HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

New to all this-Liver transplant evaluation-found liver cancer-chemoembolization

Support Forums
>
Hepatitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 6/9/2011 12:39 AM (GMT 0)
Has anyone had experience with chemoembolization and its side effects? My husband had it done on Tuesday, was released form the hospital on Wednesday, but is very very weak and has fallen twice. We knew that one of the effects could be fatigue, pain, nausea. Has had no pain or nausea, but as said above, is very weak. They treated two tumors-one small er and one that is a little over 4 cm. Is this weakness a common side effect? He also has low sodium and anemia, but his mind is fine (no signs of encephalopathy) and has had no pain or nausea. We are just beginning the liver transplant evaluation and have been twice to Shands. The first time was two day appt with social worker, finance, and liver transplant surgery clinic. We have to go back on the 28th of June for the cardiology, PFT, and appt. with pharmacist. Does anyone know how "bad" the cancer has to be before it will stop the evaluation process/keep him from being listed?
Posted 6/9/2011 12:52 AM (GMT 0)
Bowser, welcome to the forum.  I'm sorry that your husband is ill.

I had a chemoembolization about 4 yrs. ago, along with TheraSphere a little later.  It did make me very weak.  I was released directly to home and I am local to Mayo Jax.  I slept for 2-3 days after the chemoembolization, waking up just to eat a little soup or fruit and watch a bit of TV...then back to sleep again.  I was not a candidate for a transplant at that time due to the size of my tumor and the fact that it had metastasized to the inferior vena cava.  Your husband's anemia could also be making him even weaker that the chemoembolization alone.

Now my cancer is back.  I only have the left lobe of my liver remaining, so they want to get me on the transplant list before treating it.  I have almost completed the evaluation process.  You can read about my journey on the thread My Transplant Evaluation.

The cut-off is 5 cm for one liver tumor and 2.5 cm (I think) for multiple ones.  It takes some weeks after chemoembolization to see how much the tumors have shrunk.  They may want to do yet another chemoembolization.  I assume your hubby is being seen at Shands Gainesville.  I wish him the very best of luck.

Hugs,

Connie

Posted 6/9/2011 1:55 AM (GMT 0)
Hello Bowser and welcome to Healingwell.......My husband had a chemoembolization in 2006. Fatigue is one of the big side effects. My husband more or less stayed in bed for the next 3 days. He also had a little pain that the doctor said was the tumors dying. He had 3 small tumors.. I believe the limit is 3 small tumors for transplant listing as Connie stated. More than 3 and they won't list a patient until they get rid them one way or another. Did they tell you that they may have to do it again in 6 months if he hasn't got a transplant by then and they start to grow again? That is something that they need to stay on top of.

Glad you found us.......take care......
Posted 6/9/2011 2:37 AM (GMT 0)

PG, I'm not aware of how many tumors one can have and be on transplant list.  I know that if there are multiple tumors, they can't be more than 2.5 or 3 cm. each.

I was also told that the small amount of pain I had after chemoembolization was the tumor dying.

Hugs,

Connie


Posted 6/9/2011 4:54 AM (GMT 0)
Connie at my husband's transplant center that was one of their criteria. The 3 tumors could not be larger than I believe 7.5cm when added together. I'd have to look at some of his medical records to the total centimeters for sure. Maybe each center has their own criteria for cancer listing or non listing. But that's why they took him back off the list.....the tumors multiplied too much.........they didn't do another chemoembolization at the 6 month mark.

Take care.......thoughts and prayers
Posted 6/9/2011 11:21 PM (GMT 0)

Thanks for the info, PG.  Now that I've nearly completed the transplant evaluation, my hepatologist said today that she wants me to have the chemoembolization soon.  I know we have to keep the size low.

Hugs,

Connie

Posted 6/10/2011 12:08 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Bowser, Shands @ Gainesville has a very good reputation, along with alot of great doctors in the Gainesville area. My Mother battled liver cancer for over two years, and was treated by doctors in Gainesville. Unfortunetly, she already had internal liver tumors when diagnosed, and there were too many for a transplant. She loved her doctors and got excellent care!!

I'm sure your husband is going to get the same excellent care!! I wish you nothing but the best for a positive outcome! Your husband is definetly on good hands!! Please keep us all posted on his condition.

Debbie
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply