Anyone know anything about Liver Cancer? - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

wooohooo · 03-10-2011, 12:02 AM

I know, sorry. Morbid topic.

Someone close to me could potentially be diagnosed with liver cancer. Has a tumor the size of a loonie in the liver. Has a family history of hepatitis B (I think). I've been doing some research but I was wondering if I could get some in sight from you guys if you've dealt with it. I know it's a pretty deadly cancer, but I've been really shaken up by this.

Thanks

Dion · 03-10-2011, 12:13 AM

My late father had it and died within 6 months of his diagnosis. Chemo and radiation is often used to shrink it and in my fathers case it didn't work. Wish I had better news for you.

Caged Great · 03-10-2011, 12:20 AM

I hope that your friend/family member's prognosis is a good one and that in the long run (s)he will be okay.

Cancer f'ing sucks.

wooohooo · 03-10-2011, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dion

My late father had it and died within 6 months of his diagnosis. Chemo and radiation is often used to shrink it and in my fathers case it didn't work. Wish I had better news for you.

Did they find it early? Or was it too late?

Sorry about your loss

NuclearFart · 03-10-2011, 12:46 AM

If its the size of a loonie and not near a critical area, there is a good chance it can be resected. Was it found incidentally?

Dion · 03-10-2011, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wooohooo

Did they find it early? Or was it too late?

Sorry about your loss

With my father it was too late as the Cancer in his Colon had spread to his liver. he was told chemo and radiation wasn't a cure but would only buy him more time on this earth. He had 4 spots on his liver. It's effing cruel what it does to people.

You have to be positive and hope the diagnosis is good. Deal with the results when it comes up.

Send me a PM anytime if you have anymore questions.

dissentowner · 03-10-2011, 01:08 AM

I hate cancer. Hope it works out ok for your friend!

wooohooo · 03-10-2011, 01:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NuclearFart

If its the size of a loonie and not near a critical area, there is a good chance it can be resected. Was it found incidentally?

He has Hep B so they do tests on him every 6 months. They found some abnormal blood counts and did a biopsy but it was inconclusive so they did a ultrasound and found a mass about a loonie big.

I heard with rescution there's a high chance of reoccurance?

Teh_Bandwagoner · 03-10-2011, 01:31 AM

My dad also died of liver cancer 3 years ago. Pretty much the same deal as Dion's dad. They detected something on my dad's liver while removing a gall stone. By the time they diagnosed it, it was pretty much too late. He was gone in 6 months. Chemo and resections were not an option. The doctor explained to me that the liver is like an onion, having many layers. And the tumour often embeds itself into multiple layers. So chemo would not help the lower layers and resection would only work in very very specific cases.

When the tumour spread, it spread like wildflower. Or I guess the doctor compared it more to a mushroom effect where it suddenly blooms.

I'm pretty sure the doctor was just giving us lip service when they told us about all these experimental drugs that are being tested to treat liver cancer, that may be on the market soon. But who knows.

Roast Beef · 03-10-2011, 02:14 AM

First off, sorry to hear about it. There is no easy answer I'm afraid.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dion

With my father it was too late as the Cancer in his Colon had spread to his liver. he was told chemo and radiation wasn't a cure but would only buy him more time on this earth. He had 4 spots on his liver. It's effing cruel what it does to people.

You have to be positive and hope the diagnosis is good. Deal with the results when it comes up.

Similar situation here. My father's cancer started in the colon, they did a bowel resection and everything looked good for a year or two. It went metastatic to his liver and lungs. It's stage 4 terminal and it's only a matter of time now. He was only given 9 months to live, but that was 15 months ago. They now say maybe a year, year and a half. Who knows though.

fanman · 03-10-2011, 06:04 AM

Very sorry to hear about your news. I've also lost a few people to this sh###y disease. If they caught it early and start treating it immediately the chances of beating it are much better. Don't know a lot of technical information I can give to you, but just stay positive and make sure he really pushes for treatment ASAP(if the doctors aren't already). Do whatever you can to be positive, especially around him, and do whatever you can to help out and support him. A lot of little things add up to lighten their mood, and keep their spirits up. I'd also like to say that although I've lost a few people to cancer, a couple of family members have also beaten it. So never give up hope for the best. Thoughts go out to your friend/family and I hope everything works out.

Rathji · 03-10-2011, 06:08 AM

My dad had lung cancer, which spread to his liver and was what killed him because it shut down his liver and his blood stopped being cleaned.

calumniate · 03-10-2011, 07:35 AM

Don't want to give false hope here, but the docs thought my dad had a huge tumor of the liver. They opened him up completely, and realised it was only a piece of fat! I'm not sure why they couldn't tell this prior to surgery, but good news in the end.

wooohooo · 03-10-2011, 07:47 AM

That would be amazing... but I'm fairly certain it's liver cancer. He has Hep B and it's a huge cause for liver cancer, or from the research I have been reading.

I hear that resection is both a cure and not. Anyone know anything on this? What kind of time line would I be looking at? I haven't slept at all been so worried argh!

F you cancer

Save Us Sutter · 03-10-2011, 07:48 AM

My Dad lasted 31 days from the day he was diagnosed until the day he died last month. I was by his side every one of those days and nothing you read or nothing anyone says can prepare you. He had Hep C but somehow they had missed the tumor during screening.

Sounds like they may have caught your friend's pretty early though? From what I understand a transplant is the only way to survive, so perhaps that will be an option.

Good luck. I found it very helpful to vent at the world when I was going through it all. If you need someone to yell at, shoot me a PM. It does help.

burn_this_city · 03-10-2011, 07:50 AM

My friends dad went to Hawaii with his wife, started feeling ####ty so they came home. Found out he had liver cancer, died within a month. He was in his mid 50's, but a lifetime of drinking probably did it.

Bane · 03-10-2011, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wooohooo

I know, sorry. Morbid topic.

Someone close to me could potentially be diagnosed with liver cancer. Has a tumor the size of a loonie in the liver. Has a family history of hepatitis B (I think). I've been doing some research but I was wondering if I could get some in sight from you guys if you've dealt with it. I know it's a pretty deadly cancer, but I've been really shaken up by this.

Thanks

My cousin had liver cancer. He under went 3 different surgeries over the years to try and remove it, but he eventually died of it 13 years after being diagnosed. He had three young children, which gave him the strength to fight so long and hard.

DownhillGoat · 03-10-2011, 09:05 AM

Sorry to hear.

Unfortunately all I have to add to the conversation is more bad news. I've lost 2 family members to liver cancer (one was actually in the liver, the other was in a bile duct, but the doctors said it was fairly similar). They were both gone in less than a year, but both were found in the very late stages.

How old is the person in question? Both my family members were 75+, so that would have been a contributing factor as well.

Thoughts and prayers go out to you. My mother is going through treatment for breast cancer right now. I feel for you.

Clarkey · 03-10-2011, 09:20 AM

Does anyone know how large of a factor alcohol consumption is on getting liver cancer?

Bobblehead · 03-10-2011, 09:21 AM

My aunt was diagnosed with liver cancer and given 6 months. She tried to give her kids as many life lessons as possible in her remaining time. That was 30+ years ago and she is still around today.

I don't know the details, I was young at the time and haven't really broached the subject since; although my cousins still tell stories about being taught how to write cheques at 8 years old. Good things can happen.