Masses on Liver?

Biotrico:

My wife, age 61, had some discomfort on her right side. After a few doctors appointments she had an ultrasound in mid January and they found five lesions on her liver. A follow up MRI two weeks later revealed about ten. We had a meeting with the Oncologist a few days later who ordered a biopsy and CT scan. The biopsy was done and we are waiting for the results. CT scan is next week and a follow up with the Oncologist the following week to learn what the diagnosis is and what treatment plan will be. It is NOT a cancer diagnosis at this point but sure is pointing in that direction. Liver cancer is usually a secondary cancer that comes from somewhere else in the gastrointestinal system, according to our doctor.

Like you we were utterly shocked by what was found and are very anxious. This came out of nowhere! The testing did reveal nothing on the pancreas or anywhere else that the scan covered. We are very thankful for that! Although we are older than you we are very active too and do a lot of physical labor. It is hard for us not to get caught up thinking the worst. It is a difficult story to share with our family and friends. People are naturally upset by the news and seem uncomfortable responding.

Our lives and priorities turned on a dime following that Ultrasound. Our upcoming meeting with the Oncologist will be one of the most pivotal in our lives. We are going to get good news, bad news, or terrible news and all we can do is act on it, whatever it turns out to be. For us this is a time of prayers and tears, hope and dread. We are trying to remain positive and live as normal a life as possible. There is mental and emotional distraction in working and being busy but we have a lot of nights with little sleep. I go days with that churning anxiety in my gut. I suspect that you are feeling the same way, as are so many others like us at the beginning of this journey.

In spite of my optimistic, half full personality, I feel that constant dread. But, I get a lot of comfort from the success stories of others who are ahead of us on this voyage on this and other forums. The experiences that they share shed some insight and take away some of the mysteries and unknowns. They give me hope!

We are working on diet and supplementation to stay on top of this. I would gladly howl at the moon if I thought it would help! I sure hope that there is something else that this could be and is! In talking to people I was astounded at how many people have cysts on their livers that they are monitoring with their doctors! I guess the use of radiology is discovering many that would never have otherwise been found.

I wish you the best. Stay on top of your care and appointments. Don't take for granted that the staff will follow through on them. We wasted a week waiting for the CT scan appointment. The appointment "never made it to insurance for approval". After a some calls and getting passed around a bit we found a woman who tracked it down for us. We told her that this was for a possible cancer diagnosis and time was of the essence. She said that the e-mail had been delivered. I am thankful that she cared enough that she took the time to follow through for us.  I suspect the e-mail got lost in someone's in box for a week. We gave it a few days and followed up again and got the appointment yesterday.

I am glad you posted. Remember that you are not alone and there are people out there who don't know you but care about you.

Dan

biotrico said:

just got mri, waiting for monday

Hi Dan,

 

Thanks for sharing your story. 

So your wife and I share the same story, livers lesions (mets) found but from no apparent source. Has your wife been given a colonoscopy already? When they found my lesions, I was ordered a colonoscopy asap as it's the most probable place from where they originated from...When I found out my colon+stomach+esophagus were clear, I was happy (because the CT Scan had already saw the other organs and they were clear). I was happy but confused at the same time. I thought liver mets showed up first from a pre-existing cancer that can easily show up on other scans. I don't know what to think at this moment. Just had the MRI scan and I am waiting for results on Monday - this weekend I just want to relax and not think about these past two weeks, they have been really stressful.

My gastroenterologist thinks the lesions are benign as he was unable to find anything on the colonoscopy (just an 8mm polyp) or other tests...but I keep a level of doubt on all of this, a bit hypocondriac on my side

Maybe your wife's condition might be due to some other benign conditions, like Focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH)? Ive read that condition could generate 10 or more lesions on the liver, but benign. But I guess at this point it is just better to wait for the biopsy results. I've read that 30% of the general population have liver lesions.  

Please keep me updated on the findings on your wife's condition, wishing you the best of success.

 

 

 

Biotrico:

So far it is the same story. The MRI targeted her liver but covered an area from about the sternum to the navel. There was nothing that stood out in the pictures other than the liver. There was still a section of her lower abdomen that was not scanned and that is going to be included in the CT scan on Monday. She has a abdominal/pelvic ultrasound a week from Monday as well. We talked about a colonoscopy but have put that off for the time being. I do have some fear that it will be found to be the source, but that's simply a wild guess and gut instinct.

She did very well with the biopsy. They took three samples and they are off to the lab now. She is a little sore from that procedure. She has had some discomfort from her liver but no real pain as of late and all of her liver blood work is within the normal range. We hope and pray that the lesions are benign and can be addressed. If that is the diagnosis I will be the happiest guy in the world!

She lost about 45 lbs (the old fashioned way - she worked at it, not unexplained) the year prior to this and has started making another run at dropping some more weight just prior to this discovery. One of our doctors told us that these things sometimes show themselves after a significant weight loss. Of course now instead of seeing her weight loss as a victory we worry about it. I have to learn more about weight loss and cancer and make sure that we feed the body but not the tumors, if that is possible. I have her tracking her food on her fitbit app so that we can monitor her caloric intake.

I am checking out the FNH you mentioned. It is another focus of hope. I appreciate very much you mentioning that. Her lesions seem to be in the upper righ quardrant and that is were the pain is often focused, according to an article I just read. So, there is a reasonable hope that they could actually be FNH!

I sure hope that you have very happy and joyful news on Monday! I will keep you posted on our progess and I hope you will do the same as you are in my prayers.

Dan

Stage 4 Adenocarcinoma. I started a new thread...

Hello Biotrico,

I read your posts. While I am sorry about having lesions but really glad they are benign! 

I had US test that discoverd a 1.7 cm echogenic lesion in liver with minimal vascular flow. I am really worried while making appointment with doctors. 

I saw you had many tests but you did not do biopsy. Just wondering about it. 

and May I know your doctors names and hospital? 

Thanks. 

Hi Dan. I was reading all the stories here. I wanted to ask you-how is your wife doing?