The latest “Plan of Attack”
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Dnicetry….Dr. Fong has much experience with CC and I would feel very comfortable with him as I would with Dr. Kemeny. I am very interested in their possible approach of implanting a pump to deliver the chemotherapy and would love to know more about it. The events sure have taken on a different turn for you but, indeed the contemplated approach sounds very promising. Keep up your spirits. This cancer likes to throw curveballs at us but, we don
Hello, Last month I had an appt. with Dr Fong at Memorial Sloan Kettering. He said that the growth of tumors in the left lobe of my liver along with the large tumor in the right lobe leaves resection out as treatment. However, I have an appt. on June 1st with Dr Kemeny at MSK to evaluate suitability for the implantation of a chemo pump that feeds directly into the hepatic artery. This allows for a much stronger concentration of a derivative of 5-FU. Dr Fong would do the surgical implantation. There is data that shows very good results with tumor shrinkage. The people I met at MSK were very helpful and friendly. Here’s hoping.
PeaceHi Walk, the CA19 was the only one Mom mentioned. She never said anything about the AFP. They appear to both reflect cancer diagnostic tests. Good point though, different docs likely have their own sets of diagnostic tools that they monitor.
-Tess
Dnicetry,
Keep focusing on the positive and get a second opinion. If you are still healthy enough to work then I think another doc might be willing to go for it. My mother was resected even though she had a pacemaker/defibrillator and was still smoking.
Patty
Tess, Jim:
Was the AFP mentioned? I have copies of my father’s labs and haven’t seen the CA 19 on there and I am wondering if it goes by something else. AFP is the only of my dad’s numbers that are a tip off for liver trouble, that and, oh yeah, he has a mass as big as his hand….
I found this informative on CA19
http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/ca19_9/test.html
Hey David, sorry to hear about the news you received this week. My Dad was told by 9 out of 10 docs that his cc was unresectable & that chemo was the only option. A doctor, just down the road from you- in Sayre PA (at the Robert-Packer Guthrie) said that he’d be willing to try to resect if they could reduce the size of the tumor just a bit. So they were pursuing chemo & planning radiation via brachytherapy (8 out of 10 others also said no to radiation). Both the radiologist & the surgeon on his cc team are fairly new to the Guthrie. I believe Dad’s tumor was somewhere between 2.5 & 4 at that point. The nurse told us that this doc was not afraid to attempt such surgery, as was not the case with all surgeons. His name was Dr. Douglas Trostle, General Surgeon, Phone: 570-882-2388. Just thought I’d pass that on in case you were interested in locating a second opinion. Best to you as you move forward with plan B.
Jim, the doc told my Dad that three key diagnostic tools that he was looking at, when assessing the overall state of the progression of the cc, was the CA-19 tumor marker, the CT scan showing the size of tumor and the bilirubin level. He indicated to Dad that while the chemo had halted the growth of the tumor, the assessment was not favorable because the other two factors were not in his favor – noting that the bili level & CA-19 were on the rise. The docs interpreted this to mean that the cc was progressing. But Dad’s levels were high, bili levels were up near 22 & his CA-19 fluctuated between 9,000 and 27,000. Wishing you the best Jim.
-Tess
Dnice
I understand the size of the tumor can be reason to cancel surgery, but I don’t understand why they would cancel the chemoemoblization. Was there another reason than size? My father has an 11×14 cm tumor and never has size been mentioned as a reason for not doing chemo embolization.
I defer to others with more experience, but one thing I have learned is not to take the first no as an answer.
Peace!
David,
sorry to hear of your disappointing turn of events…
I too had some disappointing news yesterday…. Oncologist indicated that last C-scan indicated no shrinkage on tumor despite the 3 weeks of radiation & into 3rd round of chemo. He did indicate that my CA-19 had come down to within normal range… anyone that can explain how tumor is still large ( 11 cm ) & yet this enzyme marker has dropped ?My “Plan of Attack” was changed for the very worst last week. First on Wednesday a we were driving to the hospital for the embolization procedure the cell phone rang and it was the Special Procedures nurse informing us that the procedure was canceled. A phone call from the Surgical Oncologist explained that the embolization was canceled because the CT from the week before revealed that my tumors had grown too large for a successful resection. An appointment with a Radiation Oncologist on Friday had the same outcome; My tumors were too large for tomotherapy. I have an appointment with my Oncologist to work out a Chemo regimen. It doesn’t seem promising. Peace
David Nice :
I find your progress encouraging… I too live in Rochester & am working with the staff @ Wilmot. I’ve undergone Tomotherapy already ( 15 straight days ) & just completed my 2nd round of Gemzar & Xeloda. I’m scheduled for a CT scan next week to determine if I’m resectable. My case sounds almost identical to yours..
11cm tumor on right lobe ( hopefully now shrunk ).I am so so happy for you. I hope this plan of attack kicks some cancer butt and you have a wonderful success with it. Please keep us informed. There are so many posts about helpful hints and what to expect so please look at them.
Best of luck.
Kris
Good luck to you. I will be hoping for the very best. Keep us informed as to how you are doing.
Peace,
Darla
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