Hepatic Embolization of the liver

Leskay
Leskay Member Posts: 26
edited March 2014 in Kidney 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

  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    #2
    We wish you and your fiance the best
    Unfortunately I do not think we can help you in this Kidney Cancer forum. We wish you the best and hope you can find the answers you are looking for.
  • Leskay
    Leskay Member Posts: 26
    #3
    icemantoo said:

    We wish you and your fiance the best
    Unfortunately I do not think we can help you in this Kidney Cancer forum. We wish you the best and hope you can find the answers you are looking for.

    Thank u... I posted it on
    Thank u... I posted it on any cancer site that can have a met to the liver in hopes of a chance of someone being familiar with this procedure. Unfortunetely not much feedback.
  • donna_lee
    donna_lee Member Posts: 1,042 Member
    #4
    Leskay said:

    Thank u... I posted it on
    Thank u... I posted it on any cancer site that can have a met to the liver in hopes of a chance of someone being familiar with this procedure. Unfortunetely not much feedback.

    Mets to liver
    Wow- He does have a tough situation. My kidney cancer had mets to the left lobe of the liver and a set of lymph nodes. They removed both, and took several wedges from the right lobe (all those were negative) in the inital surgery. Is there a chance for a partial hepatectomy? rather than a cryo? Mine recurred in subsequent years in a node each time, with surgery to remove them.
    All I can say is get a specialist, second opinion if you doubt him/ner or yourself, and then go for what you feel is right for you. Good luck.
    And happy Turkey Day.
    Donna

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