Talk Cancer

Question:

Can anyone help me? My mother, 63 years old, is dying; she has a rectum cancer but doctors don’t want to operate because now she also has a liver cancer. She’s "yellow" and they told me that there is nothing to do for her but waiting for her death I’m desperate please help me! —

Response:

Marzia, I’m sorry you have to deal with this.  Your mother is just a little older than I (62).  I have leukemia (AML) and we started this battle in the fall of 94.  I am now in my second remission and my children and I have been able to come to grips with my death.   I wish you had time (lots of it) to adjust to the situation.  It sounds as though there is not much time left for you mother. According to the doctors anyway.  I relapsed last July and underwent chemo during August & September.  My doc estimated I would be dead within 6-8 months. Here I am in my 11th month and still doing well and as of a week ago there were no leukemic cells around.  Now, I know that this is just extra time I have been given and my death will be sooner than I had thought 20 years ago. Your mother and I have different cancers, so I cannot really give you much help on the rectum or liver cancer.  Mainly the purpose of this post was to let you know I care about your feelings. Spend as much time with you mother as possible. Provided she is well enough to get out, do some of the things that are family "memories". You could also do something completely foreign to you and make new "memories". You are in my prayers and your mother too.  I know the next period of time is going to be very difficult for you.  I hope you will take time for yourself and try to find a samll amount of inner peace.  It isn’t easy.  Just find even 5 minutes each day and attempt to put all of your anxieties to the side.  I find this very helpful. If you believe in God or some higher power, you might also try what I do.  I have a beautiful gold can.  When something is bothering me, no matter how large or how small, I write it down on a slip of paper and put it in the can for God to take care of.  It has been amazing how well it works.  It seems a ton of bricks has been lifted from my body. How it works, I don’t know.  Maybe it is just a psychological thing or maybe God is REALLY listening to me.  That is what I truly believe. What matters is that it works for me. MsLeukie – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Can anyone help me? My mother, 63 years old, is dying; she has a rectum cancer but doctors don’t want to operate because now she also has a liver cancer. She’s "yellow" and they told me that there is nothing to do for her but waiting for her death I’m desperate please help me!

Response:

Can anyone help me? My mother, 63 years old, is dying; she has a rectum cancer but doctors don’t want to operate because now she also has a liver cancer. She’s "yellow" and they told me that there is nothing to do for her but waiting for her death I’m desperate please help me! —

Marzia, this is a I letter I posted rescently in another news group. At the time this happend my mom was a little older than your mom.  I hope this informtaion helps. Don’t give up. Don’t stop fighting it is not the end until your mom decides it is the end. And most of all don’t take what your moms doctor says as gospel. Doctors are just that doctors not Gods. My mom was diagnosed with  colorectal cancer with multiple complex mets to the liver.  She first went the chemotherapy route.  As we found out the hard way chemo has little to no effect penetrating cancer cells in the liver.  My mom went was part of a second phase study for CPT-11.  After three rounds of CPT-11 alternating with 5fu lukovorin there was little to no change in the liver mets. SHe had had the colon tumor removed during the first round of chemo. The doctors had basically at that point told us that she had at best 3 to six months to live. Needless to say we where devestated.   We decided to not give up hope and we looked for alternatives.  The treatment we decided on was Cryosurgery. Cryo Surgery was performed on my mom two years ago this november by Doctor Kenneth Ramming of Century City hospital in Century City California. Remember his name because he is one of the best in the world in the area of Cryosurgery. They froze and removed three mets from her liver, when Dr Ramming talked to us after the procedure he informed us that they had gotten all tumors in her liver and he was confident that the procedure in my moms case was curative. It is going on two years and she has been fine. Just had CT scan 4 weeks ago and still clear. She did not go on chemo after the surgery (Dr Ramming strongly suggested that she should go on at least one round in case of any micro mets being present, but she had such a terrible time with the chemo before she couldn’t do it.   The Medical profession is very slow in embracing anything new or out of the norm until it hits them over the head and says, "hey I really work" and there is also much politics in the area of cancer and treatment. We found that surgeons and Onco Docs rarely agree on course of treatment. I have met multiple people who have had cryo done prior to my mom and since.  The longest surviving person that I am aware of is now going on 6 1/2 years cancer free. Dr. Ramming has removed up to 8 mets in the liver. You said in your letter it is a hard decision to make. Trust me it is the only decision to make. I wish you all the best. Michael

