Liver cancer cont. - chemo before liver surgery??

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musiclover
musiclover Member Posts: 242
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Sorry to start a new thread but I couldn't figure out how to reply to the posts in the last thread I put up ("friend tested positive for liver cancer"). Since the post I've learned he has stage 4 rectal cancer that has spread to the liver - he does not have liver cancer like I thought before. I've also spoken to his surgeon who has a liver surgeon in mind. He is recommending chemo BEFORE this surgery. Here is the plan: First - CAT scan to see if there are more than this one nodule that has tested positive. Second - chemo (not clear on whether this is for six weeks or six months). Third - surgery on liver. Last - reversal of colostomy. He just got out of the hospital from the rectal surgery. He'll have two weeks of rest before they start an aggressive regimen of chemo. I wanted to find out who out there had chemo BEFORE a liver surgery?? It seems like a lot of getting sicker before another intense surgery to me. Plus he had five weeks of chemo before the rectal surgery. Thanks to all for the support!

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  • dash4
    dash4 Member Posts: 303 Member
    #2
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    When my husband was first diagnosed--they found a tumor in his colon and liver. They did one month of chemo--with avastin--it shrunk the tumors 20%--then he had surgery-2 resections and an ablation on the liver. Before he left the hospital (10 days later) his liver functions were already back to normal. It is amazing of the recuperative properties of the liver. Within one month he was back in the chemo routine. They just held the avastin at the start so it would not interfere with his healing process. Hope this helps.
    Dash
  • carmen07
    carmen07 Member Posts: 120 Member
    #3
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    dash4 said:

    When my husband was first diagnosed--they found a tumor in his colon and liver. They did one month of chemo--with avastin--it shrunk the tumors 20%--then he had surgery-2 resections and an ablation on the liver. Before he left the hospital (10 days later) his liver functions were already back to normal. It is amazing of the recuperative properties of the liver. Within one month he was back in the chemo routine. They just held the avastin at the start so it would not interfere with his healing process. Hope this helps.
    Dash

    My husband had chemo for 6 months before he had his liver resection. He had two small tumors 1.mm and 8mm. The chemo shrunk the tumors that they could no longer be seen on his scan before surgery. Than he had 6 months of chemo after.
    I do know that some surgeons will go in and remove both at once. He can get a second opinion and I would recommend a hospital with a Cancer Center.
    My husband was operated on a Tuesday for his liver and home by Sunday. The liver grows back completley. Best of Luck to your friend.

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