Please Read This And Lend Some Information (If You Have Any)

I'm 21 years old, from NJ, and about 4 weeks ago my father started to complain that he had severe pains around his liver area. One night he had a very high fever that went away the next day. My moher and I immediately told him to go to the doctor, in which he did. They did an MRI and it turned out they found an 8.9 X 9cm tumor on my father's liver with lesions. They did more tests on my father, claiming the tumor could be malignant. After doing a biopsy..it turned out to be maignant. The doctors were almost certain it was also metastic. They ran more tests, so far his lungs colon, spleen, and galbladder are fine. They claim it might be coming from the pancreas but they still are doing more tests to find out (especially since another MRI he had showed that the pancreas was fine). Doctors are claiming that they can't operate since this tumor is very large and they feel an operation could not only kill him but make the cancer spread. Now, at this point I have no idea if this is liver cancer or cancer of some place else. Doctors want to start my dad on chemo to help shrink this tumor and also stop the spread of the cancer if it is coming from some place else. My father is willing to do whatever it takes to get better.

Today my father went to the doctor and according to the reports they said my father is very sick and they cant wait much longer and want to start him on chemo ASAP. The only thing they are extremely confused about is the way my father acts...he is eating normally, he has no more pain around his liver area, he hasnt lost weight, he isnt yellow and neither are his eyes, he isnt weak or has a loss of appetite.

Like I have said earlier, I am 21 years old..my father will be 60 in November. No one in our family has ever had cancer before so I feel like my world is slowly crumbling around me. I am very close to him and am just confused as to why he is showing no signs of being extremely sick as the doctor's say.

I am new to all of this so I was wondering if someone could help me and lend me any information or stories...anything!!

I guess my question here is...with chemo, would that really help to shrink a tumor as large as my fathers? Is there anything that can help repair his liver? The doctor thinks a transplant is a bad idea right now. My father isnt a drinker, but is a very heavy smoker...and after finding out all of this information has quit smoking. Doctors are also shocked that his lungs are fine considering how heavy of a smoker he was.

Like I have said, my father shows no symptoms of having a cancer in an advanced stage. No weight loss, no yellowing of the skin, he eats normally...thats why everyone is so confused.

If anyone could lend me any information or stories or anything it would be much appreciated.

Thank you!
-Nicole

Hello, Nichole, I am sorry to hear of your Father’s cancer diagnosis. My wife Dawn (47yrs old) was diagnosed with Cholangio carcinoma on Dec 15th 2005. Cholangio carcinoma is actually bile duct cancer; her tumor was within the liver originating around the bile duct so it is treated much like liver cancer. She was fortunate enough to have a liver resection (portion of her liver removed) on Jan 12th and is doing OK thus far. I have seen cases from this board and others where tumors have been reduced enough from chemo therapy to enable them to have surgery. A second opinion may be in order. Also, some of the other boards such as the Johns Hopkins discussion board can help give you a broad understanding of the situation your father and you face, as well give you another place to ask questions and share experiences. I am not a medical professional – just a husband of a cancer patient that has been tying to educate himself as much as possible about this disease.

God Bless and try to keep a positive outlook.

Richard

Nicole, I am 44 years old with Stage IV colon cancer with metastasis to the liver (10 tumors)
In my case, the colon is the priority then the liver and I have been on chemo since February.
The liver is an organ that can regenerate after a significant resection (removal of cancerous growths ). At 60 he is still young and should consider chemo which would hopefully reduce the tumor to an operable size. Research on the net can be discouraging as it is statistically based with poor prognosis. Pay no heed to the numbers - each person is different. Best of luck in your journey. Ian C

