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scared about my dad's condition

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Posted 12/28/2010 5:04 PM (GMT 0)
Hello. My dad was diagnosed with Hepatitis C and cirrhosis about 6 years ago. He will be 60 yrs old next month. He is a family doctor and got stuck by a needle during his residency (which at that time was about 25 yrs ago) no one knew about hepatitis C then. He was only tested for types A and B at that time and was negative.  about a yr and a half ago, the doctors found a small cancerous tumor in his liver. They removed it and he was cancer free. Last week, the doctors found another small tumor on the other side of his liver. They still need to do more tests to determine if it's cancer or not. They will find out on Jan. 10. If it is cancer, they will do local chemo on the tumor and put him on the transplant list. The doctor said if he gets cleared for surgery, he will get a new liver in about 3 months. He needs to be cleared by his cardiologist to get a liver transplant though because he had a heart attack 8 years ago and has heart disease. However, he does have an internal pacemaker. I am so scared. I am praying it's not cancer again. If it is cancer, I am praying he can be cleared for the liver transplant surgery. Have any of you experienced or had family members who have liver transplants with heart disease? Have any of you had or had family members who have survived long with liver cancer without a transplant? Please keep my dad in your prayers. I will keep all of you in mine. God Bless.
Posted 12/28/2010 7:30 PM (GMT 0)

Hello, Confused Girl, and welcome to the forum.  I'm very sorry that your dad is sick.  I always hate to hear about people contracting hep C through transfusions and needle sticks.  Actually, if he has liver cancer again and it has not metastasized, it would boost his MELD score and put him higher on the transplant list.  The real problem is his heart disease.  That will likely be the deciding factor as to whether he gets listed.

I also have hep C, contracted in the 60s through IV drug use.  In '05, I was diagnosed with liver cancer (a 12 cm x 11.5 cm tumor in my rt. lobe), metastasized to the inferior vena cava (large vessel that comes off the liver.)  Fortunately, through proper treatment at Mayo, the tumor shrunk and the metastasized part went back into the main tumor.  Targeted treatment with TheraSphere ultimately killed the tumor and the entire rt. lobe.  I had surgery to remove the rt. lobe in May of '07...and have remained cancer free for more than 3 1/2 years.  I also have cirrhosis and fatigue from the hep C.  However, I do not have heart disease or any other health problem.

You might want to read the info in the folder at the top of the page entitled Hepatitis Resources.

Hugs,

Connie


Posted 12/28/2010 8:04 PM (GMT 0)
Hi cg22,
In 2004 I had a cerebral hemorrhage, then my liver failed a week later. It was suggested that I try to get into the transplant program at MGH. Because of my hemorrhage, I underwent additional testing (beyond the normal weeks worth) to get accepted. One of the usual tests is a day of heart stuff, 2 hours of ultrasound, another 2 of stress testing and the rest of the afternoon of more boring tests. Then I had to undergo 2 MRIs, and a CAT scan of my head. In other words, your dad needs to get through the stress test, just as my brain needed to look unscathed to get into the program. Good luck!
Posted 12/28/2010 10:14 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you to both of you for this information. Hep93, I am glad you are so much better! This gives me hope! David, I hope you are ok now!
Posted 12/29/2010 2:03 AM (GMT 0)
Hello Confusedgirl just want to welcome you to the Hep forum. So sorry about your father. Is he experiencing any of the symptoms yet?

Go online to the hospital that would be doing the transplant if he should get one. Somewhere on their site you should be able to find out their criteria for people getting listed. If you can not find it, you probably can email someone there and ask about it. Each transplant hospital has it's own set of guidelines that prospective transplantees have to adhere to. Most are similar to each other but there are some differences.

Good luck and take care..........
Posted 12/29/2010 7:12 AM (GMT 0)
Confused, I met a man in a support group that had his liver transplant in florida, he also had heart issues but I cant remember what kind. He lived here in MA and our centers wouldnt do surgery because of his heart condition but told him to look into Fla. He said he had to commit to living there for one year post surgery for follow up care. His wife and him rented a small place there, but not everyone has the means to hospital shop. I hope the center near you can help, lets just hope for an all clear on his next tests.
Sue
Posted 1/2/2011 10:27 PM (GMT 0)
Hello. Pink Grandma, my dad is not experiencing any symptoms except for fatigue. Shadowsghost, do you know which hospital in Florida this man got his surgery done? Thank you to all of you for your support!
Posted 1/3/2011 8:10 PM (GMT 0)

Since Sue hasn't come back to answer your question, I can tell you of four hospitals in FL that are possibilities (I live in FL):  U of Miami Hospital, Shands Gainesville, Orlando Regional, and Mayo Jacksonville (which has the shortest wait time in the country for transplants...and also saved my life from liver cancer.)  With the first three, a person may have to establish residency in FL, but I know that Mayo accepts patients from all over the world.  They are, however, picky about types of insurance they will accept.  They do accept Medicare, but only accept Medicaid as a secondary insurance and do not accept HMOs, but will accept PPOs.  Hope this helps.

Hugs,

Connie


Posted 1/4/2011 3:20 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry about not responding, been away from my computer for awhile. I wish I could remember the hospital name but I dont. I know it was northern florida because we talked about it being north of my family who live in Haines city( close to orlando). I know it was recomended they try there by the hospital here in Boston.
Sue
Posted 1/4/2011 4:24 PM (GMT 0)
There's also a hospital in Tampa that does transplants.
Posted 1/4/2011 9:23 PM (GMT 0)

Thanks, David and Sue.  Sue, it may have been Shands Gainesville or Mayo Jacksonville.

Hugs,

Connie

Posted 1/16/2011 11:16 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for your responses! Good news! My dad does not have cancer! I am soo relieved!
Posted 1/16/2011 11:24 PM (GMT 0)
Good news confused girl! Best to your father and you.

Emma
Posted 1/17/2011 1:05 AM (GMT 0)

That's wonderful! news!   yeah

Hugs,

Connie

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