HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

after 3 years of cirrhosis, Now broken lumber Spine

Support Forums
>
Hepatitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 11/30/2008 10:02 AM (GMT 0)

Hi every one I am new here,

My father has alcoholic cirrhosis, almost 3 months ago he was complaining of back pain, we took him to doctor and he gave some brace for his back support. 2 weeks ago he couldn't walk, we took him to hospital and they figured it out that his T12 spine is colapse and T11 and L1 is partial collapsed. They were worried about Metastatic bone cancer after a lot of test they found a mass in his liver!!!!!!!

I don't yet this is cancer or not, But I know for sure that my dad need a surgery for his spine.

This is hard he can't walk and a small bone pressuring his nerve and he is nearly to be parralized.

Can anybody tell me if he can go under knife without any complictaion??????

Thank your pinkgrandma for your advise.

and thank to you all

Posted 11/30/2008 10:19 PM (GMT 0)

Oldfriend, I'm so sorry for your dad's problems.  Is he currently in the hospital?  It would seem to me that the next step would be to biopsy the mass to see if it is cancer.  If it is, there is the possibility that it metastasized to the bone, which caused the spinal collapse and near-collapse.  If that is the case, they probably wouldn't operate on the spine.  You really need to speak to his doctors about this and what route they plan to take.  Have they taken MRIs and other scans?  Is he still drinking?  Is he under the care of a hepatologist for his cirrhosis?  There are so many unknowns here and so many variables, that it would be impossible for laymen to give you the answers you seek.

I wish the best for you and your father.  And welcome to the forum.


Posted 12/1/2008 8:35 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Connie,
Thank you for your reply.
Well this is a long story, He doesn't drink anymore . and we did the biopsy on tursday 27th of November and we have to wait for the result!!!!
He is under medication like Lactulose and other similliar medicine.
He is currently at home and we prepared everything for him. As you know the big problemo or concern for him is lactulose because he can't walk.
Last week in Hospital the Doctors did everything (MRI, CT, Ultra sound ,...) his alfa feto protein is 12. but other blood test is nearly normal. Platelet is extremmly good.
But Doctors says that this is rare case.
Connie thanks again for your reply , and i will keep you updated
Good bless you
Shiva
Posted 12/1/2008 10:49 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Shiva

Just wanted to add my welcome to the forum. I am sorry to hear that your father is dealing with this disease. I can't imagine having to deal with cirrhosis and all its potential problems and not being able to walk at the same time. My thoughts and prayers go with you and your family.

Lucy
Posted 12/2/2008 11:21 PM (GMT 0)

Shiva, thanks for the info.  I hope you get the biopsy result soon and that there is something they can do for your father.

Please keep us posted.

Posted 12/3/2008 7:03 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone,
Thank you for your lovely posts.
I just wanted to know if the result of BIOPSY is negative, Can my father go under the knife for 3 to 4 hours.
all my concern and thoughts is, can he tolerate anesthesia due to his liver problem, according to the internet callculator (child-pugh classes)his level is B.
Becasue he need a surgery for his spine. and this is a major surgery.
Thank you again guys
GOD BLEES U ALL
HUGS,
Shiva
Posted 12/4/2008 1:35 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Shiva, I am so glad the biopsy came back normal. His doctors should know if he can tolerate having the surgery. If possible go with him to his appointments and ask. In fact write down all your questions and ask away. Unless you do, your questions will probably not get answered. Doctors don't volunteer anything it seems. I had to always have my list ready. After a while my husband's doctors were asking...........where's your list I know you have one.

My thoughts and prayers with be with your father and you.......take care.
Posted 12/12/2008 11:56 AM (GMT 0)
Hi wonderfull people,
Thank you for your posts,
Biospy came with bad news that my father got cholangiocarcinoma (rare cancer) and really i don't know what to do.
Doctors said that i souldn't bother him with any medication or surgery or ...
Posted 12/12/2008 1:40 PM (GMT 0)
(((Shiva))), I am so sorry. I didn't read your previous post correctly. You can get a second opinion but with all the other things that are happening with your dad??? Do you trust his doctor? Has he treated your father from the beginning?
If they are saying that there's really nothing more to do for him did the they talk with you about hospice? Hospice really is a wonderful organization. Not only will they help with making the last few months more comfortable for your father. They also help the family get through a very tough time.

Thoughts and prayers.............
Posted 12/13/2008 6:10 AM (GMT 0)

{{{{{Shiva}}}}  I am SO sorry about your dad's diagnosis.  Did they say if it had metastasized?  This was my feeling from the beginning.  If they are saying there is nothing more to be done and to just keep him comfortable, I urge you to get Hospice involved.  Of course, you might also want to get a second opinion.

