Metastasis to liver - treatment options

dancer2 said:

liver mets

i started a session but only two responded. I was diagnosed in oct of 15 with a colon tumor (cancer) and one lesion in liver and two tiny spots one in each lobe...liver spot was ablated out the following april and was told by the radiologist it was successful and no new spots anywhere and that was just at the end of may of 2016. a month later had to have pt/ct scan for my oncologist and he just told me my liver glowed and i now have six new tiny spots in the lungs and four in the liver and said come back in 3 months. i, of course, want them out and since the oncologist said nothing about seeing anyone else i went back to the radiologist who explained matters to me and his suggestion was the thereasphere procedure which you can look up. however, he did not say he talked with my oncologist or not so i went back to my colon surgeon and she basically told me that metastisized cancer is in the blood and one needs chemo and gave me a card for another doctor ( and she recommends no one) and i see that doc tomorrow. at this point in my journey i have come to realize we are all basically alone, so be on top of it. I have had two doctors tell me they are baffeled why my onc said what he did. one told me to go see a certain doc at the mayo in minnesota if i wanted to hear from the best. my original doc at least told me to go see what this local doc has to say...don't ask about prognosis, it will play with  your mind. as you can tell from this site, many live with it and deal with it as it comes.........it's getting a good doctor imho. this is a great site and full of good, helpful information.

I am so sorry you are facing this giant! I pray that you will find the doctor that has the most wisdom and will receive the answers and help you need.  The Lord bless you and keep you and make his face shine upon you!

Bellen said:

Liver mets

Hello all - Grace, you said you were able to maintain your weight.  My Onco mentioned giving me a steroid to increase my appetite - were you ever given a steroid?  Any other suggestions? The dietician mentioned several small meals, which I already do pretty much because of my abdominal fullness after eating and also by the end of the daY feeling quite full.  Hoping the anti-nausea or other? might help me to maintain.  Having colonoscopy Mon and port Wed, so finally things are progressing. Will report back after Wed appt with specific chemo plan, and I hope others can share any suggestions that might support my treatment and side effects.  Thanks so much everyone - very much appreciated. Wishing everyone the best. 

Bellen- I  was given Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate, which is a  glucocorticosteroid, before the Folfox  infusions and currently  get it before the Erbitux and irinotecan infusions, too, along with the anti-nausea meds. I also find it better to eat several small meals rather than three larger ones. I avoid fried foods and most processed food, along with  junk food. We eat fish and chicken rather than beef, pork, etc. and I try to get  a lot of  fruits and veggies, although I've discovered that raw fruit doesn't agree with me any more with the exception of bananas,so  I  usually find a way to incorporate fruit in a cooked sauce or heated salsa.  When I just don't feel like  eating solid food, I'll often make an avocado/banana/yogurt smoothie which is thick enough to eat with a spoon and leaves me feeling  full without feeling stuffed.  I  eat a fair amount of yogurt and take a probiotic and that seems to help keep my gut flora working well.

Good luck with the colonoscopy and the port placement- will be thinking about you.

Grace/lizard44

PhillieG said:

HAI @ MSKCC

On Sept 20, it will be 12 years since I had my HAI pump installed at MSKCC. Best thing I did from a medical standpoint. It hasn't been in use since mid 2005 but I still have it in there and get it primed every 2 months or so in the event that I need it. Once it's take out, there's no reinstalling it. I'll get my deposit back when I "check out" for good.
My Onc, Dr. Kemeny, has a 60% 10 year survival rate using the pump. Why it's not used more is a mystery to her and to me as well. As she put it, "it's not rocket science"...

Good luck with everything.
BTW: I have met many people who fly in for all over to have consultations with her.

http://imgur.com/a/rv66d  (that's dot g i f )

PS: Why can't I add images anymore???

The images feature - including smilies - hasn't worked since the last 'upgrade'.  

AS someone who REALLY likes to add smilies and emoticons to messages, plus pictures, I find it very frustrating. I have emailed them several times concerning this, but have had no real reason given me for the change. 

Good to see you, as always, Phil.

SUE

Bellen said:

Liver mets

Hi Linda - Thank you for your info. Had such awful mouth sores with initial cancer had to use a swab instead of toothbrush - had sores under tongue, in throat, everywhere - maybe moreso called thrush. Came on very suddenly. Want to be proactive as I am trying to maintain my weight also - quite thin already, and worried about not being able to eat - already having diff with fullness and discomfort when eat small meals. Is the biotene a toothpaste? Wonder if baking soda would work. And intend on swishing with some mixture ahead of time, although my Onco had said it may not prevent.  

