Questions about treatment options with mets to the liver

unclaw2002
unclaw2002 Member Posts: 599
edited March 2014 in Esophageal Cancer #1
Hi all,

Well we got the Pet Scan results for my dad and they are a mixed bag.
1. The lymph nodes show no activity at all.
2. The tumor in the esophagous has an SUV level of 2 - the doctor said that had he not been diagnosed with EC (his SUV level was 10) that a 2 would be something they would watch but not do anything about (of course I am not sure how I feel about that approach :))
3. The Pet showed two active spots in the Liver a SUV 9 and 4 - which indicates that the EC may have moved to the liver. And one of the spots is close to his lungs.

So right now they are going to biopsy the liver and esophagous. Of course no date yet for the procedures. I have to tell you that I get so frustrated over the lack of urgency.

My father wants to get a second opinion about all his options and he wants to fight this with everything he has. And you have to love his optimism and fighting spirit ... he said "well hey Cindy there are alot more treatments and interest in the liver and more money for research so the survival rates are somewhat better --- plus maybe I can finally get that miracle drug Erbitux". Gotta love his spirit and right now he said he almost died with all the stent complications and he came back from that, and my mom survived 2 months in the hospital so he isn't afraid of killing her anymore and is ready to take on a new fight. I guess coming back from the edge changes your perspective even when you are 78 and were scared to death of having surgery. So I have been enlisted to do the research and try to figure out where to go from here. One thing is sure he isn't going to rely on what the hospital in New Orleans tells him, thank God.

So any advice or help --- I am already looking at the TheraSphere option --- but noticed there are limited places to get the treatment, so Sherry I will welcome your advice and research on that particular treatment. He is still looking at the possibility of the MIE for the removal of the esophagous because with a SUV reading of 2 there could be lingering cancer cells and if he is a candidate lazer surgery/or an MIE procedure on his liver.

Thanks in advance for everyones help.

Cindy

Comments

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #2
    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • stepmj
    stepmj Member Posts: 32
    #3
    Hi Cindy -
    My Dad just had a
    Hi Cindy -
    My Dad just had a similar treatment yesterday call SIR-Spheres. Similar to Theraspheres - which one is best for you is up to the doctor. He was diagnosed with EC a year ago with mets to the liver at diagnosis. His pet scan 2 weeks ago today showed the chemo was no longer effective on his liver so he sent us to talk with Dr. Nutting (Denver) about this process.

    We won't know the full scope of side effects for a few weeks (although so far he actually feels better than he has in months), and we won't know the effectiveness for a couple months. But until then I'd like to address the urgency issue you raise.

    My Dad was having trouble swallowing so he went to his primary care dr. and the following events happened in rapid succession over the next 10 days. Swallow test, endoscopy, pet scan, first meeting with the oncologist, port installed and first chemo. That was last July.

    Another example is more current. My Dad was doing weekly labs to check his counts - when he went on June 30th (wed), his weight was down 6 lbs from the previous week after fairly steady loss of only 1-2 lbs per week. The doctor ordered an PET scan for the following morning (Thurs), he reviewed the results with us that afternoon and we had a meeting with Dr. Nutting on Friday. He started the Sir-spheres the following Wed with the 1st step and did the 2nd step today. Our heads are spinning at how fast things have happened but we could not be more happy with the focus on my Dad's case and the interest in doing what is best for him.

    Make sure you have doctors you and your dad believe in.

    Dad is 85 - he has the same kind of spirit your dad has!! Amazing!!

    Take care and keep us posted-
    ~MJ
  • 38sallyb
    38sallyb Member Posts: 87
    #4
    stepmj said:

    Hi Cindy -
    My Dad just had a
    Hi Cindy -
    My Dad just had a similar treatment yesterday call SIR-Spheres. Similar to Theraspheres - which one is best for you is up to the doctor. He was diagnosed with EC a year ago with mets to the liver at diagnosis. His pet scan 2 weeks ago today showed the chemo was no longer effective on his liver so he sent us to talk with Dr. Nutting (Denver) about this process.

    We won't know the full scope of side effects for a few weeks (although so far he actually feels better than he has in months), and we won't know the effectiveness for a couple months. But until then I'd like to address the urgency issue you raise.

    My Dad was having trouble swallowing so he went to his primary care dr. and the following events happened in rapid succession over the next 10 days. Swallow test, endoscopy, pet scan, first meeting with the oncologist, port installed and first chemo. That was last July.

    Another example is more current. My Dad was doing weekly labs to check his counts - when he went on June 30th (wed), his weight was down 6 lbs from the previous week after fairly steady loss of only 1-2 lbs per week. The doctor ordered an PET scan for the following morning (Thurs), he reviewed the results with us that afternoon and we had a meeting with Dr. Nutting on Friday. He started the Sir-spheres the following Wed with the 1st step and did the 2nd step today. Our heads are spinning at how fast things have happened but we could not be more happy with the focus on my Dad's case and the interest in doing what is best for him.

    Make sure you have doctors you and your dad believe in.

    Dad is 85 - he has the same kind of spirit your dad has!! Amazing!!

    Take care and keep us posted-
    ~MJ

    Spheres
    We just put in a call to Dr Nutting's office today. Sounds like they move VERY quickly, which is what we want. Where are you in CO? We have to drive about 150 miles, so we'll try to get it done all in one week, as they suggest for non-locals. We sent the last PET scan and hope to have an answer soon about whether my husband is a candidate.
    Sally
  • stepmj
    stepmj Member Posts: 32
    #5
    38sallyb said:

    Spheres
    We just put in a call to Dr Nutting's office today. Sounds like they move VERY quickly, which is what we want. Where are you in CO? We have to drive about 150 miles, so we'll try to get it done all in one week, as they suggest for non-locals. We sent the last PET scan and hope to have an answer soon about whether my husband is a candidate.
    Sally

    Spheres
    We actually live in the Denver area so it's been easy for us.

    The process for Dad was an angiogram on Wed the 7th - this is to "map" the path to the liver and clamp off arteries where they don't want the beads to go, and also to do a test run of beads to see exactly where they go. Then on the 14th we went back for the actual beads.

    Both procedures were "easy" (it's all realtive, right?) with no issues after - no pain, nothing.

    I hope things work out and your husband is a candidate - my Dad really, really likes Dr. Nutting and all his associates. Let me know when you get word and I can help by sharing our experience.

    Fingers crossed!!
    ~MJ

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