I have colorectal cancer in my liver: What are my chances of recovery?

@beth123, if you haven't already, you can request a second opinion using this form. http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63

I'm also tagging fellow colorectal members who have been to Mayo Clinic like @roywalton @pjebp @annejacobsen @clare12351.

Saw on TV that Cleveland Clinic in of course Cleveland Ohio has developed a new way to kill tumors in or in the liver. Its sorta a wave treatment that causes the tumors to blow up because of the heat created by the wave vibrations Check it out I have no more informattion but just call Cleveland clinic and do some digging

@cvestor

Interesting! I also read this which seems very positive.
https://cancerblog.mayoclinic.org/2023/05/04/colorectal-cancer-in-the-liver-new-treatment-gives-more-people-hope-for-a-cure/

This might be what you are describing: It's a technique called histotripsy. It is FDA approved, non-invasive, and is using sound waves to break down tumors in the liver :
https://news.umich.edu/tumor-destroying-sound-waves-receive-fda-approval-for-liver-treatment-in-humans/

Welcome, @positiveps. Do you also have experience with colorectal cancer? How are you doing?

@dig49, I thought I'd check in. How are you doing?

It is definitely possible to live for a long time and even reach remission with stage 4 CR cancer with mets to the liver. The prognoses have improved a great deal over just past three years or so. A lot depends on if your liver mets can be removed via surgery, as this is the only curative approach. If not, chemo or radiation can shrink or completely address liver mets, sometimes with the goal of making them operable. Even if they are inoperable, with appropriate treatments the condition can be manageable.

I was diagnosed with a single liver metastasis in May and had surgery in July. I am currently NED (no evidence of disease) and my doctors are hopeful that this is curative for me. The Facebook group Colontown has been an invaluable resource to me and they have a subgroup called Liver Lovers Lane for folks with liver mets. I highly recommend seeking out those groups and joining. In addition to strong member support, they also feature several specialist presentations that are saved as videos in the groups for learning more.

Hope that you are successful in getting a second and even third opinion. Be sure to include a liver surgeon for guidance and perspective.

Rich

Thank you @colleenyoung Yes. I was diagnosed with Stage 4 colorectal cancer in October 2023, with mets to the liver and several lymph nodes. I had no previous history of cancer. I’m doing well. After the Ileostomy in November 2023, my quality of life improved dramatically. I’ve been on first-line Nivolumab (Opdivo) plus Ipilimumab (Yervoy) immunotherapy treatment since November 2023. My last PET/CT scan, in September, showed “no current PET/CT evidence of hypermetabolic malignancy,” and my oncologist said she considers this a “complete response” (to the immunotherapy). I have another PET/CT scan next week and am hoping that the positive results continue.

Can you get a referral from your medical doctor or oncologist? When I was dx stage IV colon cancer, my then oncologist referred me and I am 4 1/2 hours away and I got in within a month or so and started radiation a month after and then my surgeries. Keep positive and keep pushing forward. If you feel something isn’t right, use your own intuition. Good luck. I am now 3+ years remission from Mayo.

I got in very quickly. The oncology team said to get a repeat colonoscopy. So I had my appt with GI, and colonoscopy and a repeat CTScan, last week. Results are in the portal. So waiting on follow up appointment to discuss. I will probably message them, Since I have not heard back about a follow up.