Recurrent Liver Cancer After Liver Transplant

Posted by suzy212 @suzy212, Jun 17, 2022

I was wondering if anyone has gotten liver cancer HCC back after transplant and what treatments they received .My husband has recurrence 6 months after transplant hcc in only 1 lymph node in the gastro hepatic ligament .Weve read the only true cure is resection and removal of all those nodes .We are scheduled for surgery soon. Can anyone tell me what treatments they received due to already being on immunosuppressive Thank you

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@suzy212, this must've been hard news to receive that liver cancer has returned after transplant. Might radiation treatment after surgery be an option for your husband?

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@colleenyoung

@suzy212, this must've been hard news to receive that liver cancer has returned after transplant. Might radiation treatment after surgery be an option for your husband?

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He has since had whole gastric ligament removed surgically only 1 node positive but because it is a recurrence after liver transplant his Dr wants to put him in a Pallative type catagory and we are fighting for him to not do that because he deserves treatment .Zhe is strong enough for all the treatments. We think this Dr doesn't know how to handle Recurrence after liver transplant .So we are looking for more Experienced type Aggressive and Progressive type programs that see The Most Patients as in a High Volume Liver Transplant HCC Program . It is a hard complex diagnosis because its balancing losing the brand new liver graft ie rejection and providing treatment to kill the cancer and Many Drs/ Programs Are not Experienced enough to deal with these types of patients . But the Consensus guidelines state provide local regonalized treatments us systemic therapy for Tumor Burden control .So by his Dr Stateline he wasn't going g to do local treatments it would make my husband die sooner .This is a unacceptable strategy. So we are looking for a Top Oncologist Liver Transplant HCC Tecurrence AFTET SUCESSFUL LIVER TRANPLANT DR. If anyone knows of a Program that deals with Recurrence of Liver Cancer after Liver Transplant Wed be forever grateful for the Name of this Dr/Program My husband has no tumors his ECOG score is 0 his liver function is Wxcellent and he has No wide spread Mestatic disease So when his Dr said if anything pops up on his next MRI he would not treT it we were Dumb founded .How can he put a 61 yr old strong and fit man who Is Eligible for Surgery into a pallative systemic Only Yreatment Group . Hes only a Heptologist and keeps saying You do Not Need a Referral to an Oncoligist . I think we Definitely need an Oncologist .Can anyone recommend a top recurrence onxologist????

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@suzy212

He has since had whole gastric ligament removed surgically only 1 node positive but because it is a recurrence after liver transplant his Dr wants to put him in a Pallative type catagory and we are fighting for him to not do that because he deserves treatment .Zhe is strong enough for all the treatments. We think this Dr doesn't know how to handle Recurrence after liver transplant .So we are looking for more Experienced type Aggressive and Progressive type programs that see The Most Patients as in a High Volume Liver Transplant HCC Program . It is a hard complex diagnosis because its balancing losing the brand new liver graft ie rejection and providing treatment to kill the cancer and Many Drs/ Programs Are not Experienced enough to deal with these types of patients . But the Consensus guidelines state provide local regonalized treatments us systemic therapy for Tumor Burden control .So by his Dr Stateline he wasn't going g to do local treatments it would make my husband die sooner .This is a unacceptable strategy. So we are looking for a Top Oncologist Liver Transplant HCC Tecurrence AFTET SUCESSFUL LIVER TRANPLANT DR. If anyone knows of a Program that deals with Recurrence of Liver Cancer after Liver Transplant Wed be forever grateful for the Name of this Dr/Program My husband has no tumors his ECOG score is 0 his liver function is Wxcellent and he has No wide spread Mestatic disease So when his Dr said if anything pops up on his next MRI he would not treT it we were Dumb founded .How can he put a 61 yr old strong and fit man who Is Eligible for Surgery into a pallative systemic Only Yreatment Group . Hes only a Heptologist and keeps saying You do Not Need a Referral to an Oncoligist . I think we Definitely need an Oncologist .Can anyone recommend a top recurrence onxologist????

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@suzy212, you might consider Mayo Clinic where your husband would have access to top notch specialists in hepatocellular carcinoma, but also liver transplant. He would benefit from the coordinated care where specialists work with a team of other specialists from many areas, to determine the most appropriate treatment for your individual needs.

To inquire if this might be right for him, start by filling out the online form to schedule a chat with a coordinator: http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63

