Richardw
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Good choice, December is Arizona is a lot warmer than December in MN. My CA 19-9 was 106 in August. My Doctors at Mayo weren’t concerned at all in that number. They said it is common to see it so high and weren’t concerned. My Doctor was Dr Gores who apparently created a lot of the protocols for this so I trusted his opinion.
I was 48 when diagnosed and 49 now. I thought the same thing, it wasn’t worth the risk of guessing it wasn’t cancer, I kept thinking about right until the moment they were taking me in for my new liver =-). The tumor shrunk a little however my tumor was right in the middle of my bile ducts blocking both ducts and was a decent size that it didn’t matter. The did biopsy my liver and tumor afterwards. My liver came back clean and I forget what the term they used for my tumor but it was less than the trace amounts of signs of cancer. Whatever it was they were thrilled that the radiation appeared to have gotten it all. (they throw a lot of info at you)
I had the same thing local doctors telling me I wasn’t a eligible for a liver transplant and wanting to give me a needle biopsy. I got a third opinion at Sloan Kettering which told me otherwise. I had 8 brushings and 2 forcep biopsy not one came back conclusive. Luckily my doctors at Sloan knew not to do a needle biopsy, I never did get a conclusive diagnosis.
Congratulations on getting into the program, I’m sure you were stressed
oh boy… Biliary drains. I had mine in for 3 months and they never worked until I got to Mayo put their stents in. They do a great job with Stents mine lasted for over a month and a half.
My radiation and chemo wasn’t too bad, they do their best to make sure you are as comfortable as possible with meds for Nausea. I just started to loose my appetite after the 2nd week or so. Eat when you can which is tough because you can’t eat before radiation which means you have a window after you get back from your morning treatment to until you go back for your afternoon treatment. After the third week you are just tired of the Chemo Bag and Radiation and office visits. Just hang in there and know you are on the right path.
I got done my radiation and Chemo on May 8th. I got the call to relocate to Rochester on August 18th. Liver Staging was on August 30. Got a call that my liver was ready on October 11. It went quickly make sure you get any dental done as well as the vaccinations as soon as you get back home. The whole thing was a 10 month journey it seemed like forever when you are going through it, after it is all done you forget all the bad and are happy to know you have a new lease on life.
I know how hard it was going through and not knowing what was around the corner please reach out if you have any questions.
by the way you may want to buy a plastic sleeve that goes over your arm to cover your arm pic line in the shower it makes it easier to take a shower.
I was in for 8 days (I saw people getting out after 4), I was in not due to liver issue but lets say stomach issues. I don’t think I was eating enough, my appetite wasn’t great and the food wasn’t either. Have someone bring you food that you really like if you don’t like the food.
The pain after surgery wasn’t that bad the day after I felt great just because of I was still feeling the effects of the drugs from the surgery. I thought this is a piece of cake. The next few days there was some discomfort but they give you meds to make sure you are okay. Only real issue is getting in and out of bed. Which after 3 or 4 days it wasn’t that bad. We are from NJ so we stayed in town 6 weeks after the surgery just to be safe and make sure the liver was okay.
I have had no side effect from meds at all. I am on 7 meds right now, Mayo goes over all of them with you.. and over and over and over.
where in the process are you?
