2 responses to metastatic liver cancer

Sandra and Glen left a comment on our April Metastatic Liver Cancer post, which we will add below in italics and our feedback in
normal script.

Glen’s Liver Cancer story

Thank you for sharing your story. My mom, aged 71, has been diagnosed as having HHC (Hepatocellular Carcinoma) in April 08. Her MRI indicated multiple Metastasis in her liver (innumerable large and small tumors).

Sounds like father’s diagnosis: lots of words we heard for the first time and when we saw the picture of his liver it became all clear to us: innumerable small tumors scattered in his liver…

Her blood tests indicated elevated Alpha Fetoprotein, and her history of chronic Hepatitis added to the diagnosis of liver tumor.

The liver tumor involves both lobes (which makes it not curable by resection, according to her doctor). She is in pain and takes Hydromorphone.

Father also was in pain due to the expanded liver pushing against all other organs. We tried to keep the pain under control with medicine starting with paracetamol and ending with morphine patches

Doctor said her age and condition doesn’t make her a good liver transplant or liver surgery candidate.

If a liver transplant would have been an option with a certain degree of success, father would have taken that, but he even didn’t have that option because his liver cancer was secondary.

We are looking for all answers and hope to give it our best shot!

If you still have answers Glen, please let us know. For medical answers make sure you get a second opinion and contact hospitals that are specialised in the cancer you describe.

Please update us how it is going.

Sandra’s Liver Cancer story

Today my father was found to have a 12 cm liver mass.

Tomorrow he gets a PET and Wednesday a biopsy.

PET and biopsy as you know being in the field of medicine is standard procedure. Father also had an MRI like Glen’s mom. Hopefully the biopsy gives an answer about what kind of cancer your father has. With our father the biopsy wasn’t any helpful for finding a cure. Yet each case is different and since today is Wednesday, you will get more answers.

Being in the field of medicine I want to see that everything possible is done to save him.
Not knowing all the answers to what he has and how they’ll treat it is exhausting. I can’t lose him yet.

Since you are in the field of medicine and looking at the procedures mentioned above, I am sure you know which questions to ask medically. My sister in law is a specialist herself, and me not being a doctor at all, we did have some clashes… So you will be spared from those useless extra energy consuming fights.

Exhausting is what the future will bring as well, so please update us how it is going.

Please leave a comment to give Glen and Sandra your hugs or to share your knowledge and experience with metastatic liver cancer!

8 thoughts on “2 responses to metastatic liver cancer”

  1. My Mother who is 75 and has always been the picture of health was diagnosed with cancer of the small intestine which has metasticized to her liver. She had a colonscopy a few months ago (she began having them at age 50) but nothing showed up. Her liver is double the normal size now and she is jaundiced. This has hit our family like a ton of bricks! The Dr. gave her 2 weeks to live, but maybe more with chemo. She is doing the chemo for my Dad’s sake. They have been married for 53 years, and he can’t imagine life without her. She is in great spirits and has a wonderful attitude. She told me that she is sad for us, her family. She had a blood transfusion and it gave her so much more energy for a day and a half and then she became very tired again.

    We are taking one day at a time–or at least trying to-and cherishing our time with her.

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  2. Hello everyone. Guess I am joining all of you with the story that my mother, Martha, mama to me has cancer of the liver and bone cancer, and ect. We have been back and forth with this for almost 4 years and now she is going down hill every day. Doctors really don’t know what they are doing any more. Emotional rollercoaster……How do we except death of the people we love so dearly? I will remember all of you.

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  3. My Dad has Bowel cancer and secondary Liver Cancer which is not curable! He is only 55 years old and I am absolutely devastated. He must get his CT and MRI Scan at the end of this week. It is so draining for all of us waiting on results! I am trying to be positive for him but i’m finding it very hard just thinking of him dying! It makes me so sad!

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