Uncertainty About Recovery

Hi there,

I've a very close friend who has been diagnosed to have 3rd Stage Liver Cancer in March 2007. His cancer had spread to the large intestine. His white blood count was also low and a bone marrow transplant for this complication did not worked out. He also had some lung infection.

 He has one more Chemo treatment to go and his doctor has informed that there would not be a need for any surgery on his liver. He sounds alright on the phone now and not weak like before.

 Is Chemo alone enough to control the cancer cells? Would there be a sudden or gradual drop in his health if the cancer cells becomes active again? Will there be recurrence of liver cancer again or is Chemo only a pallative treatment?

 I've read from many sites where prognosis for those without surgery is estimated to be only a year and it was confusing for me to find survivors here who lived over a year. It gives me mixed feelings about my friend's condition and his possible prognosis. How do I prepare myself and his girlfriend who is fighting alongside with him in this condition to go through with him in the time to come, with only so little information that we have with regards to his liver cancer?

On 7/31/2007 MSWSilas wrote:

Hi there,

I've a very close friend who has been diagnosed to have 3rd Stage Liver Cancer in March 2007. His cancer had spread to the large intestine. His white blood count was also low and a bone marrow transplant for this complication did not worked out. He also had some lung infection.

 He has one more Chemo treatment to go and his doctor has informed that there would not be a need for any surgery on his liver. He sounds alright on the phone now and not weak like before.

 Is Chemo alone enough to control the cancer cells? Would there be a sudden or gradual drop in his health if the cancer cells becomes active again? Will there be recurrence of liver cancer again or is Chemo only a pallative treatment?

 I've read from many sites where prognosis for those without surgery is estimated to be only a year and it was confusing for me to find survivors here who lived over a year. It gives me mixed feelings about my friend's condition and his possible prognosis. How do I prepare myself and his girlfriend who is fighting alongside with him in this condition to go through with him in the time to come, with only so little information that we have with regards to his liver cancer?

Hello,

I have just been diagnosed with stage 4 liver cancer.  It originated in my uterus(endometrial cancer) back in June 2005.  I am unsure of what Chemotherapy will do to me but am willing to try something to get relief.   I am told Chemotherapy will shrink the tumor.  I sure hope so.

Please keep me updated on your friends condition.

turtle23