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@suzy212

He has since had whole gastric ligament removed surgically only 1 node positive but because it is a recurrence after liver transplant his Dr wants to put him in a Pallative type catagory and we are fighting for him to not do that because he deserves treatment .Zhe is strong enough for all the treatments. We think this Dr doesn't know how to handle Recurrence after liver transplant .So we are looking for more Experienced type Aggressive and Progressive type programs that see The Most Patients as in a High Volume Liver Transplant HCC Program . It is a hard complex diagnosis because its balancing losing the brand new liver graft ie rejection and providing treatment to kill the cancer and Many Drs/ Programs Are not Experienced enough to deal with these types of patients . But the Consensus guidelines state provide local regonalized treatments us systemic therapy for Tumor Burden control .So by his Dr Stateline he wasn't going g to do local treatments it would make my husband die sooner .This is a unacceptable strategy. So we are looking for a Top Oncologist Liver Transplant HCC Tecurrence AFTET SUCESSFUL LIVER TRANPLANT DR. If anyone knows of a Program that deals with Recurrence of Liver Cancer after Liver Transplant Wed be forever grateful for the Name of this Dr/Program My husband has no tumors his ECOG score is 0 his liver function is Wxcellent and he has No wide spread Mestatic disease So when his Dr said if anything pops up on his next MRI he would not treT it we were Dumb founded .How can he put a 61 yr old strong and fit man who Is Eligible for Surgery into a pallative systemic Only Yreatment Group . Hes only a Heptologist and keeps saying You do Not Need a Referral to an Oncoligist . I think we Definitely need an Oncologist .Can anyone recommend a top recurrence onxologist????

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Suzy, I also want to clarify something about palliative care. I think you might be confusing it with hospice care, which is end of life care. Palliative care is also called comfort care. It does not mean end of life or that your husband would not be treated.

Merry had a similar reaction when her oncologist suggested palliative care for her. Read more here:
- Palliative Care: What is it? How do I get it? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/palliative-care-1/

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@suzy212

He has since had whole gastric ligament removed surgically only 1 node positive but because it is a recurrence after liver transplant his Dr wants to put him in a Pallative type catagory and we are fighting for him to not do that because he deserves treatment .Zhe is strong enough for all the treatments. We think this Dr doesn't know how to handle Recurrence after liver transplant .So we are looking for more Experienced type Aggressive and Progressive type programs that see The Most Patients as in a High Volume Liver Transplant HCC Program . It is a hard complex diagnosis because its balancing losing the brand new liver graft ie rejection and providing treatment to kill the cancer and Many Drs/ Programs Are not Experienced enough to deal with these types of patients . But the Consensus guidelines state provide local regonalized treatments us systemic therapy for Tumor Burden control .So by his Dr Stateline he wasn't going g to do local treatments it would make my husband die sooner .This is a unacceptable strategy. So we are looking for a Top Oncologist Liver Transplant HCC Tecurrence AFTET SUCESSFUL LIVER TRANPLANT DR. If anyone knows of a Program that deals with Recurrence of Liver Cancer after Liver Transplant Wed be forever grateful for the Name of this Dr/Program My husband has no tumors his ECOG score is 0 his liver function is Wxcellent and he has No wide spread Mestatic disease So when his Dr said if anything pops up on his next MRI he would not treT it we were Dumb founded .How can he put a 61 yr old strong and fit man who Is Eligible for Surgery into a pallative systemic Only Yreatment Group . Hes only a Heptologist and keeps saying You do Not Need a Referral to an Oncoligist . I think we Definitely need an Oncologist .Can anyone recommend a top recurrence onxologist????

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I was aware my liver team had experience with this they are all in dedicated and smart group of medical staff
They are at mt.sinai in New York Madison and 98 th street

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@jackie421blfdgurl

I was aware my liver team had experience with this they are all in dedicated and smart group of medical staff
They are at mt.sinai in New York Madison and 98 th street

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P.s. liver floor 12th.

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Just diagnosed HCC 1 year post transplant early stage scared of course Y-90 soon and already started Levinma. Has anyone else been on Levinma?

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@karenhileman

Just diagnosed HCC 1 year post transplant early stage scared of course Y-90 soon and already started Levinma. Has anyone else been on Levinma?

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Welcome, @karenhileman. That's a hard blow to get liver cancer after transplant. As you can see, you're not alone. I'm tagging @suzy212 @arqui02000 @eparker6 @parrot53, and @jackie421blfdgurl to join this discussion.

@nang's husband took lenvatinib (Lenvima) for kidney cancer and can share experiences with you.

Here's a related discussion to also check out:
- Y-90 liver cancer treatment https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/y-90-liver-cancer-treatment/

Karen, how are you doing on Lenvima? How are you doing generally?

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@colleenyoung

Welcome, @karenhileman. That's a hard blow to get liver cancer after transplant. As you can see, you're not alone. I'm tagging @suzy212 @arqui02000 @eparker6 @parrot53, and @jackie421blfdgurl to join this discussion.

@nang's husband took lenvatinib (Lenvima) for kidney cancer and can share experiences with you.

Here's a related discussion to also check out:
- Y-90 liver cancer treatment https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/y-90-liver-cancer-treatment/

Karen, how are you doing on Lenvima? How are you doing generally?

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I am doing fine. I have not been experiencing side effects so far no nausea or diarrhea or body pain. I am not experiencing too much fatigue. The only side effect I have had is elevated blood pressure which is being addressed by increasing blood pressure medication. All my blood work including liver readings are all normal.

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@karenhileman

I am doing fine. I have not been experiencing side effects so far no nausea or diarrhea or body pain. I am not experiencing too much fatigue. The only side effect I have had is elevated blood pressure which is being addressed by increasing blood pressure medication. All my blood work including liver readings are all normal.

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I am feeling well better than I have felt in a couple years.

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