liver damage

bailee2012
bailee2012 Member Posts: 60
in Colorectal Cancer #1

Can someone tell me what your experience has been with having liver damage as a result of mets from crc.  My husband dxd may 2012 stage IV mets to liver and lungs.  Extensive liver mets, too many to count or measure.  He has been having great reaction to folfox started 6/12 and continuing..cea from 3600 down to 20 so far couple weeks ago...weight loss has been gaines back, feels great and continues to work full time.  I guess my question is that noone has mentioned monitoring the side effects of having a damaged liver, no matter what caused the damage. He had a stomal varice burst at chemo last week and was taken to hosp via ambulance.  Really don't think that he would still be here if it had happened anywhere other than at a health care facility.  I know the varices are caused by ONLY liver damage because of another family member that went through all the side effects of liver failure couple years ago resulting in a liver transplant.  Theirs was caused by an inherited disease but was liver damage all the same.  The Drs checked him constantly and were very vigilant about keeping varices monitored because of the possibility of bleeding out before getting to help.  I am going to ask Dr about all of this tomorrow I was just wondering if any of you are being watched closely and being treated for the effects of liver damage caused by crc.  Seems we are getting the crc under control to a certaing extent and now the risk is the effects of having a damaged liver that noone is talking about.  Even the gastro dr. hasnt mentioned it to us.  Without this family members experience, I wouldn't know the importance of monitoring this.  Thanks for any help!

 

Comments

  • jen2012
    jen2012 Member Posts: 1,607 Member
    #2
    Bumping up for those who can
    Bumping up for those who can answer this.
  • smokeyjoe
    smokeyjoe Member Posts: 1,425 Member
    #3
    jen2012 said:

    Bumping up for those who can
    Bumping up for those who can answer this.

    I've never heard of this

    I've never heard of this before,  I googled it,  sounds scarey.   Does your husband have high blood pressure??  

  • bailee2012
    bailee2012 Member Posts: 60
    #4
    smokeyjoe said:

    I've never heard of this

    I've never heard of this before,  I googled it,  sounds scarey.   Does your husband have high blood pressure??  

    No high blood pressure.  I

    No high blood pressure.  I asked the dr bout all of this today and he doesn't think any of this is being caused by liver damage because he says his liver isn't damaged that badly.  I gotta tell ya that sometimes tryin to deal with all of this mess is just too much.  Tryin to be strong and take care of all the things that need tended to and try to talk to drs and get answers to things and scatter emergencies throughout all of it.....I just don't know...

  • smokeyjoe
    smokeyjoe Member Posts: 1,425 Member
    #5
    bailee2012 said:

    No high blood pressure.  I

    No high blood pressure.  I asked the dr bout all of this today and he doesn't think any of this is being caused by liver damage because he says his liver isn't damaged that badly.  I gotta tell ya that sometimes tryin to deal with all of this mess is just too much.  Tryin to be strong and take care of all the things that need tended to and try to talk to drs and get answers to things and scatter emergencies throughout all of it.....I just don't know...

    Did you google it at all, 

    Did you google it at all,  there were different articles about this,  medical terms I didn't understand.   But, some of these may answer some of your questions, it's all so confusing.    Good that the doctor thinks his liver isn't damaged that badly,  I suppose maybe when they do his blood work the levels are good with his liver.   I know there is someone on here that was dealing with liver damage from chemotherapy.   Hopefully he will visit the board and see your post and respond to it.   Hope this issue settles down.   

  • luvinlife2
    luvinlife2 Member Posts: 172 Member
    #6
    Double Edged Sword ...

    Chemo kills tumors but it also causes liver damage, more so when taken for a long period of time.  I have scarring on my liver from irinotecan but I've also been doing chemo for 4+ years.  My onc refers to it as non-alcholic cirrhosis of the liver.  I don't drink alcohol simply because I'm trying to protect my liver as much as possible, but it's the pits that I'm getting cirrhosis without the fun.  It's a damned if you do, damned if you don't type of situation.  At least the chemo has given me 4 more years than the Dr.'s did.  :)

  • bailee2012
    bailee2012 Member Posts: 60
    #7
    thanks for your replies

    it seems that Dr feels that the stoma is where the bleeding problem is coming from and to avoid another bleed like this one is to try for reversal of colostomy.  the oncologist and gI Dr agree on this so I guess we will see what the surgeon says.  goin to see him tomorrow. 

  • bailee2012
    bailee2012 Member Posts: 60
    #8
    boy I hate bein right sometimes

    had another bleed followed by life flight to hospital this time.  surgeon revised the osteomy this time and eliminated the bleeding  vein.  told me after surgery that it's caused  by portal hypertension, aka , back pressure from liver damage.   he is going to see if husband  is eligible for TIPS procedure.  said  it will happen again in time if liver is still creating this back pressurepressure.  I guess I need to find a hepatologist......

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