Liver cancer on an already failing liver??

Laura1978

New Member

Joined : Jun 2008

Posts : 1

Posted 6/4/2008 7:59 AM (GMT 0)

Hi everyone. Not sure if i'm supposed to use this forum as everyone seems to be from the US and i'm from the UK but i've read alot on here that has helped me and I cant find any uk sites simular. I just wondered if anyone had any experiences of cirrhosis and then liver cancer as well. My dad was jaundice with ascites for about 18 months before we managed to get him to the hospital last sep and they diagnosed what my sister and i already knew. He's stopped drinking but is back in hospital again now as he was really confused, couldn't walk or eat or talk and now weighs 66kg, which fo him is tiny. He looks about 90 and he's only 58. His kidneys aren't working and a scan has shown a mass on his liver that they think now is cancer but its too close to the diaphram to operate. dad is stubborn and just wants to come home but he needs medical treatment and the doctors need to transfer him to another hospital to treat the cancer but i know he wont want to. I know its so hard to say and we're seeing his consultant tommorrow morning but how long can someone live with cancer on an already failing liver? To top it off i'm pregnant due in aug and always in my head i'm wondering if this baby will meet her grandad. I'm very low but trying to hold it together. it cant be nice for the baby to hear her mummy crying all the time xxxxx

frustrated_n_wv

Regular Member

Joined : Aug 2006

Posts : 469

Posted 6/4/2008 10:44 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Laura1978 and Welcome to the forum. There are some people here with the experience of cirrhosis and liver cancer and hopefully they can share their expereinces with you. Hoperully you will get some of the answers that you need when you see his consultant tomorrow. There are so many cariable when it comes to cancer that I am not sure anyone can give you a diffinite answer regarding how long someone has. Maybe it would haep for you to talk to your dad, if ihe is coherent, about your feelings regarding his grandchilds birth. I know when I first herad the word cirrhosis that it induced so much fear in me that I never thought about the impact it would have on my family, I was just focused on what those words meant to me. It is very important that you find time for yourself during this time and take a break from all the stress and anxiety that you are feeling. You are on target that the all the stress and emotional rollercoaster you are on is not good for your baby. However I do understand that it is easier said than done.

Please keep us posted

Lucy

hep93

Elite Member

Joined : Jul 2005

Posts : 12014

Posted 6/5/2008 4:20 AM (GMT 0)

Hi, Laura! I have hep C and cirrhosis and had liver cancer. Doctors really don't like to predict how long a person has to live, if left untreated, but I pushed for an answer and was told 6 mos. So I agreed to go ahead with chemoembolization and then was in a study for TheraSphere. Since TheraSphere was being used by Mayo Jacksonville (FL) for the first time, there were a lot of hoops to jump through and delays. By the time I received it, it had been a year since I was told "6 months." Fortunately, it was successful and shrunk the tumor enough to allow surgery. I have been cancer free for a year now and turned 65 in March.

Your dad is so young to just give up. I don't know what treatments might be available in England, but do know that they are often ahead of the US in new treatments. You need to let your dad know that there is hope. A positive attitude goes a long way, I believe. I hope he can be encouraged to be transferred to the other hospital. But if he refuses, that's also his right. You do need to take care of yourself and your unborn child, first and foremost. Please come back and let us know what is decided and how you are doing. This forum is not limited to those living in the States.

Hugs,

Connie

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