Aug 29 2008
Can chemotherapy cure metastatic liver cancer?
From all the metastatic liver cancer stories we gather, few of them are told by a cancer survivor.
Some that passed away did get chemotherapy, but this cancer treatment was only to:
- reduce pain (in case it can temporarily reduce or slow down the growth of a cancer)
- prolong life.
But we get puzzled when reading Kistan2’s comment on Avastin for metastatic liver cancer where she says :
they tried another infusion of Avastin but
we all knew that this next infusion of Avastin
wouldn’t do anything to help my husband
What worries me is where Kistan2 says : we all knew that this next infusion of Avastin wouldn’t do anything.
3 worried questions come in mind…
- when you know Avastin is not going to help, then why is it still given?
- are you sure "all" knew?
Father had clearly asked if there was any chemotherapy that could cure him, and the answer given to father was a clear NO.
Having that knowledge, it’s no point in discussing 5FU, Avastin, Nexavar or what we thought was quite a cute medicine: Xeloda (being a pill that supposedly only starts working when it finds a cancer cell…, don’t be fooled: it’s chemotherapy taken orally…).
- do you tell the patient he or she is dying?
When people don’t know the cancer will kill them, then these people still have hope and courage to try anything.
In father’s case:
if he was told there was hope for a cure,
he would have taken a severe chemotherapy cocktail, no matter what.Severe, as he had secondary liver cancer with unknown primary. In proper English: nobody knew where his cancer originated from, so in order for a chemotherapy to be effective, they needed to fight "all cancers possible".
Always ask your oncologist what can be expected and
how sure he is relying on his experience.
In simple words: in my experience I have a few friends that survived breast cancer after being treated with radiation, mastectomy and chemotherapy. So when I hear ‘breast cancer’ I have hope (knowing very well that treating breast cancer is a much more difficult and much longer road than surviving dengue fever or treating a cold).
When it comes to metastatic liver cancer, my experience so far is: not having encountered any secondary liver cancer survivor. If you have, please ask him or her to share with us his cancer story!
28 Responses to “Can chemotherapy cure metastatic liver cancer?”
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Discuss your concerns with others who have been touched by cancer:
Hi
Ive just lost my partner Jackie 43yrs old to Cancer Metastic Liver Dease with an unknown primary, Jackie had symtoms for only four and a half weeks before peacefully passing away at home.
Jackie never smoked or drank and had a active lifestyle looking after two Children 10 and 5 yrs old.
My self and my children are devistated.
Paul
[...] Can chemotherapy cure metastatic liver cancer? [...]
@Paul
All our hugs and prayers to you and your family. The road is long and hard.
We explained in Jackie 43 years old passed away to metastatic liver cancer why Trish of 43 is a metastatic liver cancer survivor but Jackie is not.
Please leave your support or hugs for Paul and his 2 children.
Hi
I send all of my love and support for those who have been affected by liver cancer either directly or indirectly. My father passed away almost 4 months ago at the age of 55 from this disease. I miss my dad every day that passes. So this is my prayer, I pray that one day liver cancer will be able to be treated and the statistics of those who survive this disease rise. God Bless You All!
HI ya I m so sorry to hear of Jackies Passing away I ve been diagnosed with breast cancer early stage and know i will survive and it hurts me to see people suffer from lost ones Im 41 and diagnosed when 39 never thought i d see this day but am pessimistic and think it will kill me eventually so hope your donig ok hun
[...] Can chemotherapy cure metastatic liver cancer? [...]
@Chrissy
Thanks for sharing, we still have the "4 months" feeling after now 18 months.
More thoughts about your comment at Chrissy’s metastatic liver cancer story
My hug and prayer to you and your family.
I cant begin to explain the hurt and the pain this cancer is causing my life.. Ive just turned 22 and my fathers lying in a hospice awaiting his fate. Me and my father were never close and when I went back to New Zealand in September 2007 (my dads from Norway) I got a letter in the mail in December. It was from him saying hes now found out hes got liver mets.
I remember my whole body just froze and I felt the pressure build up behind my eyes.. the only think I could do was go back. I came back in April 2008 and he didn’t look good at all, and it was only then I realized what a responsibility I had in front of me.
My family here suck to put it lightly and couldnt care less about him. So Ive had to face this war with him alone. There has been a lot of ups and downs and only now has the cancers true colors begun to show itself..
It started with him just not wanting food at all anymore not that he was eating much before that and I just knew I had to call the hospice. His liver has now enlarged in only a matter of three days and his spleen has enlarged to, I broke down in tears when I saw this as i realized this is the next level.. A level im having a very hard time accepting.
