Need answers-primary liver cancer

havinghope07
havinghope07 Member Posts: 2
edited March 2014 in Liver Cancer #1
My Mom was just diagnosed with liver cancer and I have sooo many questions. Everythig I'm reading leads to a small survival chance. Can someone please shoot it straight to me? My mom is not ready to talk honestly about it yet-it's only been a few days. All I know so far is that she has primary liver cancer and the tumor is about 10 cm in size. They are going to start her on chemo first, then if it shrinks enough they can do surgery. Does anyone know what stage that means she is in or even an educated guess on how bad it is? Lastly, I thought I read that secondary liver cancer isn't as bad as primary, but that doesn't make sense. Can you clarify?Thank you!

Comments

  • Snoopee
    Snoopee Member Posts: 3
    #2
    Hi-So sorry to hear about your Mom. I have secondary liver cancer.I'm a female 55 years old. I just finished chemo and radiation for esophagel and gastric cancer in July. I found out in november with an elevation of a blood test called C19-9 that a tumor was back. I had a PET Scan and it showed I had 3 tumors on my liver. I'm now taking chemo again and if the tumor shrinks I will have a new type of radiaiton that just zaps those particular tumors.

    Surgery was not an option for me since I haven't been cancer free for very long and they would not do surgery now or in the future because it is in my lymphnodes too. I am at stage 3 and that involves your lymphnodes.

    I'm not a doctor, but it sounds like they want too get the tumor shrunk for your mom so they can operate. Just by talking to my doctors it sounds like things should go well for her according on how they explained things to me. Your liver grows back, you know! The main thing you have to be stong for her and never let her give up as well as you and your family and God will take care of the rest. I wish you all the best. I would call her doctor or go with her to the doctor and ask questions all the time. Write your questions down before you go so you won't forget. Any question comes to mind i'll write it down then and add to it as I come up with some good ones,lol.
    Take Care,
    Diane :>)
  • havinghope07
    havinghope07 Member Posts: 2
    #3
    Snoopee said:

    Hi-So sorry to hear about your Mom. I have secondary liver cancer.I'm a female 55 years old. I just finished chemo and radiation for esophagel and gastric cancer in July. I found out in november with an elevation of a blood test called C19-9 that a tumor was back. I had a PET Scan and it showed I had 3 tumors on my liver. I'm now taking chemo again and if the tumor shrinks I will have a new type of radiaiton that just zaps those particular tumors.

    Surgery was not an option for me since I haven't been cancer free for very long and they would not do surgery now or in the future because it is in my lymphnodes too. I am at stage 3 and that involves your lymphnodes.

    I'm not a doctor, but it sounds like they want too get the tumor shrunk for your mom so they can operate. Just by talking to my doctors it sounds like things should go well for her according on how they explained things to me. Your liver grows back, you know! The main thing you have to be stong for her and never let her give up as well as you and your family and God will take care of the rest. I wish you all the best. I would call her doctor or go with her to the doctor and ask questions all the time. Write your questions down before you go so you won't forget. Any question comes to mind i'll write it down then and add to it as I come up with some good ones,lol.
    Take Care,
    Diane :>)

    Thank you very much for taking the time to read this and respond. You gave great advise-especially the part about being strong and letting God do the rest. I already have about a hundred people praying for her:) I'll be sure to say one for you tonight. I wish you the best-keep fighting!
  • Snoopee
    Snoopee Member Posts: 3
    #4
    Thank U, I will cetainly keep your mom in my prayers too. If you get a change you might want to go to my web page ( Snoopee) and check out in the gallery on What Cancer Cannot Do. Once I read it, it has been with me every since. What truth it does hold in every word. It will touch your heart and besure to share it with your mom and anyone else.Please let me know how your mom is doing from time to time. I just signed on last night to this site. I think it will be very good for me.......Take Care......Diane
  • chooch
    chooch Member Posts: 1
    #5
    I read your message with interest, as I was diagnosed in November with primary liver cancer (had been very healthy to that point). There are so many questions you need answered, and going with your Mom will help you to understand this disease, as well as give her really important support. When we're being given bad news, we don't always hear everything that's being discussed - so a big help to me was my sister who has come to every appointment with me, as well as keeping a notebook of questions/answers. Write them down as you think of them because when you're in the oncologists office, it's easy to forget what you wanted to ask.

    I was diagnosed with 15-18 tumors, one as large as 10cm, the rest varying sizes. The cancer that I was diagnosed with is cholangiocarcinoma - it is primary liver cancer in and around the bile ducts. I was also told that this cancer has a low response rate to treatment, and as there are so many tumors, it is inoperable.

    Hold your faith! I have had a terrific response to chemo (Gemcitabine/Cisplatnin), and the tumors are shrinking daily. I know my mental attitude has helped immensely, as has the help of friends and family - staying positive and active is the best advice I can give. Even when your Mom feels terrible, a short walk outside to clear her head and get some fresh air will not only help her mentally, but physically she needs to be moving.

    I send prayers to your family. Keep strong, wear a smile, and keep your faith.

