Recurrence after 2nd liver resection

sdp
sdp Member Posts: 181
in Colorectal Cancer #1

It has been less than three months after my second liver  resection and my CEA AND CA19.9 markers were elevated.

i just got a sonography / ultrasound done and - there u go ! A 4 cm lesion in segment 7 - a new one !

 the resection was done for two lesions  ( about 3 cm or so each ) in segment 4 earlier in  mid April 2014 and this seems a new one. No chemo was prescribed after the resection by the tumour board.

well, now the doc says that we will do an MRI and then determine  what to do next - if the said lesion can be ablated then they would do that - bur if there is more than one lesion than it is back to chemo ! 

Has as anyone got a third liver reaction done in such a short time ! Of three months from the previous reaection ? 

How many resections can one keep on doing ? Any advise 


Comments

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,804 Member
    #2
    Sad news

    I am sorry that you have a new lesion so soon after your last resection. I bet you're still recovering from that surgery, and now you face more treatment. My heart aches for you. 

    I know there is at least one person here who has had multiple liver resections, though I don't know how far apart they were. I'm sure he will post when seeing this tread. 

    I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. 

    SUE/TRU

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,804 Member
    #3
    Double Post

    Ack! It happened again. Sorry.

  • janderson1964
    janderson1964 Member Posts: 2,215 Member
    #4
    I am sorry to hear that. I

    I am sorry to hear that. I have had 3 liver resections but over a 6 year period. My surgeon once told me there is no limit on number of resections IF it isnt multiple spots, near a vital structure such as the portal vein, and liver function is still strong. He forgot to mention one thing. You are limited when they take the whole lobe. They took my whole right lobe on my third surgery. It is all grown back but technically it is one big left lobe now and much more vascular which makes surgery way more risky. He told me technically he could operate on my on spot but the odds are high that I wouldnt make it through the surgery since the tumor that was once near the surface is now growing into the liver. We are hoping that the y90 radiation I just did will reduce it to a size where he can safely operate.

  • lp1964
    lp1964 Member Posts: 1,239 Member
    #5
    Dear Friend,

    Sorry to hear this news. Let's hope that your options are still open.

    Wish you all the best.

    Laz

  • sdp
    sdp Member Posts: 181
    #6
    lp1964 said:

    Dear Friend,

    Sorry to hear this news. Let's hope that your options are still open.

    Wish you all the best.

    Laz

    Ultrasound

    The ultrasound report talks about a solid mass 4cm x 2 cm possiblyin the segment 7 and some fatty liver .

    will do an MRI and see what the docs suggest 

  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #7
    Sorry

    Sorry you are experiencing another setback, but unfortunately I'm not able to answer your question.  Just wishing you the best on your treatment forward. 

    Kim

  • tanstaafl
    tanstaafl Member Posts: 1,313 Member
    #8
    on redos

    Some stage IV people take 5-6-7 operations and special chemistry to become cancer free.  Ann broke her chain of operations when she used perioperative cimetidine too.  Coincidence or not.  The papers are pretty clear that cimetidine users with overexpressed CA19-9 and CSLEX1 (or CEA) get lots luckier with fewer recurrences after their surgery. I would be interested to hear your doctors' comments about any cases of light chemo, like ADAPT, started nearer to the day of liver resection.   My wife has been successful in part for  two reasons (IMHO) - she took cimetidine from the very start and she did chemo right after her para aortic lymph nodes operation, 24 hours later along with wound healing nutrients. 

    The ALPS teams, which you referred to last year, use close spaced liver surgeries. 

  • Phil64
    Phil64 Member Posts: 838 Member
    #9
    multiple liver resections

    I have had two liver resections.  The first one was laparoscopic, done on 4/19/13.  The second was a traditional surgery done on 2/7/14 (almost 10 months apart).  I have also had additional surgeries (two colon resections) and a lung resection. And so I too share your questions and concern.  With my CEA creeping up I'm wondering just how many times surgery will be an option? In the last two surgeries the surgeons explained that they were more complicated than the initial surgeries given the scar tissue formed by previous surgeries.  So I think that may also be a factor.

    Anyway, I'm looking to do whatever I can do to slow the cancer down...  Hence my other post on changing diet, supplements, etc.

    Good luck and thanks for posting this question.  Hopeing to hear from others who have undergone multiple surgeries.