It doesn’t make it easier when the family that actually do care are down in New Zealand.. its hard not having anybody here. Im terrified to go see him as im scared as to how much more he will have progressed.. he cant walk anymore or do anything himself and hes just gotten so weak..
I’m just having trouble with the fact that hes never coming home again.. I feel like I’m mourning his death everyday as the pain of it all is so strong.
My birthday wish this year was that I hope he doesn’t suffer a lot of pain when he leaves me behind.. its such a shame we never had that father - son relationship.. and now it will never happen..
I’m scared of when the next bomb will go off.. because no matter what i do.. i just cant prepare myself for this..
[...] Can chemotherapy cure metastatic liver cancer? [...]
@Patrick
All our hugs and prayers.
Get some inspiration in our cancer story at One caregiver is never enough! Patrick’s father has metastatic liver cancer.
Keep us updated with anything you want to share: if writing things down helps you get the burden a bit of your shoulder, please go ahead.
Try to get more family members to help you: any help is better than none. For those who want to help: don’t go and visit like you would visit your brother, sister or neighbour.
A care giver needs:
@Anne
Thanks for sharing and sorry for the late reply. We answered your comment at :
Breast cancer survivor stories - please contact Anne
We request all breast cancer survivors and care givers to share their stories at the sites below, so people like Anne who have to start their breast cancer journey, don’t have to walk it all alone!
Share your breast cancer stories at:
[...] Can chemotherapy cure metastatic liver cancer? [...]
Patrick,
I know how you feel. You just explained my feelings too.
One Tuesday just over five weeks ago I awoke to the start of the worst part of the rest of my life. The day before I had taken my 26 year old son to the doctor with the results of a CT scan which showed colorectal cancer with very serious metatastic liver and some lung cancer and was told that the outcome would be poor.
This came as a complete shock as he is not a drinker, smoker or drug taker. Just a normal laid back down to earth guy.
Later he had to have an emergency operation to relieve the pressure in his bowel which was originally diagnosed as constipation.
Subsequently he has undergone two lots or intravenous chemo and is udergoing the second round of oral chemo.
He is also complimenting these drugs with alternative therapies administered by his aunt an oncology nurse with an Msc. in cancer nursing who also nursed her own way back from breast cancer with these therapies and chemo and is now completely free of cancer.
My son is in good spirits eating well (more than he has done for ages) and gaining weight. He has no repsonsibility to anybody but to just get well and is off work from his normal job in IT.
On his last visit to the oncologist his liver levels were down by 50% which is good.
I will keep you posted on his progress; the main thing I think is to stay positive and stress free.
Wish us well.
Jim
I am sorry to hear your story. It sounds a lot like the road I am on. My mom and my best friend was just diagnosed with breast cancer metastis to the liver and bone - Advanced Stage IV. We celebrated when we thought she beat Breast Cancer in 2006. They did a bone scan and ct scan in 06 that said - 4 foci consistant with mestatis in the bone. Then they did a Petscan and ruled it out. We celebrated!! Then just 2 months ago she started getting sick alot. We thought it was because of the pain meds she was taking for the pain in her back. Then she would not eat and she lost 24 pounds in 2 months. I began playing doctor back in 06 and started a medical library on her. I was with her in every single test - seriously - I was in the room for xrays and ultrasounds and in the prep room of every surgery. I thought I was on top of all her medical issues. In reviewing her records, I brought it to the docs attention that she had diabetes. We were just about to treat her leg blockage when we got hit with this diagnosis. How could i have missed this!??! This cancer has been growing in there for 2 1/2 years and we were worried about diabetes and blocks. Anyway, today she can eat and can’t stop throwing up. She can’t even take any meds for the pain or nausea - that comes right up. She is dehydrated and gets fluids every other day at radiation (which is done M-F - Chemo on Tue). The docs don’t want to say she is dying but IS SHE? What is the path of this brutal disease? Am I on borrowed time? I haven’t left her side in the last 2 weeks except to take care of my kids and husband at home and to work. I don’t want to miss a minute of her - even if it’s holding her barf bucket and wiping her face. My Dad and Mom both are holding onto hope that she will get better soon. I can’t be that optimistic. I saw the cancer in her lung on the screen and the bone cancer all over her body (including her fasical bones). Can someone tell me what stage of this nasty disease we are at? Days, Weeks, Months….. Should I take a leave from my job? Are we at the end? I want to be with her when God takes her. I need to be with her holding her hand when she leaves. Please give me any info and insight you have. I have accepted Gods will but I need the peace of being with her. Please give me an idea where we are so I don’t miss that.
