You may google my story at Michael McDonald for Sheriff, Stark County Ohio.

    I started getting calls and letters from all over. Many of the people claim to be stage 4. Are they for sure I don't know. I talk to them to see what makes them tick. No story is alike. For me, I take this one day at a time and try to live the best quality of life that I may have left. I have been blessed so far in that I have not symptoms other than some minor hair loss and an upset stomach now and then. I am going forward like no other until I can't. I also am not to interested in all of the medical details. I leave that to my Doctors. I have two oncologist, one for the eye and one for the esophagas and they both have told me to do as I wish. My tumor in my eye is now gone and I am getting scoped in two weeks to check that tumor. My tumor markers are now down from 800 at the start to 25 so I must stay positive. For your information THERE ARE NOW THREE OF US AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WITH E.C. The other two are younger. Both will have surgery thank God.

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • cher76
    cher76 Member Posts: 292
    Jim,
    I am so sorry to hear

    Jim,
    I am so sorry to hear you are going through this. I will be praying for good results for you on your PET scan.
    Cheryl
    Wife of Rickie, dx stage IV EC, Oct. 2010
    Mets to bones and brain.
    Lost the battle, Jan. 4, 2012