    As an FYI, my chronology is documented on my blog, uder the "Dates" link in the upper right hand corner of the page.  I also have my CEA History documented on my blog.

    Blog: http://PScamihorn.me

     

     

  • Phil64
    Phil64 Member Posts: 838 Member
    #10
    Phil64 said:

    multiple liver resections

    I have had two liver resections.  The first one was laparoscopic, done on 4/19/13.  The second was a traditional surgery done on 2/7/14 (almost 10 months apart).  I have also had additional surgeries (two colon resections) and a lung resection. And so I too share your questions and concern.  With my CEA creeping up I'm wondering just how many times surgery will be an option? In the last two surgeries the surgeons explained that they were more complicated than the initial surgeries given the scar tissue formed by previous surgeries.  So I think that may also be a factor.

    Anyway, I'm looking to do whatever I can do to slow the cancer down...  Hence my other post on changing diet, supplements, etc.

    Good luck and thanks for posting this question.  Hopeing to hear from others who have undergone multiple surgeries.

    As an FYI, my chronology is documented on my blog, uder the "Dates" link in the upper right hand corner of the page.  I also have my CEA History documented on my blog.

    Blog: http://PScamihorn.me

     

     

    fyi

    I found an article that addresses three liver resections:

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1356169/

    It suggests that success after third liver resection is similar to first and second resections.

     

  • Nana b
    Nana b Member Posts: 3,030 Member
    #11
    Phil64 said:

    multiple liver resections

    I have had two liver resections.  The first one was laparoscopic, done on 4/19/13.  The second was a traditional surgery done on 2/7/14 (almost 10 months apart).  I have also had additional surgeries (two colon resections) and a lung resection. And so I too share your questions and concern.  With my CEA creeping up I'm wondering just how many times surgery will be an option? In the last two surgeries the surgeons explained that they were more complicated than the initial surgeries given the scar tissue formed by previous surgeries.  So I think that may also be a factor.

    Anyway, I'm looking to do whatever I can do to slow the cancer down...  Hence my other post on changing diet, supplements, etc.

    Good luck and thanks for posting this question.  Hopeing to hear from others who have undergone multiple surgeries.

    As an FYI, my chronology is documented on my blog, uder the "Dates" link in the upper right hand corner of the page.  I also have my CEA History documented on my blog.

    Blog: http://PScamihorn.me

     

     

    Sorry to hear that

    I believe it's 3-4 months??   I read it some where and thought to myself wow that is quick.  Just questioning myself.

     Sounds like cells are active in your body. Maybe chemoemolization for you.  That is why my ONC wants me to do chemo after this procedure that I am having tomorrow but I have not decided.   

  • sdp
    sdp Member Posts: 181
    #12
    Phil64 said:

    fyi

    I found an article that addresses three liver resections:

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1356169/

    It suggests that success after third liver resection is similar to first and second resections.

     

    I finally had two lesions

    I finally had two lesions ablated with microwave ablation.

    the drs in Germany are very specific as to " no chemo" after this as it will not help and to save it for later .

    my oncologist in india wants me to do a full course of folfiri and erbitux 

     

    drs in Germany say there is no pint as the cancer cells would get resistant and to save the chemo for later when we can't have targeted liver therapies to counter th liver mets 

    so am still at sea - he ct , MRI and ultrasound performed after the ablation show that it was successful ! 

    So what now ! 

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,804 Member
    #13
    sdp said:

    I finally had two lesions

    I finally had two lesions ablated with microwave ablation.

    the drs in Germany are very specific as to " no chemo" after this as it will not help and to save it for later .

    my oncologist in india wants me to do a full course of folfiri and erbitux 

     

    drs in Germany say there is no pint as the cancer cells would get resistant and to save the chemo for later when we can't have targeted liver therapies to counter th liver mets 

    so am still at sea - he ct , MRI and ultrasound performed after the ablation show that it was successful ! 

    So what now ! 

    Sit on your hands

    I too have had a liver ablation. Right now I am in the wait and see mode. My surgical oncologist says we'll just pop them out when they show up. So casual, like he's the one having them done. 

    I'm about to get my third post ablation blood work on Friday and a CT Scan on the 14th.  

    Its a waiting game. 

  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #14
    Sorry

    Sorry that you are going through this and got such difficult news.  I've not been in your circumstance but I'm wishing you well.

    Kim

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