Hepatic Embolization of the liver

Leskay
Leskay Member Posts: 26
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
My 35 yr old Fiance was diagnosed with Stage IV Parotid Gland cancer (a salvitory cancer) in August 2010. It has spread to his spine (6 tumors- C5, C6, C7, T1, T3, T10) and to his liver (10.6cm tumor).
After a surgery to remove the primary tumor, radiation and two rounds of chemo (taxol and carbo-platin)they have pulled him off conventional chemo and put us on a waiting list for a trial. On the chemo the liver tumor grew 15% in 45 days versus 25% in 20days before we started the chemo. The dr deems that a failure but it seems to have slowed the growth to me.
They have decided to do a hepatic embolization to his liver in an attempt to starve the tumor. Does anyone know anything about this? Does it work? For how long? Any severe side effects?
Any info would help........

Comments

  • pepebcn
    pepebcn Member Posts: 6,331 Member
    #2
    Hey leskay !
    I see you pay attention to my suggestions about ask in this board I'm sure my colleagues will response very soon to your question , there are quite a few here with experience in chemo embolization!
    Hugs and welcome to this board!
  • Leskay
    Leskay Member Posts: 26
    #3
    pepebcn said:

    Hey leskay !
    I see you pay attention to my suggestions about ask in this board I'm sure my colleagues will response very soon to your question , there are quite a few here with experience in chemo embolization!
    Hugs and welcome to this board!

    No responses yet :(

    No responses yet :(
  • Lori-S
    Lori-S Member Posts: 1,277 Member
    #4
    Leskay said:

    No responses yet :(

    No responses yet :(

    Hi
    I don't have the experience you're looking for but, the board is busier either early in the morning or a little later (after work) in the evening. So, hang in there ... someone will be along, I'm pretty sure.
  • Kerry S
    Kerry S Member Posts: 606 Member
    #5
    I had liver chemo embolization 12/08
    Leskay,

    I had liver chemo embolization 12/08. The doc that did it said he killed off ½ of my liver.

    It worked great for me as I have not had any recurrence in the liver from that date. It was not a hard thing to get over. Hardly felt like anything was done to me.

    I did have recurrence this year in the rectum. While the doc was in there he did a hands on check of the liver and said it is in great shape. PET scan also says the liver is still clear.

    Kerry
    Forgot to tell you that he will feel pain in the right shoulder. That is where you feel liver pain. The pain was not that bad or around that long.
  • Leskay
    Leskay Member Posts: 26
    #6
    Kerry S said:

    I had liver chemo embolization 12/08
    Leskay,

    I had liver chemo embolization 12/08. The doc that did it said he killed off ½ of my liver.

    It worked great for me as I have not had any recurrence in the liver from that date. It was not a hard thing to get over. Hardly felt like anything was done to me.

    I did have recurrence this year in the rectum. While the doc was in there he did a hands on check of the liver and said it is in great shape. PET scan also says the liver is still clear.

    Kerry
    Forgot to tell you that he will feel pain in the right shoulder. That is where you feel liver pain. The pain was not that bad or around that long.

    Lori- thank you
    Kerry,
    He is
    Lori- thank you

    Kerry,
    He is having the embolization as I type from the waiting room. The right shoulder??? I have never heard that as a side effect. Funny enough he has complained of pain to the right shoulder before but we always assumed it was a side effect of the tumors on the spine. If you dont mind me asking how big was the tumor on your liver? Is 10.6 big or moderate? Was the liver cancer your primary? I wish we were getting chemo with the embolization. I hope your doing well now!
  • Kerry S
    Kerry S Member Posts: 606 Member
    #7
    Leskay said:

    Lori- thank you
    Kerry,
    He is
    Lori- thank you

    Kerry,
    He is having the embolization as I type from the waiting room. The right shoulder??? I have never heard that as a side effect. Funny enough he has complained of pain to the right shoulder before but we always assumed it was a side effect of the tumors on the spine. If you dont mind me asking how big was the tumor on your liver? Is 10.6 big or moderate? Was the liver cancer your primary? I wish we were getting chemo with the embolization. I hope your doing well now!

    I am doing fine I think
    Leskay,
    The tumor showed on the PET as one small spot on the liver. When the doc opened me up to do a liver resection, he did an oh sh@# and just closed me back up. There was cancer all over the top of it. My primary was in the rectum as was the recurrent tumor.

    I am doing fine I think. 8.4 more days of the damn bag to go. Stay positive.

    Kerry
  • Leskay
    Leskay Member Posts: 26
    #8
    Kerry S said:

    I am doing fine I think
    Leskay,
    The tumor showed on the PET as one small spot on the liver. When the doc opened me up to do a liver resection, he did an oh sh@# and just closed me back up. There was cancer all over the top of it. My primary was in the rectum as was the recurrent tumor.

    I am doing fine I think. 8.4 more days of the damn bag to go. Stay positive.

    Kerry

    Gotta love the Oh S@!t
    Gotta love the Oh S@!t response LOL I am glad your doing well!

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