Yes Biotene has toothpaste, mouthwashes, dry mouth sprays and other products. They dont prevent but when you have the sores it doesnt add to the pain when you brush. Very gentle and effective. You can use baking soda too.I also had geographic tongue. My tongue would swell and turn white and have strange lines and formations on it. The magic mouth wash dr can prescribe for you helps with the sores. nothing really prevents them. Its just knowing how to deal with them so you can eat and keep your weight up.

best wishes

Linda

Bellen said:

Liver Mets

Hello all - Well, had one of the worst weeks. The prep for the colonoscopy was the worst ever had (very ill) - maybe aggravated by stomach/organ issues and I also have a stricture in my small intestine believed to be scarred area from previous radiation years ago.  Also had port put in Wed and next day had blockage pains probably from constipated induced pain meds given to me, plus sedation twice in few days, etc. So it has been an awful week - and haven't even started my treatment.  I have been told that there is an area that appears cancerous in colon (biopsy will confirm) and I have multiple spots in liver.  I will be having folfufi chemo cocktail with avastin this Fri start.  I know some of you have had this chemo - would you mind sharing anything at all that you can, in terms of how you felt right after and on it, medication or things that alleviated some of your symptoms, when did your hair thin or if you lost it and when that started.  I will go through the info on this site as well, as I know some of you have already given some great suggestions, and is there an area in this Cancer Survivor site that lists symptoms and what people used to help.  I am very nervous about mouthsores, as I was ravaged by them when I had cancer 11 yrs ago.  Also have lost 5 lbs which I am not happy about, but I had a very hard week with too many procedures/problems when I couldn't eat. I can't afford to lose weight and I was trying to put on ahead of treatment. Thank you so much for your suggestions and support so far.  

Sounds like you have really had a bad time this past week.   I hope you now have all the really nasty stuff behind you and the rest of it goes much  better and you are able to eat  to keep your weight up. Will be sending  positive thoughts  as you begin your chemo treatments that they do what they are supposed to do with minimal side effects.  Can't really help on the Folfiri plus Avastin as I haven't had that particular combination but am sure somebody will come along wih more specific help.  Hang in there and try not to stress too much- although that's easier said than done, I know.

Grace 

Bellen said:

Dancer2 - did you start treatment

Hello Dancer2 - Wondering if you started your treatment and if it is similar to mine - fulfiri + avastin.  If you see this message, hope you respond.  Best to you.

yes, i just finished the third chair session this week...........i get avastin, with irinotican ( folfiri) correct me if I am wrong someone....they may throw some leucovorin? in there with the antinausea and steroids............then go home with the pack with the 5FU. I sit in the chair for hours,  take the pack home and wear that night, the next day, and go in on the third day and have it flushed and get hydrated...then am given the granix ( three syringes to take home and give myself which i can do)..........this go around i am staying nauseated longer and am getting some diarrhea.....the eyes are getting more blurry and so far have not had handfuls of hair fall out..........which in my case i expect simply because i bleach, color, bleach ad nauseum...........after next month i will be scanned and go from there..................have to ask the docs lots of questions, as some are so busy ( mine left a cancer center and started her own stand alone practice inside a hospital, so is still getting all the ducks in a row to put it in a silly way) I am not sure why i am taking the granix instead of the nuetropen or neulasta shot but i figure she knows better.....my last wbc was within range, but the rbc were a little low....she told me to eat oysters........oy vey........liver...uhuh....so mentioned liver pate so may give that a try, dress it up with mayonnaise or something and swallow whole......still juice when i am not to nauseated and that does help for a wee bit, as does ginger drops..........but what helps me, is stuffing a piece of bread down only i gained four pounds and sorry all you guys, ain't letting my backside get bigger since i am accustomed to being in shape.....xanax helps a bit too...........not sure how unless it relaxes t he stomach muscles and keeps acid production down...........I think of all of you and you are in my prayers..........just so glad to be a member here....by the way, i am to lazy right to proof read so do forgive the type's....

hi bellen, just wanted you to know that i am given the granix for low wbc count, tho it is not that extreme.........so be it.....the nausea is bad but like i said, stuff a piece of bread down and that helps with the absorption of acid and then i will also take something like temazepam at the same time to calm matters down and that helps also........but always tell your doctor.....mine just told me that xanax was good for nausea also.........as for constipation, well my first go around with another doc and other drugs was horrible with a capital H as in Hell..........so this time around i just told this new doc i was going back to my health food store brand which works...........does not work the first two days after the pump is disconnected tho i take them but then add some MOM........well, that gave me diarrhea.............not fun........but the pills worked today and the nausea went down a lot......and i always take a sleeping pill or i'd never sleep, unless i have gone to dance class or gardened for hours..............i have no problem with doing without them when i don't need them......but always discuss this with t he doc...........since we are all different.........i do not have other issues but cancer..........unless we take in STRESSSSSSSSSS.......which i am sure we all have.........oh yes, i cannot take miralax..........tried it, and all it did was constipate me to the point of tears and on came the gloves and the good ole manual 'let's do it the lpn way'............no, water ( which i am guilty of not drinking enough of) and my whole foods colon laxative work for me and that alone makes the tummy feel better...........not sure why i was told to not really take vit. c, but will anyway..............keep in touch.