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

Thank you for your awesome news. I just found out my cancer has spread to my liver. Yet to see my oncologist for what is next. So will definetly will be asking him about Y90. Hopeing they do it around my area.
I am excited. about it. When you tell people it has moved to your liver they give you "that look" likes is over. But I have great faith in our doctors. So please keep me informed. I would like to know if everyone gave you that LOOK? Thanks so much. I am encouraged.

This is great news, Diane. I appreciate your returning to update everyone. What is next? How frequently will you have followup appointments?

AFT tumor markers are blood tests that measure the Alpha Fetoprotein (AFP) in the blood stream. If the results are high it could be an indication of cancer. I think they are somewhat unreliable and from what I've read 5% of them are false positives. That's why doctors rely on other tests before diagnosing cancer.

Is the cancer spread throughout the liver? I had tumors the Interventional Radiologist could target and shoot. I think they put the radiation beads into a blood vein that feeds the tumor and when it hits the tumor its supposed to die. As i said they had to shoot twice to get all of mine.

I would think your oncologist would run whatever test necessary to determine they type of cancer and not "assume" its melanoma. Seems like you would have to know what type of cancer it really is in order to determine a treatment plan. Have hope, there are SO many treatments for so many types of cancer. We're blessed to live in such a sophisticated medial world.

Let us know what you find.
Blessings, DIane

So glad to hear your good news!

What is an AFP rumor market?
And would your treatment work for someone that had melanoma that spread to his liver? A biopsy was not done to confirm if it was melanoma in the liver or another form of cancer. Should it be biopsied? Or do oncologists just assume that it’s the same form of cancer

I just want to update my Y90 friends on this blog. I'm happy to report that 2 months post second treatment I am doing exceedingly well. I had three liver carcinomas two active and one benign which became active. First Y90 shoot was in July of 2020 that killed one and partially killed another. After the benign guy became active I had another round of Y90 late July of this year. The result is all three are dead and my APF tumor markers have returned to normal. I thank God everyday for this amazing treatment. If Y90 has been recommended to you please consider it. It worked. Would be happy to discuss.

Thanks Colleen. Fortunately I've not had to take one for a few days now and no effect. No ddt's or anything :>)

Diane, wow, I'm so glad that the pain suddenly disappeared. That's great.

Should your pain return, I want to reduce your concern about addiction with opioids, which is shared by many.
See this article about Pain Management from Virtual Hospice.
- Pain https://www.virtualhospice.ca/en_US/Main+Site+Navigation/Home/Topics/Topics/Symptoms+_+Health+Concerns/Pain.aspx

In particular, I'd like to share this excerpt:
"Opioids are very safe when used under the supervision of an experienced health care professional and adjusted in proportion to the amount of pain. Unfortunately, there are many myths and misunderstandings about opioids, which continue to be a barrier to adequate pain control for people. These are some common misunderstandings:

"Won’t I become addicted?"
When opioids are used for pain control, addiction does not happen. The body does become more used to the medication, which will mean that the dose may need to be increased, however this is not addiction – it is called tolerance. Addiction is when there is an overwhelming preoccupation with obtaining more medication, without any medical need for it. This does not happen when opioids are used for pain control.

"I don’t want to start morphine too soon because it won’t work when I really need it."
This concern is without any scientific or medical basis. Opioids can be used with good effect for as long as they are needed, and the dose can be adjusted to whatever level is needed for pain relief. The best way to manage pain is to control it early.

"Those drugs will speed up my disease."
Opioids do not affect how an illness progresses, they simply help relieve suffering associated with the illness."

I hope this helps. May you continue to be pain free.

Thanks for you lt reply.I’m mostly concerned about the fact they are addictive, IR doctor said not to worry with what little I take. Turns out won’t be a problem. The pain just left. Stopped as quickly as it started, it’s a blessing to live without the pain.

Hi Diane, I hope you’re feeling better as time passes. Have you talked to your team about your concerns with taking oxycodone? I can understand your hesitancy. Are you concerned about feeling “out of it”? Or their reputation of being addictive? Or something else?

The pain is pretty constant and eating is difficult but I make myself eat small amounts. They gave me oxy pills but I'm really afraid of them and only take one in the evenings. Can take as many a 4 or 6 a day. This is Monday, two weeks from the procedure and I'm starting to feel better. Will have CT in two weeks to see if we got tumor kill.