Pancreatic liver mets - our (positive) liver radioembolization experience

Hello all,

Angus (Stage 4 adenocarcinoma with liver mets, dx Mar 2012, Whipple April 2012) had a liver radioembolization with Yttrium-90 microspheres on Nov 20th 2012, and just thought I would share our experience here in case it was helpful for anyone.

The procedure itself was painless, but the recovery - almost 6 weeks to the day, as predicted by the interventional radiologist - was very hard. He slept for about 4 weeks solid, lost about 6kg, had bad sweats and fevers, hallucinations, nausea, and of course liver pain. Then, as if emerging from a fog, he suddently began to get better and was able to have a relatively normal Christmas. Energy has been great, nausea abated, still some abdominal pain (which could of course be the result of his Whipple), but no sweats and excellent appetite and generally good constitution.

Although the radiologist said that you couldn't really tell if it was 'working' for at least 3 months, and tumour necrosis can continue for up to a year (!), we saw our oncologist on Friday and were absolutely delighted to hear that the CEA was halved, and the CA19.9 dropped from 3000 to 900. 

So, I just wanted to share this information and to let you all know that if you have any queries about this, please let me know and I shall try and answer.

With this targeted therapy, our supplements, and traditional Chinese medicine, we are hoping that the integrative approach will work for us...

Stay strong and positive everyone: Cancer Fighters Thrive!

Catherine & Angus

What supplements are you taking?  Tell me more about the Chinese Medicine?  Thank you for sharing your POSITIVE experience!

Have you had experience with this treatment?

Hi Catherine and Angus.  I'm new here and joined because my husband, Jim, as stage 4 pancreatic cancer with a few spots on his liver.  I'm also new to all this terminology.  What is a whipple and a radioembolization with Yttrium-90?  Jim goes into the IR once a week to have his abdomen drained.  It accrues about 6 liters of fluid each week.  They have recommended that he have a drain inserted so that it can drain at home.  He has rejected this idea because bathing could cause infection problems and taking a bath relieves the pressure in his abdomen.  Jim is also in a clinical trial using  a Gemzar and Abraxane chemo cocktai.  His tumor marker months ago was at 246,000.  It is now down to 12,000.  He even gained a few pounds but is still quite skinny.  Any information you can give me would be so appreciated.  Thank you.  Margie

YES, can someone tell me or explain more. please ? (chinese medic. and herbal treatments?) 

Hi CatherinAngus, my husband also has Stage four Pancreatic CA with mets to his liver. We have been in remission twice since April 2011. We have also been informed that his cancer has returned (1/9/13) at the surgical bed (Whipple 5/5/11) he also had his right kidney removed as cancer was found there at the same tine as the pancreatic was discovered. both cancer sites were primary. Our oncologist wants us to have radiation which we are resisting, preferring to have a procedure with RF Ablation to the surgical bed and a small site in the liver which has returned. We have been informed that radiation could damage or worse, destroy his remaining kidney. Our oncologist hasn't mentioned radioembolization to us which is a lot scary if you ask me. We met with him on 2/6 again and we will ask him about this treatment. It doesn't sound fun, but between Ablation or radioembolization much preferable than radiation to our ears and hope. Thank you for sharing. Donna