Liver mass...please help. Really scared

My husband 45 went in for an ultrasound for a midline abdominal hernia. We were shocked to find he has a mass measuring 6.5x3.0 cm on his liver. He has a MRI scheduled tommorow. Please advise us of questions to ask, what to expect etc. He had no discomfort until he got the news. Now he says he feels pressure which is starting to radiate to his back. I am terrified. Please help any way you can.  

Mamabear, welcome to the forum. I have had liver cancer twice...and am still here to tell the tale. The first time, it was discovered on an annual ultrasound and was 12.5 x 11 cm. I was given a death sentence, as it had metastasized to the inferior vena cava (artery coming off the liver.) I went to Mayo for a second option and they literally saved my life. Since it was inoperable and too large to be considered for transplant (5 cm is the cut-off size), I was first treated with chemoembolization. This is a drug that is targeted to the tumor via the femoral artery...threaded up to the tumor. (Regular, systemic chemo does not work for liver cancer.) CE shrunk the tumor to 9.5 x 8...still too large--but it was drawn out of the IVC into the main tumor in the rt. lobe.

I was then offered the opportunity to participate in a drug trial. The drug was TheraSphere, microscopic beads of radiation, again targeted to the tumor via the femoral artery. It is now used routinely, sometimes with a different name. That killed the tumor, but also the right lobe. I had surgery to remove the rt. lobe. I did well for 4 years and then developed another hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the remaining left lobe. At that point (last March), I was told I needed a transplant. At 4.9 cm, I had another chemoemboization to keep this tumor below 5 cm. I got my new liver last Oct. and it is working very well.

Your husband should request an appointment with a hepatologist as soon as the MRI results are in, preferably one connected with a large medical center with a transplant center. Undoubtedly, the hepatologist will suggest chemoembolization to shrink the tumor. He may then offer another drug which may be TheraSphere or a similar drug. Or he may suggest hepatectomy to surgically remove the lobe that contains the tumor. Hubby would not be eligible for transplant until the tumor is less than 5 cm and he passes all the tests and consults of a pre-transplant evaluation.

This is a large bump in the road, but not the end of the world. Get him the best care you can and pray. And know that my prayers are with you both.

Hugs,
Connie

A cancerous tumor is more likely than a cyst. Does he have cirrhosis or hep C or any type of liver disease? If so, he would be more susceptible to HCC.

The contrast medium used for the MRI will make any cancer in the abdomen light up.

Hugs,
Connie

Mamabear, then perhaps this is just a benign tumor and nothing to be concerned about at this point. Please let us know the results of the MRI when he gets them.

Hugs,
Connie

Mamabear,

My husband has cirrhosis due to alcohol. 6 months ago there was a spot seen on his liver. I was so scared it was cancer too. After CT scan it was determined to be a cyst. So...not all spots are cancer. So sorry that I didn't mention that in the first post where I welcomed you to HW. You take care...prayers going up for your husband, you , and your family. Please post back and let us know how everything goes.

Emma