CancerCompass message board discussion started by 3BoysMom on 9/21/2007 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,16370,0.htm Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ I am posting on this message board to hopefully gain a realistic view regarding liver cancer and it's treatment. I am the mother of three teenage boys.  Their father (age 44) and I divorced 7 years ago.  He resides in Washington State.  I remarried and relocated to Tennessee 6 years ago.  The relationship between their father and I has been "strained" to say the least, since the divorce and relocation.He called me approximately 3 weeks ago to inform me that "he was very sick and that he needed to come to talk to the children about his illness". It took about an hours worth of conversation for him to tell me that the doctors had found two tumors in his liver.  One the size of a baseball, and one the size of a golfball.  He indicated that all the tests that had been run indicate that the cancerous tumors are completely contained within the liver.He indicated that the only reason he went to the doctor was because he had just recently had some difficulty with breathing, and that he had started to experience some right side pain.  He is a very healthy person, who works out all the time, lifting weights, running in marathons, riding with a quad club.  He is small in stature only 5' 7" and about 150lbs.  He said he never noticed or felt the large tumor until the doctors found it. I need to add that on both sides of his family - his mother and his father - that the leading cause of death is cancer.  So of course compiled with this diagnosis from him - I went in freakout mode, thinking about my own son's futures.  I immediately went to the computer and did some research.  I was floored to continually find that this type of cancer has a very grim survival rate.I also researched the treatment procedure that he had undergone the week following his diagnosis.   He has had one treatment of Chemoembolization.  And at this point, he has reeled back with information regarding his condition.  All he will say is "I've had one treatment, and it's all good, and I'll be around for a very long time because they treated me early enough".  I understand that he is trying to be positive.. and only think of the "best case" outcome, but can anyone tell me what might be the "reality" of this agressive cancer with this type of treatment.  Part of me believes that some of his attitude is denial, but I'm not completely sure.As he has pretty much stopped discussing his condition me, I am not to sure where else I can turn for possible questions, that I may have.  I am also concerned with how to discuss all of this with my sons (ages 16, 15 and 13).   They know he was diagnosed with the tumors/cancer but he just tells them to look forward to a long future with their dad.  I guess I just don't want them to be blindsided with something on the other end of the spectrum if things don't work out the way he hopes.     I would appreciate any information that anyone might be able to offer regarding my situation.  Thank you and God Bless all of you.   3BoysMom Fri, 21 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT  On 9/21/2007 3BoysMom wrote:I am posting on this message board to hopefully gain a realistic view regarding liver cancer and it's treatment. I am the mother of three teenage boys.  Their father (age 44) and I divorced 7 years ago.  He resides in Washington State.  I remarried and relocated to Tennessee 6 years ago.  The relationship between their father and I has been "strained" to say the least, since the divorce and relocation.He called me approximately 3 weeks ago to inform me that "he was very sick and that he needed to come to talk to the children about his illness". It took about an hours worth of conversation for him to tell me that the doctors had found two tumors in his liver.  One the size of a baseball, and one the size of a golfball.  He indicated that all the tests that had been run indicate that the cancerous tumors are completely contained within the liver.He indicated that the only reason he went to the doctor was because he had just recently had some difficulty with breathing, and that he had started to experience some right side pain.  He is a very healthy person, who works out all the time, lifting weights, running in marathons, riding with a quad club.  He is small in stature only 5' 7" and about 150lbs.  He said he never noticed or felt the large tumor until the doctors found it. I need to add that on both sides of his family - his mother and his father - that the leading cause of death is cancer.  So of course compiled with this diagnosis from him - I went in freakout mode, thinking about my own son's futures.  I immediately went to the computer and did some research.  I was floored to continually find that this type of cancer has a very grim survival rate.I also researched the treatment procedure that he had undergone the week following his diagnosis.   He has had one treatment of Chemoembolization.  And at this point, he has reeled back with information regarding his condition.  All he will say is "I've had one treatment, and it's all good, and I'll be around for a very long time because they treated me early enough".  I understand that he is trying to be positive.. and only think of the "best case" outcome, but can anyone tell me what might be the "reality" of this agressive cancer with this type of treatment.  Part of me believes that some of his attitude is denial, but I'm not completely sure.As he has pretty much stopped discussing his condition me, I am not to sure where else I can turn for possible questions, that I may have.  I am also concerned with how to discuss all of this with my sons (ages 16, 15 and 13).   They know he was diagnosed with the tumors/cancer but he just tells them to look forward to a long future with their dad.  I guess I just don't want them to be blindsided with something on the other end of the spectrum if things don't work out the way he hopes.     I would appreciate any information that anyone might be able to offer regarding my situation.  Thank you and God Bless all of you.   Hello,I was just recently diagnosed with stage 4 liver cancer.  I sure hope that your sons don't get cancer like your husband.  But it is good to keep a watch on them just to be sure with their family history and all.  Let me know how all are doing.Turtle23 turtle23 Wed, 24 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT Hello,I was just recently diagnosed with stage 4 liver cancer.  I sure hope that your sons don't get cancer like your husband.  But it is good to keep a watch on them just to be sure with their family history and all.  Let me know how all are doing.Turtle23  Turtle23, Thank you so much for writing.   I am truly sorry to hear of your diagnosis, and I hope that you are surrounded by the love of your family and friends for strength.  And also, that you are in the hands of the best medical providers.  As of this writing, I haven't heard much more regarding my ex's health condition and/or his current or future treatments.  He has told my sons (never me)  that he was going to be scheduled for a second round of chemoembolization in the very near future.  He tells them things like he has been released to work out and do some running and light lifting at the gym.  Maybe he is getting stronger.. and that's a good thing.  Please write and keep me posted on your status and progress.  I will definitely keep you in and your family in my thoughts and prayers..  3BoysMom   3BoysMom Wed, 24 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT 3boysmom: I am also sorry to hear of your diagnosis. I had a hepatacellular carcinoma removed from my liver in March. The doctors say they got it all and I didn't require chem or radiation. I will however, continue to do blood work and ct scans every few months. Liver cancer has a very high mortality rate, primary because it continues to reoccur at a fairly high percentage. I cannot emphasize strongly enough to have your ex seek treatment from an institution that specializes in cancer. They are so far advance from local hospitals that it is hard to believe. Mayo in Rochester, MN and Cleveland Clinic are excellent along with USC medical center in Southern California. Chemo may be able to shrink them so they can be surgically removed, although on of them does seem to be rather large. I will pray for you.Points00  points00 Wed, 31 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT