sophie
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Thank you, Chrissie
I have been reading all your posts since March, and I emailed your surgeon’s name to my doctor and about your fiance’s surgery a few weeks ago. As it turns out, my surgeon said he had worked with yours, and he was a good guy. I’m really scared, Chrissie, because I have this on 75% of my liver plus I’m much older than your fiance, and my immune system is compromised because of chemo. I do have faith, and I’m trying to be positive. My prayers and hopes for both of you.
Sophie
Patti, I actually found out the size of one of my tumors yesterday morning. It is 11.8 cm x 8.2. That’s just one. Then one of the lymph nodes is also suspicious of having metastasized. I was really depressed. The surgical oncologist told me not to worry about it. They would take it out when they did the resection (it’s my prayer they can do the resection.) I just started chemo today Gemzar and after they see how this affects me, they will add the Xelora (sp.) people have mentioned. None of us ever know. I just think you should be positive because your tumors seem relatively small, but I would be like a pitt bull and not give up about getting in immediately. I’m just a layman, but I hope that gives you encouragement. I will be on the Gemzar once a week for 3 weeks, then off one week, then on another 3. After those bouts of chemo, if there is no success, I’m going to try to go to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. I totally understand your frustration, and I was debating if I should even get on this site because I’d get too sad, but then Jeff’s comments always give me encouragement.
Thank You, God, for the people in my life who have stood in the gap and prayed for me when I didn’t even know I needed it. You have sustained and protected me through others’ prayer. Use me to do the same. Amen.
I’m praying for you, Patti, and everyone else on this site.
Sophie
Hello Candy, which chemo drug did they use? Did they do radiation at the same time?
mid December I was sick with what I thought was strep throat. I went to the doctor, and they thought beginning of pneumonia which also explained my shortness of breath and fatigue. The doctor gave me Biaxin for an antibiotic, and I thought it was that that was making me nauseous, bloated and so exhausted. I hung in there about two months and then went to the doctor who had a CAT scan ordered. I got the news about March 5th. I’m a teacher, and sometime after I showered in the morning I’d get back in bed for a few minutes before I could get dressed I was that fatigued. I was nauseous all the time, short of breath, couldn’t eat anything and have lost 30 pounds since about early March. I didn’t show any outward jaundice but my urine was definitely way too dark…minimal pain but discomfort in my abdomen.
Candy, all the tests they have given me say I have metastasized cancer of the liver, but they can’t find the primary. The blood tests were all normal except for the alpha feron protein (spelling). It was extremely high. They are only “speculating” it’s cholangiocarcinoma. I don’t feel so nauseous because I am eating only raw fruits, drinking a wheat grass shot each day, 12 ounces of freshly juiced carrots and eating no sugar whatsoever. This has cut my nauseousness down, but I still can’t seem to get over 1,000 calories in me a day. This is a long post, and I don’t even know if I answered your questions. I’ll go back and check. My prayers to your loved one and your family.
Sophie
Hello Tom,
If we’re on the same page, it’s called portal vein embolization, and I just had it done exactly one week ago tomorrow. They use some type of foam to cut off the blood supply to part of the liver which atrophies it and then forces the other part of the liver to regenerate. I will be starting chemo next week. Hopefully my liver will regenerate enough to allow them to resection it in 2 or 3 months. This was done at City of Hope Hospital in Duarte, CA. My very heartfelt wishes and prayers to you and your family.
Sophie
Thank you, Chrissie. What a wonderful, wonderful outcome for your fiance. I do pray all the time, but so far I seem to spend my days crying when I should be more positive and trusting. Responses like yours can’t help but ease one’s heart. Thank you, Chrissie. My prayers and wishes for your fiance’s continued good health.
Sophie
Hello Patti, this sounds like the exact scenario of my condition. For weeks the doctors scratched their heads and said they were stunned because I had a metastasized liver cancer, but they couldn’t find the primary. They now suspect it’s cholangiocarcinoma. I have just had a portal vein embolization, and I will be starting chemotherapy next week. Their hope is that the embolization will make part of my liver atrophy and the other part regenerate. Then they can do a resection. In the meantime, I am praying that the cancer will not spread in my body. Have your doctors mentioned anything like the portal vein embolization? My very best wishes and prayers for you, Patti.
Sophie
