Y-90 liver cancer treatment: What's your experience?

Yes I felt the same way it will hurt for a while but you will come back to normal I had my Y90 a week ago and I felt fine a little discomfort with my leg but it soon all went away now I'm feeling my pain in my back and it seems like it's getting harder to breathe but I'm getting better day by day I try my best to stay active and do some of the things I use to do but yes I was feeling the nausea and the pains in my body idk if it's just me are if it's the radiation but the pain are bearable but you will be ok think positive I'll be praying for you and your family 🙏🙏

Well there is a lot going on in my mind I found out I have four tumors on my liver and one in my blood vessel kinda scary but I'm trying to stay positive for my kids they told me I might have less then a year I don't qualify for a liver transplant what I don't understand but I'm ok with it I just hope I get to spend as much time as I have with my kids they always around me talking laughing but I hope this Y90 works for me idk about this cancer Dr I see asked me if I was drinking and said no why I want to live but I guess it was his thoughts because my tumors had grown a lot in 3 months but I just want to say stay positive and strong 🙏we all have to fight like a warrior and I'm not going to give up 🥺 prayers for all that has cancer 🙏🙏🙏

Hi @mortimore, I can imagine how deflating that must've been to both your husband and you when they found another tumour when mapping in preparation for treatment. Naturally, I'm glad they found it so that both tumours can be monitored and treated.

You mentioned that communication is not very good where your husband is being treated. I wonder if you are at one of the major cancer centres in Canada? There are several different services that I encourage you to look into for you, your husband and your family. Many of the cancer centres offer the following:
- Social work https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/findhealth/Service.aspx?id=1047804&serviceAtFacilityID=1074213
- Spiritual support https://www.uhn.ca/PatientsFamilies/Patient_Services/Spiritual_Care
- Palliative care https://www.cancercare.mb.ca/For-Health-Professionals/palliative-care

I've added explanations of these services from 3 different provincial cancer centres as examples. Any of these services can be requested and can also help with communicating with your team and get support beyond treatment.

I'm sure your husband is grateful to have you by his side. How is he doing? How are YOU doing?

Does any one get bad itchy like so bad on ur back and your front breast I didn't get any rest last night was up itching my back and if anybody knows what I can use please help I can't do this another night wow I'm so tired 😴 prayers for people with cancer 🙏🙏

@donnabl, itching is a common side effect of liver issues. It can sometimes get so bad that it interrupts your sleep. And that's not helpful for healing, is it?

You might find some helpful tips in this related discussion:
- Liver disease itching: What helps?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/liver-disease-itching/
Have you talked to your cancer team about this itching? Did they have any suggestions?

revjohnson,

Thanks for the response. My tumor was successfully treated last November and there are no new tumors. Still on the transplant list. How are you doing?

Hello,

I had Hep C for 20 years that was cured 20 years ago. Last year they found a 3.5 cm single lesion on my liver and performed Y90 which eliminated the tumor. All blood work is perfectly normal and there are no new tumors after several follow up MRIs.. AFP is 2.6 and MELD is 6 to 8. I am on the transplant list and will turn 72 soon. In very good physical condition. Wishing that I didn't have to get a transplant and that the chances the Y90 worked well enough to give me the same life expectancy as would a transplant without all of the transplant potential side effects. Doctor says Y90 isn't a cure and that reoccurrence is likely. Any thoughts Thanks

I had Hep C for many years. Finally cleared the virus early 2020. Since then I had a slow growing tumor that reached 2 cm and was ablated. No new tumor since then and I have been taken off the transplant list. I am thinking like you that life expectancy/quality may be similar transplant or not. I am monitored every three months and have not had a recurring tumor/ lesion for over two years now. That said there is still a possibility of recurrence and some insecurity about that possibility but I am relieved not to be on the transplant list and doing a fairly decent job of enjoying life. Wishing you the very best.

Thanks for the feedback. Did you have Y90 treatment? My only concern is that if I wait I will be too old for transplant. How old are you?

I had the same concern. I am 71. I was told there is no age limit for transplant, it depends on your state of health. Basically, I think they look at if your body can survive the surgery and how many years you will get out of it. That said, I ponder the ethical question about accepting an organ when I know there is a shortage and some younger people may get more years than me.
I had ablation instead of Y90. My tumor was not in a precarious place so ablation was a better fit for me.
Wishing you the best life possible and peace of mind.