Liver Resection Question

Otto605
Otto605 Member Posts: 14
in Colorectal Cancer #1

Hello all,

I am new to this forum and have enjoyed reading what people had to say.  While wanting to participate, until now I’ve had no questions and little feedback to offer that hasn’t been offered already.

Here’s my question:

Has anyone been diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer and gotten to the point where resection if the liver was viable and if so, what did they do, how did it go, and what was your prognosis following surgery?

My history: mid-50s.  Diagnosed at stage four 18 months ago with metastasis in the liver and both lungs. 

 

Started standard of care chemo immediately and have been going every other week since.  Initial prognosis at Yale-New Haven and second opinion at Dana Farber said surgery was not an option and likely to never be so. Scan results showed shrinking tumors throughout.  My latest scan results indicated the lungs were completely clear and the liver tumors shrinking that if the shrinkage continues we should consider surgery. CEA has been less than minimum detectable for the past six months.

Comments

  • Butt
    Butt Member Posts: 352 Member
    #2
    I had the resection us

    I had the resection us installation of Hai pun 3 weeks ago. Took out the whole right lobe, ablated a piece on the left lobe. Lasted 3 hours, walked holding a nurse the same night. Now weakness and fatigue but go to work everyday (office job). Driving permitted 10 days after the surgery. Prognosis they have no clue. Everyone is different. Mine was in FL close to home.

  • abita
    abita Member Posts: 1,152 Member
    #3
    I had a liver resection. I

    I had a liver resection. I had 4 infusions before and will have 12 in total. My lesions were big, but fortunately located so that could be removed.  My prognosis is good. The surgery definitely took a while to heal from. I still have a pain in my rib, but I think it is a small price to pay. I am looking forward to resuming my life when I get done with chemo.

  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #4
    Welcome

    Welcome to the boards and I'm glad that you found us.  I'm not able to help you with your questions, but there are many on this board that can.  Come here often, if just to read other's posts.  There is a wealth of knowledge on this board.  Hope you get the answers you need.

    Kim

  • Ruthmomto4
    Ruthmomto4 Member Posts: 708 Member
    #5
    My husband is/was also treated at Yale

    they treated him with chemo for 6 months then told him the surgeon there would not do the resection. He was afraid of  the location. We went to Sloan where they ablated one tumor due to location, and resected the rest. Also, inserted a HAI pump for chemo. He will now be doing his chemo through them in Westchester Ny. He did not have any disease anyplace else. Call them worst case they say no, but it never hurts to get another opinion.

  • Butt
    Butt Member Posts: 352 Member
    #6
    Additions

    Also, if you don t gave anyone to help after you get out of a hospital you can do stuff by yourself. I don t gave family in the US, so I had to do all things  by myself. Get a bunch of groceries before and get slow in your activities but all cooking, laundry, cleaning was on me since my hospital release. 

  • Otto605
    Otto605 Member Posts: 14
    #7
    Ruthmomto4 said:

    My husband is/was also treated at Yale

    they treated him with chemo for 6 months then told him the surgeon there would not do the resection. He was afraid of  the location. We went to Sloan where they ablated one tumor due to location, and resected the rest. Also, inserted a HAI pump for chemo. He will now be doing his chemo through them in Westchester Ny. He did not have any disease anyplace else. Call them worst case they say no, but it never hurts to get another opinion.

    What they tell you

    Yes. I will get a second opinion on whether to get surgery or not.

    I was surprised to read the oncologists notes and I only did so because of a report the oncologist sent to my place of work (I am federally licensed and am under requirements that include my health.). Maybe inhaven’t Looked deep enough into my on-line medical records.

    Thanks for the thoughts.  Please keep them coming.

  • Butt
    Butt Member Posts: 352 Member
    #8
    Surgeon

    You need to see a surgeon who does this stuff.My oncologist told me immediately that I am not resectable. At the same time 2 surgeons said that I am absolutely resectable. I don t know where you live but I have a good one in FL. Butt.

  • PamRav
    PamRav Member Posts: 348 Member
    #9
    Last years surgery

    i was diagnosed stage IV CRC with mets to liver on 12/28/16.  I started chemo with the goal of shrinking the lesions so that they could be surgically removed.  It only took three rounds of the strongest chemo to shrink them to the point that the surgeon was ready and willing to operate.  March 31, 2017 I had one side of the liver resected and the other side abalated.  I also had , during the same operative setting a bowel resection.  i did very well after the surgery.  Ended up having another abalation in June of 2017 for a scan that was read as cancer. Fortunately there was no cancer present that time.  I then had 5 rounds of chemo which finished at the end of August 2017.  I have been NED since my first surgery.  Never asked about my prognosis cause imo it’s all a big guessing game at this point  and who needs that kind of negative energy in their life?

    the pain after the surgery was manageable, you’ll need to take it easy for awhile to let yourself heaL.

    wising you all the best. 

    Pam 

  • impactzone
    impactzone Member Posts: 555 Member
    #10
    Stage 4 here dx 12 years ago

    Stage 4 here dx 12 years ago and had liver resection done at Stanford. Dr Woo.

  • Otto605
    Otto605 Member Posts: 14
    #11
    PamRav said:

    Last years surgery

    i was diagnosed stage IV CRC with mets to liver on 12/28/16.  I started chemo with the goal of shrinking the lesions so that they could be surgically removed.  It only took three rounds of the strongest chemo to shrink them to the point that the surgeon was ready and willing to operate.  March 31, 2017 I had one side of the liver resected and the other side abalated.  I also had , during the same operative setting a bowel resection.  i did very well after the surgery.  Ended up having another abalation in June of 2017 for a scan that was read as cancer. Fortunately there was no cancer present that time.  I then had 5 rounds of chemo which finished at the end of August 2017.  I have been NED since my first surgery.  Never asked about my prognosis cause imo it’s all a big guessing game at this point  and who needs that kind of negative energy in their life?

    the pain after the surgery was manageable, you’ll need to take it easy for awhile to let yourself heaL.

    wising you all the best. 

    Pam 

    Thanks, Pam.
    Paul

    Thanks, Pam.

    Paul

  • Otto605
    Otto605 Member Posts: 14
    #12
    Butt said:

    Surgeon

    You need to see a surgeon who does this stuff.My oncologist told me immediately that I am not resectable. At the same time 2 surgeons said that I am absolutely resectable. I don t know where you live but I have a good one in FL. Butt.

    Thanks, Butt.
    Paul

    Thanks, Butt.

    Paul

  • Butt
    Butt Member Posts: 352 Member
    #13
    Also, if you work for the

    Also, if you work for the government when you have an open enrollment you may want to get some insurances. E. g. a hospitalization one. I work for the government too and some of them are automatic. E.g. I could get a life insurance with stage 4 without any exams. 

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