Big decision about surgery
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Thank you for the advice. At the moment she’s considering not doing the surgery, but the appointment was only yesterday. I truly hate this disease. Last year at this time my mom was healthy and my family was getting ready to go spend a month with my parents. Now this year is entirely different and not in a good way. I am really thankful that I found all of you–you are definitely helping during a difficult time and providing tons of information. Thank you!
Dear Meghan, I can only tell you what Teddy did. When we 6 months to the end and he was offered Palliative chemo he asked the ONC, “IF I was your father what would you tell me to do”. The ONC said if my Dad was 78 I would tell him not to do a thing, enough is enough and quality time is better than quantity. And that help Teddy make up his mind. Actually he asked 2 ONCs and they both said the same thing. Oh he also asked the ONC how much time the Palliative chemo would buy him and they both said a month. These ONCs happened to be right on. I do not envy anyone making this decision. I will be 74 this month and my own personal decision would be for quality time, what ever that may be. Best of luck on this very delicate decision.
Meghan,
I’m not sure what they are talking about doing… Seeding perhaps? I can’t help with the treatment questions, but have to say docs can’t tell you when you are going to die. If they were right, I would be dead over a year now. And I’m still kicking!!
Your mom has a big decision to make. I hope someone was with her and took notes, and any questions can be directed to the office before a decision is made. Any onc and surgeon worth their weight will be happy to answer questions so a good decision can be made.Hello,
My mom had a second opinion today at the Hillman Cancer Center in Pittsburgh. I had been praying for at least one good thing to come from the visit and God answered that prayer. Her tumor has shrunk from 9.5 to 5.5! That’s great news to me!
As far as the big decision (and please forgive me because I don’t know all the details and correct terms because I wasn’t actually at the appointment). I know inevitably this is up to my mom, but here’s what the surgeon said. She’s not a candidate anymore for a liver resection because 3 major blood flow channels are now involved. He said he could go in and do a Perfusion Treatment where the tumor would be bombarded with chemo. She’d also keep up her normal chemo schedule as well. Here is where the trouble lies. Of course there’s always risks and complications with any surgery, but she is 74, almost 75 and has had some mini strokes. So he is concerned about that. The other thing, and I can’t remember it exactly, is that the tumor or smaller tumors could spread like wildfire.
So, the visit was bittersweet I suppose. My mom has to make the decision in the next couple weeks or month. Has anyone else gone through this and what would your advice be? Of course we want to buy her time. Right now the oncologist is saying a year and she’s already 4 months into that year. God willing the surgery was a success, at least we could hopefully have her a few more years. I can’t imagine having to make this decision.
Thank you for your input!
Meghan
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