Please stay in touch with us.

Posted 12/13/2008 10:31 AM (GMT 0)
Shiva: All I can say is my heart goes out to you your father and family. I will have you in my prayers .
Posted 12/13/2008 12:15 PM (GMT 0)
Hi wonderfull people,
First of all thanks for your support.
Tommorow I will get second opinion, we are ready to go for another Biopsy (Bone Biospsy from his Thoracic Lumber spine)to be sure is it metastastic or not, they are sure that there is something wrong with him but they don't know what it is? is it HCC or Cholangiocarcinoma?
But the good thing is that beside the fact that he can't walk, but he is doing good and no pain or fever.
His health is ok, his liver function is doing well too. I don't really know what is wrong with him.
The other problem is that right now I am in IRAN!!!!! and here we don't have anything like HOSPICE!!!!!
In few day i will send all my dad's document to LA (USA), and he will get another OPINION over there.
TO be honest i am happy that i am here with my dad.
thank you again
and thank you for being there and listening to me
Love
SHiva
Posted 12/14/2008 1:35 AM (GMT 0)
Shiva, I am so sorry to hear about your father. I will keep you both in my prayers.
Posted 1/6/2009 7:49 AM (GMT 0)
Hi you beautiful people.
First off all Happy New year!!! sorry for delay
Yes my dad has Liver cancer (hepatocellula carcinoma). during the last few weeks we have been through a lot thing. It is really a roler coaseter.
Doctors put him on Sorafenib (Nevaxar) and since then he has nose bleeding and other stuff. He got joundice, and he is somehow is there and not there!!!! ( I think very moderate encephalopathy)
He sleeps almost all day and can't sleep at night. when ever i go and visit him, i feel so helpless that i can't do anything for him. yesterday they did Endoscopy and they found varices grade A and B. I have talk to my brother backe in Los Angeles and he said there is no hope, not more than a year.
For you guys that don't know I am in Iran (originally i am iranian) when i talk to my brother he says that he hate when his cell phone rings. Today in the morning he said he can not function very well, and he has depression. I don't know should he come and visit his dad or not?
it is sad when you see your love one is dying. The problem is that my dad doesn't know that he got HCC. I really don't know should i tell him or not????
My mom she is just busy with my dad ( as i wrote before my dad can't walk that is why he needs somebody to take care of him) , I don't know is she in denial or she just accept the fact.
Well, I have a lot of unanswered questions. I am confused and don't know what to do.
Love and Hugs
Shiva
Posted 1/6/2009 10:32 AM (GMT 0)
Shiva

I am so sorry that your family is dealing with all of this at this time. You are so right that it is a roller coaster ride. I don't think anyone can answer if your brother should visit your father or not except your brother. Everyone has to deal with this in their own way and time and he will have to deal with whatever decision he chooses to make. Keep strong and my your entire family find strength to deal all that is going on.

Lucy
Posted 1/6/2009 6:38 PM (GMT 0)

Shiva, I am so sorry to hear of that diagnosis.  Did they say it had metastasized to the bone?  If so, there is little hope.  I had HCC which metabolized to the inferior vena cava (an artery), but with treatment it shrunk back into the original tumor, which also shrunk, and then the right lobe of my liver was removed.  I've been cancer free for 18 mos.  This is really something of a miracle.  Once it goes to the bones or other organs, there's not much hope.  Regular chemo does not work for liver cancer.

As for your brother, Lucy is right.  Only he can decide if he's up to visiting his dad.

I pray for strength for you, your mom, and your whole family as you deal with your dad's illness.

Posted 1/7/2009 4:39 AM (GMT 0)
Shiva, I am so sorry to hear that your father has cancer. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Posted 1/7/2009 9:23 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you again, thank you for just being there and listening to me.
His cancer is spread to his bone, and since last night he got neck pain!!!! but beside neck pain thank god he doesn't have any pain at all. Docotors said that he has only 3 months or so. They can not remove the mass because of its size (7 cm). They said after 4 weeks of using sorafenib we will see if it works or not.
Hep93 I am very happy for you. and thank you again
Hugs
SHiva
Posted 1/7/2009 7:12 PM (GMT 0)
Shiva, my tumor was 8 cm x 7.5 cm, but it had not metastasized to bones or other organs...big difference.  There is no guarantee that it won't return, but meanwhile I have time that I otherwise would not have had.

Make sure that your dad receives whatever pain med he needs to relieve his pain, and perhaps a tranquilizer or anti-anxiety drug if he becomes agitated.

Hugs,

✚ New Topic ✚ Reply