Response:

NEED TO KNOW THE TREATMENT AND THE CHANCE TO SURVIVE 2 METASTASE IN THE LIVER THANKS

Resection if possible. If not, then palliative chemotherapy will likely be offered

Response:

For some reason, this poster keeps e-mailing by updating me. Just received… 3 METASTASE (presumably to the liver) Michel, veuillez "poster" a la newsgroup, pour que les experts vous repondre. Merci ! J cc: Michel – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – According to e-mail, colon dx’d 2 years ago. J What is the primary cancer? How much of her liver is involved? Prayers, Jess the liver cancer that my wife have is secondary cancer for now they found 2 so we are now waiting for the doctor to give us the option we have have anyone have gone thrue a liver cancer thanks in advance mICHEL

Response:

the liver cancer that my wife have is secondary cancer for now they found 2 so we are now waiting for the doctor to give us the option we have have anyone have gone thrue a liver cancer thanks in advance mICHEL

Response:

What is the primary cancer? How much of her liver is involved? Prayers, Jess

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – the liver cancer that my wife have is secondary cancer for now they found 2 so we are now waiting for the doctor to give us the option we have have anyone have gone thrue a liver cancer thanks in advance mICHEL

Response:

According to e-mail, colon dx’d 2 years ago. J – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – What is the primary cancer? How much of her liver is involved? Prayers, Jess the liver cancer that my wife have is secondary cancer for now they found 2 so we are now waiting for the doctor to give us the option we have have anyone have gone thrue a liver cancer thanks in advance mICHEL

Response:

NEED TO KNOW THE TREATMENT AND THE CHANCE TO SURVIVE 2 METASTASE IN THE LIVER THANKS

Response:

NEED TO KNOW THE TREATMENT AND THE CHANCE TO SURVIVE 2 METASTASE IN THE LIVER

Where did the cancer originate?

Response:

How big, how close together, and where at in the liver? Depending on size, they can either be surgically removed or frozen out (cryotherapy). If they’re too big or too far away from each other to cryo, they’ll be blasted with chemotherapy. That, depending on size and primary cancer origin, can last at least six months, or longer. When you’re done with whichever treatment,the liver will hopefully begin to regenerate itself (the only body organ that does). Time to remission or progession is again going to depend on size and origin. Prayers, Jess

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – NEED TO KNOW THE TREATMENT AND THE CHANCE TO SURVIVE 2 METASTASE IN THE LIVER THANKS

Response:

