May 07 2008
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!

















