colleen
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Lisa – no one has ever said directly what could or would happen with the tumor wrapped around the vena cava. I know the tumor has caused narrowing of the vena cava, which they keep an eye on. From what I have read, if the tumor was to compress it too much, so that blood flow is affected it would be very bad. Unfortunately my husbands tumor is wrapped around all the major blood vessles/supplies in and out of the liver, which of course isn’t good and is the main reason we have been given for no surgery or transplant options. The main concern right now is trying to stop the spread of the cancer, which has been spreading out of control since January in his bones and lungs.
If you would like the contact info for Mayo and Hopkins that I have, just let me know and I will email to you, it is definately worth a try.
ColleenLisa – My husbands doctors told him the same thing regarding the tumor being around the vena cava. For our own piece of mind we did get a second and third opinion from Hopkins and Mayo (MN). They too agreed that besided chemo there wasn’t much that could be done because of the location of the tumor. Hopkins did offer my husband chemoemboliztion which killed almost 50% of the tumor, but not around the vena cave. My husband is now getting ready to start back on gemzar after finishing a round of radiation for mets to his spine, neck and skull. Both Hopkins and Mayo simply had us send copies of his latest scans and supporting information regarding the tumor location, treatments to date, etc. It was really simple and would be worth a try, for your own piece of mind. – Colleen
Michele – I am so saddened by your loss of Tom. You were the first person I connected with on this site. You and I have shared so much together about what our husbands were going through in the past year. I wish there was something I could do or say to help ease your pain and emptiness. Please know that I am here for you if you should need anything or just want to talk.
ColleenHi Michelle!
When my husband’s billiary drains leak bile, we go to interventional radiology and they inject dye into the drains and watch through xray/ct to see if the dye moves through the drains or if they are clogged. His gastro/liver doc use to set this up for us, but now we are such frequent flyers to interventional radiology that we call them directly. My husband has been on antibiotics since October for many different types of infections and has been able to have chemo treatments. My suggestion would be to contact your mothers gastro doc if she has one and see what he reccomends about the drain leaking. Hope this helps.
ColleenTonland – My husband’s is also stage 4 and is very similar to your sister. He is currently getting radiation to spots on his skull, C2, T3, T5, T7, T10, T12, plus his right hip and two spots in his lungs that just happen to be on top of blood vessles. His doctors have stopped his chemo treatments for now as they felt is was just too big of a risk. The radiation has decreased his pain so much that we are glad we proceeded with the radiation treatments. We are hopeful that once these treatments are complete he will be able to go back on chemo quickly. Hang in there, I will keep both you and your sister in my thoughts. – Colleen
Lisa – Hang in there. My husbands tumor is also around the vena cava, but today we are marking one year, so all hope is not lost. Keep fighting. I will keep you in my thoughts. Colleen
Stacie – I am sorry to hear about you father. Please know that you and your family wil be in my thoughts. – Colleen
Oh Michele – I am so sorry to hear about Tom, my heart is just breaking for you as the tears roll down my face. I feel like we have been taking this journey together and never wanted to see it end this way for either of us. Please know that you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. I hope that I can have half the courage and strength that you have. – Colleen
Hi Heather!
My husband has has Crohn’s disease since 1996. His doctors don’t seem to think him having Crohn’s has anything to do with his CC, but it makes me wonder the more research I find linking the two.
ColleenMichele – My heart just breaks for you. I am so sorry to hear of the troubles Tom is having. I feel like we have come so far together sharing our trials and tribulations. Unfortuneately we are now both coming so close to the end, yet still hope it will never come. Please know that you and Tom are in my thoughts and prayers. Please keep in touch. – Colleen
Hi Hilda – My husband also has stage IV with mets to his lungs, right illiac and many vertabra. We have two girls ages 10 & 6 and although we focus on his treatment we are just as much or more focused on our girls and making memories with them. My husband has said that his goal is to be a dad as long as he can be and he’s not ready to give up on that job anytime soon. It is very tough and this site offers tons of support. Hang in there and know that you are not alone. – Colleen
Bill – I have been following you and Kathleen since I joined the site. I am so sorry for your loss and I hope you will continue to support and help those of us who are still battling this horrible disease. You and your boys are in my thoughts. – Colleen
Mary Anne – I have been keeping up with you and Joe through your blog, since I joined this site. I always marvel at how active you and Joe are and think how wonderful it must be to be able to travel like you do while dealing with this terrible disease. My husband Fred also has intrahepatic