Karen, I was diagnosed Stage 4 on the 18th of May with a prognosis of 9 – 12 months.  I immediately went (four days later) into a clinical trial at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa.  They are doing a clinical trial with a combination of Taxane & Carboplatin.  I did my second infusion a week ago Monday.  I seem to be responding very well to it.  The lymph glands were normal and it appeared that the liver/adrenal glands were also responding. We haven’t done a CAT scan yet (6/30) but my doctor was very encouraged. I’m only the 5th person in this trial at this site.  The Taxane is a Bristol-Meyers, Squibb product and they are underwriting the clinical trial.  I know it’s being tested elsewhere (Texas, I think) and you may want to look into this. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Where is his pain? My husband’s "unknown primary" turned out to be pancreatic in origin. Our local team couldn’t figure it out: an expert in the field had no problem spotting it. The numbers may mean nothing. If it’s adenocarcinoma, it’s pretty virulent. However, the treatments have changed since the early 90s. Today’s standard was in its experimental stages then. Investigate a good tertiary care facility like Sloan or MD Anderson. See if he qualifies for any clinical trials. As my husband says, "When its’ stage IV, you roll the dice big." The most pessimistic oncologist I’ve spoken with told me that my husband could take a dramatic turn for the worse and it could be months. Or, he could stay in pretty good shape and go on for several years. I read those as the pessimistic boundaries. There are 5 year survivors out there. Try to stay hopeful. Karen I wrote earlier that my husband has liver cancer of unknown primary. We just got back from 11 days in the hospital. Severe pain, swelling of feet etc. Is there someone who has had liver cancer of unknown primary? I had received an e- mial from someone who had lost his wife to it. I wanted to know how long the disease lasted from beginning to end. Cound anyone tell me?  My good wishes for strength in your battle, as a patient or care giver. Bueli * Sent from AltaVista http://www.altavista.com Where you can also find related Web Pages, Images, Audios, Videos, News, and Shopping.  Smart is Beautiful — Karen Before you buy.

Response:

My father has liver mets from nsc lung cancer.  They are having good luck with stereostatic treatments or something like that at several hospitals, but my Dad has chosen not to be involved in those right now.  I think it is day surgery and simply put, is like they put an electrode on either side of the tumor and microwave it.  If you don’t get better information from someone else, I think I saved the web site and can find it. — Bill You’ll love the prices at http://www.gems.com

I wrote earlier that my husband has liver cancer of unknown primary. We just got back from 11 days in the hospital. Severe pain, swelling of feet etc. Is there someone who has had liver cancer of unknown primary? I had received an e- mial from someone who had lost his wife to it. I wanted to know how long the disease lasted from beginning to end. Cound anyone tell me?  My good wishes for strength in your battle, as a patient or care giver. Bueli * Sent from AltaVista http://www.altavista.com Where you can also find

related Web Pages, Images, Audios, Videos, News, and Shopping.  Smart is Beautiful

Response:

I wrote earlier that my husband has liver cancer of unknown primary. We just got back from 11 days in the hospital. Severe pain, swelling of feet etc. Is there someone who has had liver cancer of unknown primary? I had received an e- mial from someone who had lost his wife to it. I wanted to know how long the disease lasted from beginning to end. Cound anyone tell me?  My good wishes for strength in your battle, as a patient or care giver. Bueli * Sent from AltaVista http://www.altavista.com Where you can also find related Web Pages, Images, Audios, Videos, News, and Shopping.  Smart is Beautiful

Response:

Where is his pain? My husband’s "unknown primary" turned out to be pancreatic in origin. Our local team couldn’t figure it out: an expert in the field had no problem spotting it. The numbers may mean nothing. If it’s adenocarcinoma, it’s pretty virulent. However, the treatments have changed since the early 90s. Today’s standard was in its experimental stages then. Investigate a good tertiary care facility like Sloan or MD Anderson. See if he qualifies for any clinical trials. As my husband says, "When its’ stage IV, you roll the dice big." The most pessimistic oncologist I’ve spoken with told me that my husband could take a dramatic turn for the worse and it could be months. Or, he could stay in pretty good shape and go on for several years. I read those as the pessimistic boundaries. There are 5 year survivors out there. Try to stay hopeful. Karen I wrote earlier that my husband has liver cancer of unknown primary. We just got back from 11 days in the hospital. Severe pain, swelling of feet etc. Is there someone who has had liver cancer of unknown primary? I had received an e- mial from someone who had lost his wife to it. I wanted to know how long the disease lasted from beginning to end. Cound anyone tell me?  My good wishes for strength in your battle, as a patient or care giver. Bueli * Sent from AltaVista http://www.altavista.com Where you can also find

related Web Pages, Images, Audios, Videos, News, and Shopping.  Smart is Beautiful — Karen Before you buy.

