Confused!!!!

Holdtight
Holdtight Member Posts: 151
in Colorectal Cancer #1

Hi!  Hope all is well!  I just had a follow up MRI post abdominal hernia surgery and a liver ablation!  They spotted something else on my liver.  The doctor gave me myy options today:  Another ablation, obe technique (Spelling?) up thorugh the groin and kill it at the root hmm never heard of this one, chemo, or a total resection.  remove half of my liver (1 week in the hospita - 6 wkks out of work.  My CEA jumped to 11.  He now wants me to get another PET and CEA level done.  Don't know where to turn at this point! I had two ablations already and now there's an occurrence on the left side.  Do ablations really work?  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks and be blessed. 

Comments

  • Chelsea71
    Chelsea71 Member Posts: 1,169 Member
    #2
    My research suggests that the

    My research suggests that the liver resection is the best way to go.  It is your best chance of a cure.  If liver resection is on the table, I would take it in a heartbeat.  For me it would be a no brainer.  However, I am not familiar with your situation and your overall health etc...But for myself, I would choose the resection and I bet your doctor would too.  

    Good luck

  • Holdtight
    Holdtight Member Posts: 151
    #3
    Chelsea71 said:

    My research suggests that the

    My research suggests that the liver resection is the best way to go.  It is your best chance of a cure.  If liver resection is on the table, I would take it in a heartbeat.  For me it would be a no brainer.  However, I am not familiar with your situation and your overall health etc...But for myself, I would choose the resection and I bet your doctor would too.  

    Good luck

    Hi!

    how invasive were your rumors - did they have to separate your ribs - did you need chemo, how

    long have you been in remission.  Can you please tell ms you experience and situation thanks so much

  • maglets
    maglets Member Posts: 2,576 Member
    #4
    Holdtight said:

    Hi!

    how invasive were your rumors - did they have to separate your ribs - did you need chemo, how

    long have you been in remission.  Can you please tell ms you experience and situation thanks so much

    Hi

    hi I am one of the members here who has had 2 liver resections....one member has had three.

    I had all of one lobe and most of the other removed....i would say one week in hospital and 6 weeks for recovery is about right.  No my ribs were not spread open but they did remove my gall bladder.....yes i did chemo after both resection.  First time i did only xeloda and on the second resection I did both oxalyplatin plus xeloda.  I have been NED for five years so I am really getting a good long run out of my surgery.  Hope others will give you their experience.  Good luck.....maggie

  • Chelsea71
    Chelsea71 Member Posts: 1,169 Member
    #5
    Holdtight said:

    Hi!

    how invasive were your rumors - did they have to separate your ribs - did you need chemo, how

    long have you been in remission.  Can you please tell ms you experience and situation thanks so much

    I have not had liver

    I have not had liver resection surgery.  My husband, Steve, had the cancer.  He died four months ago.  He had metastasis to the liver.  Was unable to have surgery.  Tumors on both sides.  Pretty extensive spread.  They seem to look at RFA (ablation) as a palliative intervention.  However, several people here have had some success with RFA.  You want the doctors to approach this with a curative intent.  Liver resection surgery could eliminate the cancer (its important the surgeon gets clear margins.  This is why they want to take so much of the liver) and it may never return.  It's important that you have a really skilled surgeon.    With RFA and other interventions, it will likely return eventually.  I hate to scare you or sound like an alarmist but I would recommend you decide ASAP and get things going.  Liver tumors can grow really fast.  I believe they usually do not separate the ribs for this type of surgery.  Do not be afraid of the surgery itself.  It will be a big recovery but I think it's your best chance to put this behind you.  Sorry to be so blunt.  I wish you the very best.  Please keep us updated.  Will be thinking of you as you make this difficult decision.

     

    Chelsea

  • fatbob2010
    fatbob2010 Member Posts: 467 Member
    #6

    HI 

    had resection followed by chemo, as much as tolerated.  I stayed in the hospital all six days and recovery for me was almost eight weeks total.  Still tired after almost a year and a half post procedure,  Currently recurrence to lungs and other organs.  

    I would take the resection again if offered.  Liver tumors do grow rapidly and even a short delay can become problematic.  I do realize that there are a lot of factors involved in this decision and they are not all easy.  

    If this is a curative, or, potentially curative, procedure IMHO it is worth considering.

