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Newly diagnosed with liver cancer, having trouble coping

Posted by joemina @joemina, Oct 27 8:57am

Just diagnosed with liver cancer 4 days ago. Looks to be an early diagnosis. Still my anxiety and thoughts are all over the place. Any help or advice will be appreciated. Are there zoom or online cancer support groups. Joe

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Liver Cancer Support Group.

Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Nov 3 11:04am
In reply to @joemina "Has anyone hear of ALPHA 1 FETOPROTEIN. Level at 70,296.0. This worries me and I have..." + (show)
@joemina

Has anyone hear of ALPHA 1 FETOPROTEIN. Level at 70,296.0. This worries me and I have a surgeon acts like he had never seen it this high before. Anyone experienced very high ATP levels and only have liver tumors.

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@joemina, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) can be used as a tumor marker that is monitored over time to watch for any possible signs of cancer or other problems with the liver. Many things, including cancer, liver diseases like hepatitis and cirrhosis, as well as an injured liver that's healing, can raise the AFP numbers.

AFP is only one part of the diagnostic puzzle. It helps bring attention that they MAY be a problem. Further investigation like a CT scan can rule out the problem or help figure out the cause.

I guess what I'm trying to say is to not put the cart before horse. Your team sounds like they are taking good care to figure things out. And the more they know, the more appropriate the treatment. But I know saying "don't worry" is ridculous. Of course, you're worried. So how does one cope with the stress of worry?

Mayo's Cancer Education team put together this free guided course that may offer useful tips for you.

- Stress Management for Cancer (scroll to the bottom of the page) https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/cancer-education-center/tab/offerings/

And don't forget we're here and virtually by your side as this next week approaches and unfolds. Keep asking questions and let us know how you're doing.

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Nov 3 11:09am
In reply to @stevie17 "Mine was 24k before they removed my first large tumor. After it only got to 180..." + (show)
@stevie17

Mine was 24k before they removed my first large tumor. After it only got to 180 before it went back up. More tumors were found. Starting Y90 treatment on Thursday. But they can only do so much and more tumors have appeared in the last month.

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@stevie17, as you prepare to start Y90 radioembolization, also known as Selective Internal Radiation Therapy (SIRT), you may find this article from Mayo Clinic and this related discussion helpful:
- Targeted radiation therapy: Y-90 and liver cancer https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/targeted-radiation-therapy

- Y-90 liver cancer treatment: What's your experience?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/y-90-liver-cancer-treatment/

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joemina | @joemina | Nov 3 12:37pm
In reply to @colleenyoung "@joemina, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) can be used as a tumor marker that is monitored over time to..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

@joemina, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) can be used as a tumor marker that is monitored over time to watch for any possible signs of cancer or other problems with the liver. Many things, including cancer, liver diseases like hepatitis and cirrhosis, as well as an injured liver that's healing, can raise the AFP numbers.

AFP is only one part of the diagnostic puzzle. It helps bring attention that they MAY be a problem. Further investigation like a CT scan can rule out the problem or help figure out the cause.

I guess what I'm trying to say is to not put the cart before horse. Your team sounds like they are taking good care to figure things out. And the more they know, the more appropriate the treatment. But I know saying "don't worry" is ridculous. Of course, you're worried. So how does one cope with the stress of worry?

Mayo's Cancer Education team put together this free guided course that may offer useful tips for you.

- Stress Management for Cancer (scroll to the bottom of the page) https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/cancer-education-center/tab/offerings/

And don't forget we're here and virtually by your side as this next week approaches and unfolds. Keep asking questions and let us know how you're doing.

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Thank you Colleen. I trying to stay in the moment. My high AFP is the only blood test not in the normal range. Amazing how one number can mess do much with my head. Thank you for the link but it doesn’t work? Is there another way or another leak to this course? I’m very interested. Thank you again. Joe

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1 reply
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Nov 3 4:41pm
In reply to @joemina "Thank you Colleen. I trying to stay in the moment. My high AFP is the only..." + (show)
@joemina

Thank you Colleen. I trying to stay in the moment. My high AFP is the only blood test not in the normal range. Amazing how one number can mess do much with my head. Thank you for the link but it doesn’t work? Is there another way or another leak to this course? I’m very interested. Thank you again. Joe

Jump to this post

oops. I corrected the link in my message above. Here it is
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/cancer-education-center/tab/offerings/ (scroll to the bottom of the page).

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