Response:

Hi All My father has colon cancer that has spread to his liver. He tried 5fu and it weakened him and they say he is to weak to try anything else. They have not given him much time but He has a strong will to live. He has lived alot longer than the drs have given him but they keep telling him there is no hope. If anybody has any information on treatments for his disease or symptoms it would be much appreciated. His symptoms are dryness of throat and mouth,weakness and fatigue,confusion and spends alot of time sleeping.Thanks in advance Frank Collingwood.

Response:

Call  the John Wayne Cancer institute in Santa Monica california.  My mom also had colorectal cancer that had spread to her liver and chemo allmost killed her 5fu put her in the hospital fighting for her life.  She had cryo surgery and is now living a normal life she is classified as cancer free. Good Luck Michael

Response:

my mother has colon cancer metastasized to liver. connected to main vena cava artery therefore inoperable.  Dr.s will implant a liver infusion pump to direct chemo to liver alone.  Liver filters toxins & reduces bad side effects.  Higher level of chemo can thus be used.  If 5fu is ineffective, ask about floxyuredine or cpt-11. after tumor is shrunk, they hope to be able to perform cryosurgery, freezing & killing tumor cells. good luck to you & your dad.  

Response:

Call  the John Wayne Cancer institute in Santa Monica california.  My mom also had colorectal cancer that had spread to her liver and chemo allmost killed her 5fu put her in the hospital fighting for her life.  She had cryo surgery and is now living a normal life she is classified as cancer free.

There are a variety of approaches that might be followed. Cryosurgery is one of them, intra-arterial chemotherapy is another, ethanol injections is popular in Japan….

Response:

J, Somewhere around here, I think. What little nursing books I have might have something too. Jess

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Jess, Afterthought. Wondering if he’s asking what the risks and/or complications of such surgery? Do you have a link to such info? TIA J Literally? Depends on how big the tumor was-if it was relatively small, I think the liver starts to regenerate itself, but you are looking at chemotherapy at a minimum. The higher stage the cancer is rated at, the more the options vary. Prayers, Jess ANYONE CAN TELLE ME WHAT HAPPEN AFTER A PART OF THE LIVER IS TAKE OUT BECAUSE OF A CANCER  THANKS MiCHEL

Response:

Response:

Literally? Depends on how big the tumor was-if it was relatively small, I think the liver starts to regenerate itself, but you are looking at chemotherapy at a minimum. The higher stage the cancer is rated at, the more the options vary. Prayers, Jess

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – ANYONE CAN TELLE ME WHAT HAPPEN AFTER A PART OF THE LIVER IS TAKE OUT BECAUSE OF A CANCER  THANKS MiCHEL

Response:

Jess, Afterthought. Wondering if he’s asking what the risks and/or complications of such surgery? Do you have a link to such info? TIA J – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Literally? Depends on how big the tumor was-if it was relatively small, I think the liver starts to regenerate itself, but you are looking at chemotherapy at a minimum. The higher stage the cancer is rated at, the more the options vary. Prayers, Jess ANYONE CAN TELLE ME WHAT HAPPEN AFTER A PART OF THE LIVER IS TAKE OUT BECAUSE OF A CANCER  THANKS MiCHEL

Response:

ANYONE CAN TELLE ME WHAT HAPPEN AFTER A PART OF THE LIVER IS TAKE OUT BECAUSE OF A CANCER  THANKS MiCHEL

Response:

Michel, Chemotherapy? http://www.cancerbacup.org.uk/questions/specific/digest/liver.htm http://www.acor.org/Cancerlist/liver.html# http://www.cancerlinks.com/online.html Perhaps more details would be helpful? Is it primary or secondary? http://www.cancerbacup.org.uk/questions/specific/digest/liver/primary… Stage and subsequent treatment plan? Just keep posting, we’ll try to help as we can.  meilleurs voeux esp