    Shalom,

    Art

  • janderson1964
    janderson1964 Member Posts: 2,215 Member
    #7
    I am a firm believer in

    I am a firm believer in resection. I have had 3. Each resection giving me long remissions and eight years surviving and still counting. BTW they took 70% of my liver.

  • Holdtight
    Holdtight Member Posts: 151
    #8
    janderson1964 said:

    I am a firm believer in

    I am a firm believer in resection. I have had 3. Each resection giving me long remissions and eight years surviving and still counting. BTW they took 70% of my liver.

    Confused

    Thanks everybody for your suggestions

    Im lining up my appointments now.  Its really scary but I have to do this, I've come this far.  I'm know it's probably going to be the resection route by what I'm hearing and seeing so far. 

    I'll keep you all posted.  Thanks again

     

  • Holdtight
    Holdtight Member Posts: 151
    #9
    fatbob2010 said:

    HI 

    had resection followed by chemo, as much as tolerated.  I stayed in the hospital all six days and recovery for me was almost eight weeks total.  Still tired after almost a year and a half post procedure,  Currently recurrence to lungs and other organs.  

    I would take the resection again if offered.  Liver tumors do grow rapidly and even a short delay can become problematic.  I do realize that there are a lot of factors involved in this decision and they are not all easy.  

    If this is a curative, or, potentially curative, procedure IMHO it is worth considering.

    Shalom,

    Art

    Confused.

    Fatbob2010

     

    DID YOU HAVE TO HAVE YOUR RIBS MOVED OR CRACKED FOR A RESECTION?

     

  • Holdtight
    Holdtight Member Posts: 151
    #10
    Thanks

    Maggie,  Thank you for your advise.  I needed to hear this because I think I'll need Chemo again also.  I have an appointment with my Onc on Tuesday.  Is it ok to ask you for any advise that I may need?  Do you have a facebook account?  That would probably be easier if you don't mind.  HUGS.  HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

  • maglets
    maglets Member Posts: 2,576 Member
    #11
    Holdtight said:

    Thanks

    Maggie,  Thank you for your advise.  I needed to hear this because I think I'll need Chemo again also.  I have an appointment with my Onc on Tuesday.  Is it ok to ask you for any advise that I may need?  Do you have a facebook account?  That would probably be easier if you don't mind.  HUGS.  HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

    ahhh

    ahhh how kind of you....if you want to have a private chat please feel free to just private message on this site but honestly Holdtight I would encourage you to stay here on the forum...no one person can give you the advice that collectively the group can offer.  I encourage you not to be shy......we have pretty much bared ALL here.....you name it it gets discussed......so please ask for help here....The liver resection is not easy but it is definitely doable....also have you tried the search engine on this site.....over the years there have been lots of tips about how to prepare and deal with this surgery.  Please do PM if you would like.....

    all the very very best......maggie

     

     

  • herdizziness
    herdizziness Member Posts: 3,624 Member
    #12
    Holdtight said:

    Thanks

    Maggie,  Thank you for your advise.  I needed to hear this because I think I'll need Chemo again also.  I have an appointment with my Onc on Tuesday.  Is it ok to ask you for any advise that I may need?  Do you have a facebook account?  That would probably be easier if you don't mind.  HUGS.  HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

    Two liver resections here, and hopefully a third

    I've had two liver resections as well, they do NOT crack your ribs it's a scar down your middle of stomach and for my second they cut down and over to the right since those tumors were in the back of the liver.  I spent 7 days in hospital for each, recovered fully in about three weeks.

    If they are willing to do a third when I get these next four tumors shrunk, I'm going for it with no hesitation.  I do hope you get the surgery.

    Winter Marie

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #13
    herdizziness said:

    Two liver resections here, and hopefully a third

    I've had two liver resections as well, they do NOT crack your ribs it's a scar down your middle of stomach and for my second they cut down and over to the right since those tumors were in the back of the liver.  I spent 7 days in hospital for each, recovered fully in about three weeks.

    If they are willing to do a third when I get these next four tumors shrunk, I'm going for it with no hesitation.  I do hope you get the surgery.

    Winter Marie

    Take the resection now

    My new onc says that two or possibly 3 tumors is the limit for a resection.  After that you can be almost sure there are new microscopic tumors that are not going to show on any scan, surgical visual, or CEA.  Your liver is the only internal organ that will regenerate.  The incision/s are below your ribline.   Dan

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