    Nancy
  • hopefulone
    hopefulone Member Posts: 1,043 Member
    #6
    Hi . My husband is stage IV colon cancer with mets to the liver. I had to respond, as I believe cancer... is cancer. First, don't pay attention to statistics. Most are outdated, and frankly they are just numbers. Someone is in that 2 percent or 4 percent or 6 percent or whatever survival percent, so why not your mom! Keep positive , research all options you can . Liver resections are done more now than they ever were, RFA (radio freq. ablation may be an option ) so may cryosurgery. There is also chemoembolization , etc. Keep the faith . The road may be long , but God is in the driver seat and you can't have better company than that! . God Bless and good luck to your mom .
  • thomast
    thomast Member Posts: 5
    #7
    In April of 2001 my wife was diagnosed with either "cancer of unknown origin" or "cholangiocarcinoma" when a large liver tumor was found. After much discussion as to which it was, we followed the advice of the surgeon who believed it was cholangiocarcinoma, and he removed 70% of her liver. Pathology tests could neither confirm or negate the diagnosis. At the time there was no other cancer evident, but the physical recovery from the liver surgery was slow and difficult. Then, nine months later it showed up again as a single tumor in her brain. It also was operated on, completely removed and the spot was then treated with"Gamma-knife" radiation. (Recovery from the brain surgery was very fast.) She then had 6 months of chemo to try and destroy any other cells which may have been in her body. There has been no evidence of any cancer since. It has neen six years since the original diagnosis and over five years since the cancer was removed from her brain. She is active and well. Miracles do happen. Have faith, pray & put this in the hands of God. He will decide our future. We have no real control.
  • amylea
    amylea Member Posts: 2
    #8
    thomast said:

    In April of 2001 my wife was diagnosed with either "cancer of unknown origin" or "cholangiocarcinoma" when a large liver tumor was found. After much discussion as to which it was, we followed the advice of the surgeon who believed it was cholangiocarcinoma, and he removed 70% of her liver. Pathology tests could neither confirm or negate the diagnosis. At the time there was no other cancer evident, but the physical recovery from the liver surgery was slow and difficult. Then, nine months later it showed up again as a single tumor in her brain. It also was operated on, completely removed and the spot was then treated with"Gamma-knife" radiation. (Recovery from the brain surgery was very fast.) She then had 6 months of chemo to try and destroy any other cells which may have been in her body. There has been no evidence of any cancer since. It has neen six years since the original diagnosis and over five years since the cancer was removed from her brain. She is active and well. Miracles do happen. Have faith, pray & put this in the hands of God. He will decide our future. We have no real control.

    Hello, On November 1st 2006 my mom had surgery to remove her cholagniocarcinoma. They removed 60% of her liver and galbladder. She had 6 weeks of chemo and radiation. This has been such a frightening event. It was so nice to hear your story.
  • CK801
    CK801 Member Posts: 3
    #9
    thomast said:

    In April of 2001 my wife was diagnosed with either "cancer of unknown origin" or "cholangiocarcinoma" when a large liver tumor was found. After much discussion as to which it was, we followed the advice of the surgeon who believed it was cholangiocarcinoma, and he removed 70% of her liver. Pathology tests could neither confirm or negate the diagnosis. At the time there was no other cancer evident, but the physical recovery from the liver surgery was slow and difficult. Then, nine months later it showed up again as a single tumor in her brain. It also was operated on, completely removed and the spot was then treated with"Gamma-knife" radiation. (Recovery from the brain surgery was very fast.) She then had 6 months of chemo to try and destroy any other cells which may have been in her body. There has been no evidence of any cancer since. It has neen six years since the original diagnosis and over five years since the cancer was removed from her brain. She is active and well. Miracles do happen. Have faith, pray & put this in the hands of God. He will decide our future. We have no real control.

    My father has the similar situation he was diagnosed with liver cancer two weeks ago and underwent chemoembolization. They know the tumor did not originate from the liver. But at the emergency room they also saw 8 mm lesion on his lung. Did your wife blood test came back positive for tumors when she got diagnosed with liver cancer? because my father blood test came back negative.
  • zippy1960
    zippy1960 Member Posts: 1
    #10
    amylea said:

    Hello, On November 1st 2006 my mom had surgery to remove her cholagniocarcinoma. They removed 60% of her liver and galbladder. She had 6 weeks of chemo and radiation. This has been such a frightening event. It was so nice to hear your story.

    hello this is zippy i have been through a huge battle with cancer myself 8 years ago im clean as a whistle now thank god! but my other half has primary liver cancer he had 6 tumors originating in the liver they did what they ca;ll a resection of the liver put it simply they took 4 of the tumors out.two are still there and can not be taken out as they are inside the live itsself AND HE HAS MORE TINY ONES GROWING NOW INSIDE THE LIVER. SO HE WILL NOT DO KEMO BECAUSE IT HURTS HIM MORE THAN HELP HIM AT THIS POINT WE ARE USING ALTERNITIVE MEDICINES ,THAT ARE BRINGING HIS BLOOD WORK FOR THE HEPATITIS ALMOST ALL BACK TO THE NORMAL RANGE EXEPT FOR THE CANCER MARKER WHICH IS A ALFA FETA PROTIEN MARKER AND HIS ALKALIKE PHOSPHATE LEVEL IS STILL HIGH, OTHER THAN ALL OF THIS HE IS DOING OK RIGHT NOW. SO ILL PUT YOUR MOM ON OUR PRAYER LIST. ALL I CAN SAY IS HANG IN THERE AND LOVE HER.AND LAUGH ALOT Cause we all never know whats coming next.if you have any questions we have been going through this since march of this year i can probley answer quit a few of them.as for her stage of cancer it depends on the type of cancer there are more than one kind that originate in the liver, some cancers can be taken out completely!! so dont go gettin g upset quit yet! and i myself think the secondary liver cancer is worse because it is someplace else also! besides the liver. the liver can rejuvinte after trauma the othere organs cannot!
    hang in there and live and love and laugh always im praying for u all
    zippy1960

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