Sandy & Mandy Angiosarcoma of the liver & Metastatic Liver Cancer

Today we thank Mandy and Sandy for sharing their liver cancer stories:

Every cancer story is different: but sometimes you learn more form people who already went the cancer path than trying to figure out what the doctors are saying.

Sandy on Primary and secondary liver cancer treatments

My father died of secondary liver cancer nearly 12 months ago.

He was diagnosed on the first year anniversary of my mothers death, he passed away 6 weeks later with us around him.

He went down hill so fast.

He had 2 primary cancers and 4 secondary cancers.

2 Primary cancers:

  • prostate cancer and
  • bowel cancer.

4 Secondary cancers:

  • the lymph glands,
  • bones,
  • pancreas and
  • liver.

My dad was positive and thought he would last longer than he actually did.

He did not get offered chemo or radiation as it was too advanced and aggressive by the time it was found.

My advice to everyone is, don’t accept one doctors opinion.

If my dad had a different doctor he may be here now, his treatment was not good and he should have been offered chemo after his first bowel operation.

It will not help now, so I can’t recommend more that everyone should listen to their body and get a second opinion if you aren’t happy.

Our deepest condolences Sandy.

 

For all reading this:

 

cancer is not only a medical story,
it’s much more a human story.

 

The medical part

We totally agree with Sandy: always get a second opinion. In our case that were about 5:

  1. father’s GP
  2. my brother’s GP
  3. my other brother’s wife: she is a neuro-specialist and in the early
    years of her medical career she has dealt with lots of cancer patients
  4. the oncologist, liver specialist and colon specialist of the same hospital
  5. the oncologist of the hospital in the region that’s most advanced
    in dealing with liver cancer
  6. I wouldn’t be surprised if we are forgetting a few doctors…

As you can see: the medical part was well covered. But the medical story ends from the moment a doctor says: this cancer we cannot cure.

Suddenly you become a "palliative case"…

 

The human part

Father never showed the positive attitude Sandy’s father had….

 

Father knew he was in for his last ride
driving a car that would fell apart each day a bit more…

 

Then you find out that unlike the 101 doctors available in the medical part, there are hardly any people available for the palliative part…

 

  • A car that’s falling apart and
  • almost nobody to help but your closest family members: those ones having the luxury or courage to make themselves available.

 

And one year later like Sandy writes above: you still feel that things could have been done differently…

 

Make sure you do what all that’s in your power once you or your loved one is diagnosed with cancer because maybe it’s the last ride you will be riding together…

 

Mandy comments on: Angiosarcoma of the liver

Hi Terese and Stephanie,

I am so sorry to hear about your husband and son.

My friend Robynn is also battling angiosarcoma of the liver.

I have read a few postings about gemzar/taxotere being very effective and today that turned out to be the case for us, too!

My friend just received results from her tests that the tumors have shrunk with the gem/tax (which was not the case with the first chemo).

My prayers are with your family, I hope your husband and son find their success story soon. It is so very tough to watch our loved ones suffer…

Unfortunately "trying out" a chemotherapy is not as easy as trying on new pairs of shoes…

  • Listen to yourself first
  • Listen to what the doctors have to say
  • Make sure you are in a hospital that is specialized in the cancer you or your loved one is having
  • Make sure you get a second opinion

Prepare for the worst and hope for the best…

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