Newly diagnosed HCC

harleyman123
harleyman123 Member Posts: 1
edited March 2014 in Liver Cancer #1
Hello everyone, I am a 47 year old male who was diagnosed with HCC (liver Cancer) this week. I have an 8.3cm tumor and a 1.4cm tumor both located in the right lobe of my liver. The doctors have suggested chemobolization as the primary treatment for my cancer. This treatment is non-curative. Has anyone else undergone this proceedure? I have found very little info on the web and would like to know more about results of the treatment as compared to the size of the tumor(s) being treated. I also would like to know about the true side effects of this treatment. Doctors tell me if I do nothing my life span (on average) would be measured in months or maybe a year. This is all kind of surreal to me as this was dicovered during routine medical examination and I feel just fine. I am still working 2 full time jobs, coaching soccer and doing everything I usually do. It seems strange to be close to death but yet I feel so good. Some background info: I have had Hepetitis C since 1975 and taken interferon therapy as well as pegasys to try to rid my body of the virus. Since I have carried this virus around for over 30 years, my liver is also chirottic. I sure would love to hear form anyone who has tried chemobolization and what the result was as I am struggling with a quality of life issue.

Comments

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #2
    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • offutt9
    offutt9 Member Posts: 88 Member
    #3
    Hello!!! I have liver cancer too. My cancer is called angiosarcoma of the liver. It is a very rare cancer. I have never smoked or drank. Mine is not cureable either, but they do a procedure called RFA (radio frequency ablation) On me. They gave me only 3 months in 2003, but God said he would heal me and I believe him.. RFA has worked for me... Ask your doctor about this. I don't know much about chemobolization, but my doctor said it wasn't for me. My cancer is in the blood vessels of my liver. That is why it is so rare. Check out all options,ask questions about all other treatments and then search it out and then decide. If you are not sure, Please get a second opinion. Its your life... I wish I could be of more help, I will keep you in my prayers. In Gods Love ...Barbara
  • offutt9
    offutt9 Member Posts: 88 Member
    #4
    Hello!!! I have liver cancer too. My cancer is called angiosarcoma of the liver. It is a very rare cancer. I have never smoked or drank. Mine is not cureable either, but they do a procedure called RFA (radio frequency ablation) On me. They gave me only 3 months in 2003, but God said he would heal me and I believe him.. RFA has worked for me... Ask your doctor about this. I don't know much about chemobolization, but my doctor said it wasn't for me. My cancer is in the blood vessels of my liver. That is why it is so rare. Check out all options,ask questions about all other treatments and then search it out and then decide. If you are not sure, Please get a second opinion. Its your life... I wish I could be of more help, I will keep you in my prayers. In Gods Love ...Barbara
  • atherne
    atherne Member Posts: 3
    #5
    I think I may have been in a similar situation last year. I was diagnosed with late life diabetes in 2001 and following on from that one of the registrars took an interest in my iron count leading to a diagnosis of haemochromatosis-I think thats how you spell it, anyway that led me to the Liver Clinic of the Mater Hospital in Dublin where they put me through a regime of test procedures while stabilising the blood iron, oits a very simple and wholistic procedure, they just take blood and balance your count that way, during this time I was diagnosed with Hep C. In 1983 I had been told that I had non-specific hep, thats because they only named in '87. They also told me that I had accute chirrosis and wanted to carry out further tests, this meant more biopsies, a sample of tissue from a tumour- which they then called an irregular growth, finally in late jan. last year they told me that I had seven tumours but they all seemed benign, they did not think that removl was an option as they were spread all over the liver and there was alaso a substantial ammount of dead tissue, they recommended a transplant and said if i was willing they would pass me over to Vincent's Hospital also in Dublin, which is the national Liver Transplant Centre. The alternative was a possible year to 18 months before death.
    So not much of a choice there - my largest tumour was 7.5 cm.the next 5 cm and the rest between 2mm and 2 cm.
    Not much of a choice heh, so after a lot of shock, denial, anger, pity and finally acceptance I got an appointment in Vincent's Hospital, the National centre for Liver Transplantation in Ireland.
    After another three weeks I was undergoing warm -ups to ascertain how the rest of my body was. A further week in Hospital in July for right herat studies and finally on 07/07 I was on the list. Seven weeks later I got a call at 1 a.m. and my journey began.

    I feel great , 11 months now and i can honestly say that every day brings new joy.
    Keep a positive outlook in is the best cure to fight any form of cancer, I know that it is hard, try a bit of medication, learn to love yourself and recognise that you have the right to more time and that you are only going to good during that extension, thats the deal and I really hope that it works out for you,
    Get in touch if you like and any help that i can give is yours, i had something wonderful passed on to me and I want to pass on all that I can

    Keep safe and keep ypur spirit up,

    Atherne

Discussion Boards