Anyone with Hepatocellular Carcinoma (Liver Cancer) want to share?

Posted by tinasantos @tinasantos, May 28, 2018

Hi! My dad, who is 78, has already been treated for Hepatitis C (almost 20 years ago) and was diagnosed with this huge mass/tumor in Feb/18 after abdomen pain and loss of appetite. He was referred to a hepatologist who suggested the hepatectomy. The surgery was successful, on March,16th and the mass removed was around 13 pounds. At the end of the surgery, no cancerous cells were found at the biopsy. The doctor recommended another consultation after 3 months.

Before this, in the beginning of this month (about to complete 2 months os surgery) my dad made an appointment to an oncologist (just to check). He asked for some blood tests and triphasic MRI. In the next days my dad started feeling the symptons again (loss of appetite, weakness, fever, shivering, abdominal pains) and returned to the oncologist to show the results. The oncologist said the tumor had came back (multiple small nodules) and that he would not recommend another surgery (because tumor would come back again) and that he was not eligiible for transplant because of his age.

After all this, the oncologist recommended the treatment with Nexavar (Sorafenib) and my dad will start it this week.

I'd like to know how to get Mayo Clinic's doctors second opinion since we're in Brazil and there may be another approachs to this abroad.
Also, it would be great if someone in a similar situation could share info here. I`m really worried because my dad is 78, is weak and depressive because of this, and we don't know how aggressive and effective is Nexavar.

Thanks,
Tina

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

Profile picture for japv2001 @japv2001

I am just starting the treatment for my liver cancer ,it is one tumor only and they are going to do an embolization to kill it.The dr suggested a liver transplant . I insisted on treat the cancer and to put me on the list for transplant. I think the cancer has to be treated first because the wait for a liver donor can take up to 19 months.Any tips?

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Hello @japv2001

Yes, I would encourage you to connect with our Transplant discussion group. Here is the link to the many discussions there, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/transplants/ You will gain lots of information and support. Please read through some of these discussions.

I would also like to invite, @rosemarya, the group's mentor (she also had a liver/kidney transplant) and JK, @contentandwell (who had a liver transplant) to join the discussion with you. They are remarkable people (like all of the folks in the Transplant group) and they will be pleased to discuss their transplant experiences with you.

Do you have a date for the embolization?

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I am just starting the treatment for my liver cancer ,it is one tumor only and they are going to do an embolization to kill it.The dr suggested a liver transplant . I insisted on treat the cancer and to put me on the list for transplant. I think the cancer has to be treated first because the wait for a liver donor can take up to 19 months.Any tips?

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Hello @tinasantos and welcome to Mayo Connect. I am so sorry to hear of your dad's problems with liver cancer. I can understand how concerned you must be!

We have had discussions on this topic and some of the Members have mentioned using Nexavar. If you are interested in having your dad seen by a Mayo doctor here is information on how to arrange an appointment,
http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63
I wish you well and I hope to hear from you soon regarding how your dad is doing.

Teresa

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