Dad’s update
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Rick! Thanks for the information you posted. I thought that transplant was the best option depending on situation and we are currently running into the “not knowing thing” with our local doctors here. We don’t have a tx plan or anything yet for my dad . Still waiting…seems like forever but know it is so not! But I did call U of WA Medical Center and asked if they currently are doing any research etc for CC. They are listed as doing such! So here is to hoping…
I would strongly recommend that you get a 2nd opinion regarding the liver transplant. If it IS localized and there are no mets, and the tumor is less than 3cm, then you are usually a candidate. It is true that immunosuppressants do cause cancer to spread quickly, but with the Mayo Protocol for treatment with chemo/radiation followed by a transplant the 5 year recurrance free rate is over 90%. This is the very best option for the right candidate – and unfortunately a lot of Dr’s don’t know about the success of this protocol.
Whatever route you go, I hope that things will work out well for you. I’ll keep you in my prayers that it is localized and has not spread!!!
Rick
Hi Maebas,
I am glad that you know have a plan and that the doctor has taken the time to explain things to you. And as you say, this helped to settle the fear and unease that you had. We went through the same with my dad and we all felt much better once we knew what we were going to do and what the treatment plan was.
Now the fight begins and I wish you the very best for it and I am sending you loads of positive thoughts.
My best wishes to you and your dad.
Gavin
It’s so much better to have some information, isn’t it – it’s the waiting, waiting & not knowing which is so particularly stressful.
I’m sending LOADS of good wishes for a reassuring CT result & for a quick start to your dad’s treatment.
Julia
Congratulations! You have a plan! That is really good news and now the fight begins and the fear subsides. So happy to read your letter today. That’s all we ask for at this point is at least a plan. A plan gives us hope and also keeps us very busy. Please keep us posted on the progress.
So today was the appt with the surgeon, Dr. Hemming. He is a great doctor! He was very thorough, showed us the MRI scan and explained it, drew a picture for us on a paper and answered all our questions and addressed all our concerns. He really settled the fear and uneasiness we have.
On the downside, at this moment in time my dad’s tumor is inoperable related to the position of the tumor. Dr. Hemming stated that it is not resectable because the tumor is positioned in most of the liver where there would be no blood supply from the portal vein if it is removed. But, he says that we can start chemotherapy to try and shrink the tumor and possibly resect the tumor if it shrinks to the point where it can be safely removed. We are hopeful for this.
Our next step is to get a CT of chest and CT abdomen to rule out if there is any other areas that may have cancer cells. Hopefully not!!! Because if there are others areas involved, removing the tumor will not be an option any longer. But, God-willing there has been no spread. So, I have to schedule those tests for next week. Unfortunately we are going to be changing our oncologist, Dr. Johnson who has been so nice to us. We are going to have the oncologist at the Moores Cancer Center at UCSD La Jolla so that we are teamed up with Dr. Hemming in the UCSD system. I’m sure we will be in great hands there. So we are going to wait for the authorization from my dad’s insurance before we see the new oncologist, which hopefully will be in the next 1-2 weeks.
Our options are as such: If the tumor is localized within the liver we will be doing systemic chemotherapy with gemcitabine and oxaliplatin. Dr. Hemming said chemoembolization may be an option as well if it is localized. The goal is to shrink the tumor so it can be resectable. Dr. Hemming did say transplant is not a good option because he says the recurrence of the cancer happens usually after 6 months post transplant related to the immunosuppressants. If there is mets, we will just be doing chemotherapy. But, i pray it didn’t spread!
So, thats what happened today. I hope the scans go well and we can start treatment ASAP. If anyone has any suggestions please let us know. Thanks again for this support site!
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