father has liver tumor

Hello Confusedgirl22. Welcome to the hepatitis forum. Sorry that your father has liver cancer. I understand you being scared. I know it's hard,but try not to worry so much. It is a small tumor......and if it's malignant there are different treatments for it. Sounds like your father's doctor has it handled. If your father has any unanswered questions tell him about this forum. Our other moderater is a liver cancer survivor. So she has a lot of first hand knowledge. Take care.........thoughts and prayers......

Hi!  I'm the co-moderator PG spoke of that had liver cancer.  Thank goodness your dad's tumor was found while small.  Mine was 11.5 cm x 12 cm!  Also, it had metastasized to the inferior vena cava, making it inoperable.  I also wasn't a transplant candidate.  However, the great docs at Mayo did chemoembolization, which shuts off the vessels feeding the tumor.  After that, I had a study drug, TheraSphere.  Between these two treatments, the tumor was shrunk and basically killed...as was the rt. lobe of my liver.  I then had surgery to remove the rt. lobe.  It really is a miracle that I'm here.  May 29th will be 2 yrs. cancer free.  So I think your dad will be fine, whatever the results.  Just be aware that regular chemo does not work on liver cancer.  I assume they've done a scan to see if there is any metastasis?  Perhaps they are waiting until they biopsy the tumor.  But IF the tumor is cancerous, he should insist on a full body MRI with Gadolinium.

Since they found the lesion so early, I really don't think you have anything to worry about, even if the diagnosis is cancer.

If your dad is open to participating in this forum, he can do so anonymously.  His personal experience would be invaluable to the others here, as well as his medical knowledge.

Peace and prayers,

Connie

Yes, I did and still do have cirrhosis.  This was discovered when they did a biopsy of my left liver lobe at the same time that they removed the right lobe.

The fatigue is from the hep C, which I also have.  Has your dad had treatment for the hep?  There's a new one coming that is a combination of 3 drugs and only has to be taken for 24 wks.  I'm waiting for that one, myself.  Lately, I've been more tired than usual, though a recent scan showed no cancer.  It just seems to go in cycles and right now I'm in a low-energy point. 

 

Has he ever had banding of the esophageal varices?  These are more of a concern than anything else, as he could bleed out from them.

hello everyone. thank you all for your support. here is an update on my dad. i just got back from the hospital. i was there all day for my dad's surgery. it went well. the docs burnt the small cancerous tumor (just 1 cm). they didn't find any other tumors he will be put on a list for a liver transplant but first they have to make sure his heart gets better (he might have heart surgery sometime in the near future). he's had a heart attack a few years ago and has some blockage. once they take care of that (if it goes ok) they can put him on the list. i just wanted to update you all. they will also give him a new drug that is out for liver cancer (hopefully this will decrease the chances of the cancer coming back). i'm just praying and trying to stay positive. thanks again for your support!

Great news that your father's surgery went well and that there was no more tumors. It's seems like they are trying their hardest to get him on the list. That's marvelous.
Remember to take care of you too..........thoughts and prayers..........