Janet
my father 86 he has copd with lunger, lymph nodes and liver cancer he can do no treatments i pray everyday we have 1 more christmas with him part of me is dieing everyday with him i cant imagine living on this earth without him the hard part is not knowing when i tell him goodnight i love you and kiss him and say i’ll see you in the morning knowing 1 on these mornings i wont see him he deserves a wonderful funeral he was a POW in wwII hes a great and wonderfu manl but i dont even have enough money for a card board box to put him in i am so sorry for all of you that has been and who is going thru this god bless you and all of your families
@Janet
Insist the doctors and specialist to give you a diagnosis (no need to bring your mother along, that if needed can always done in another appointment).
Ask for a second opinion in a center specialised with the diagnosis set by the first doctors and or specialists.
We featured your story at Dying from liver failure where we also talk more about end stage symptoms.
@everybody
Give Nicole a hug:
her father has stage iv lung cancer
I have read many stories posted on this blog as I was trying to find some answers to my best friends horrible diagnosis. My best friend of nineteen years was recently diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer which has already spread to her liver. She is only 32 years old. While I try to keep a positive attitute, I too am starting to mourn her death before she is even gone. Im scared for her. I dont want to see her suffer. She has three young children, one of which is a newborn. The doctors are going to start chemo on her and hopefully shrink the tumors before operating. Im hoping that she is young enough that there is some chance of survival. I know the odds are against her. I dont know how to comfort her, and I also dont know how to fight the tears from my eyes everytime I get on the phone with her and she tells me she cant eat, she’s constantly throwing up, shes weak, and simply tired of living. I keep telling her to fight we have to have faith. I cant bring myself to tell her Im scared shes going to die. The doctors told her she may have 2 to 8 years to live if she responds to chemo. I love her so much, we grew up together and shes a sister to me more than anything. I also lost a good friend of mine to stomach cancer 5 years ago. She died at age 34. I feel like history is repeating itself. I dont know how to Im going to cope watching her go thru chemo, possibly lose her hair and weight, and just overall suffer. Can anybody give me any advice?
@Shiana
Dear Shiana,
We shared our thoughts and answered your questions at:
Death of Patrick Swayze : never start mourning a person who is still alive.
In the case of Patrick Swayze: it’s almost one year that he outlived his cancer diagnosis, so that’s one year his family and friends have been able to enjoy lots and lots of good moments with Patrick Swayze.
[...] Shiana left the following comment at Can chemotherapy cure metastatic liver cancer. [...]
[...] Jim left this comment more than a month ago at can-chemotherapy-cure-metastatic-liver-cancer. [...]
@Jim
We still wish you and your family well Jim!
Since a month has passed between your comment and now,
we featured your metastatic liver cancer survival story at :
Colon cancer spread to liver
We would love to read an update and asked you some extra questions at :
Colon cancer spread to liver
I would like to post an update on my son. He is taking Xeloda and Oxaliplatin intravenous. He was recently told that the tumour in the bowel had shrunk from 1.4 to 1.1cm and the liver cancers were receeding. The oncologitsts were extremely surprised (they actually said the improvements were significant) and have now decided to give him a second round of chemo. He was origianally told that if the first round of chemo made no improvement that would be it. He is on the second round now and after these three he will be going onto Xeloda orally for a time (we don’t know how long).
The other thing is that the oncology dept and hospital have been marvelous and very caring.
Conclusion from report of last scan:
“Internal improvement post chemotherapy in the form of decrease in the size of lung lesions as well as liver metastasis and primary site at sigmoid colon”.
He is still gaining weight and eating well and has no sickness whatsoever and no hair loss; he even looks healthier now than he did prior to diagnosis- albeit he gets tired sometimes. He is also staying positive and we are looking after him so he can get well. His aunt also treats him with relaxation procedures three times a week.
I have to admit that I think the complimentary treatment is helping with the chemo. I don’t know but something seems to be working.
I will keep you posted.
I have so much faith that this is going to work.
Jim
@Jim
We still wish you and your family well Jim!
Thanks for the update that we featured
with some extra questions for you and all chemotherapy users at:
Jim’s son successful secondary liver cancer treatment
Looking forward for your update next month or anytime you feel like dropping by.
Thanks Jim!
I wrote about 1-2 months ago about my father he had lung cancer that had mets to the liver and was in stage 4. my father passed on 12-14-08. it was so quick and the pain i feel is so bad. keep everyone close to all of you and enjoy all time you have with your loved ones.
@Nicole
(Nicole’s lung cancer story is featured here: Give Nicole a hug: her father has stage iv lung cancer)
Give your condolences, hugs and prayers to Nicole!
We know pain is indescribable…
You can still pass Christmas imagining your father is one of the stars in the sky.
Just like we imagined father was the sun that peeped through the clouds on the cold winter-day of his funeral.
Feel free to drop by anytime Nicole!
Hugs, prayers and all our love.