Nicole,

First thing I would do is get a second opinion. I had my second opinion at Sloan Kettering, in New York City. I had lung cancer now in remission. I was given Tarceva along with my chemo. I have read a lot about Tarceva, and know that it is used to treat Liver and the pancreas. You can google Tarceva. One web site below will give you some info on Liver treatment. There have been some great results with Tarceva. I would certainly ask about it. If I can be of any more help let me know.
Ernie


http://patient.cancerconsultants.com/news.aspx?id=35017

Nicole,

Here is another web site. That was started by Richard Bloch. He was given 3-6 weeks to live. He died 24 year later of heart trouble. You can order a free copy of Fighting Cancer. This book will tell you of all of the dos and don'ts. You can also click in the upper right hand corner on each chapter, read it on line or download it while you are waiting for your copy to arrive. Just copy and paste the address in your browser. There is no cancer that someone has not beaten.
Ernie


http://www.blochcancer.org/fighting/fightcan.html

Hi Nicole, I'm a 63 year old man who plans on beating stage 3(maybe stage 4 HHC when the tests come back) and I share some of those things as your Dad.I'm not yellow,about 75% of my liver was removed also gall bladder ,tumor was 15 lbs and my appetite is back.First things first---Is it primary liver cancer or did it move to there?Primary or HHC is more difficult to deal with but you are a major componet in your Dad's future.Keep him positive ,read the other messages about second opinions and encourage him to enjoy what he wants.Life is good.

My dad is supposedly in stage IV of a cancer the doctors dont even know of yet...they think its pancreas cancer but arent 100% sure which gets me annoyed...but as far as I know they are completely sure my father's cancer in his liver is from somewhere else.

My whole family is trying to keep a positive outlook...it just very difficult, especially since my mother is an EXTREMELY nervous person and she has been strong through all of this but its hard when she tells me things like "he could die" and all of that. of course I know that, but even realistically I could step outside and be hit by a car and die...so with all that is going on, I understand something horrible like death could happen...but I'm trying not to think that way!!

And like I have said, it makes it even harder because my dad eats, isn't losing weight, and isn't yellow...so looking at him makes it seem like nothing is wrong.


I'm just trying to do my best in dealing with a situation, that I know happens to millions of people, but when it happens to you, it's just confusing. It's kinda like one of those "oh that can't happen to me" kinda things, and then when it does you step back and say "wait this isnt supposed to be happening!!!"

I just pray alot know and hope for the best and try and stay positive. I just hope it will all be okay.

Thank you for the comments and god bless you on your journey.

Thanks for the information! I will definately pass this to my dad!!!! :)

I'm 41 and a mother of three. In 2002 I found a huge tumor (about the size of a small football) on my abdomen that turned out to be a pancreatic tumor. It metastisizd to my liver. I had the tumor removed, about 40% of my pancreas, my spleen and gallbladder. I also had recurring liver tumors treated in various ways since then. My doctors didn't recommend chemo because they felt it would do more harm than good. They did embolization and resections until they couldn't control it any longer and I got approved for a liver transplant in 2005. (I had my transplant in March 2005.) The entire time of having the tumors, I never once felt sick, looked sick, or had any symptoms. The doctors could never understand it and told me I should feel a lot sicker. Your dad is very fortunate to feel good and any treatments he gets will hopefully cause minimal side effects because he seems pretty healthy. I have focused on nutrtition and take several supplements which I believe have kept any cancer from recurring. Get several opinions on your dad's treatment. M.D. Anderson is one of the best. There are options out there that some doctors aren't aware of. Keep the faith.

Hi, Nicole..I am going through the third bout with cancer. Mine is metastasized cervical, and is now in my liver and one in my lung, as well as a bunch of "floaters" in my abdomen. I am not sure about lymph node invasion...I went to Nashville a couple weeks ago, about the liver and was asked to get an updated Catscan. (Mine was 9 months old.) So I got a new one and it showed a tumor in my lung and three new tumors on the liver.(Totalling 5 now) This doctor in Nashville (Skyline Medical Center-a part of the Sarah Cannon Cancer Centers) has a technique where he goes in with a needle (You're asleep)and actually burns the tumors.He only does this with lungs and the liver. It is an out patient procedure usually, but the nurse told me I might be overnight...I am going back hopefully next week to see what or if he can help me...I quit smoking last July, with no problem...And my lungs always looked very good to my doctors..(strange, huh?)I would have quit earlier but was dealing with losing my husband,along with a misdiagnosis where I couldn't eat real food for 20 months...I have a good appetite now, and feel good, except for neuropathy in my feet and legs, and occasional pain in the middle of my stomach. My oncologist has me on Navelbine chemo.I will post what I find out next week. The website for this doctor and hospital is www.PremierRadiology.com ....God bless you and your family, Donna